HELP ME BIG TIME to convert a drive?

Question

can any of you help me convert a disk drive from FAT32 to NTFS. The way that i have been trying is though the cmd when i try it dismounts like i want it to but it doesn't register it as NTFS after i restart. so can any of you help me to do so with out using the FORMAT command as there are some files on it that i may not beable to get back again!!!!!

i have tryed to go though computer management. the syntax that i used in the cmd is C:> convert G: /fs:ntfs

Answer 1

maybe there is something wrong with ur command line version .. try going to disk management on control panel -> administrative tools -> computer management .. and try formatting ur drive...

Answer 2

Move the files to another drive/cd etc and then reformat and convert would be the easiest way by far. Otherwise you could follow this method:

Converting a partition from FAT32 to NTFS can be done by an inbuilt utility in the Windows XP operating system — but it is important to realise that it is a one-way process. You cannot convert back, except possibly by use of Partition Magic 7.01, and that is not always successful. Windows XP has no tool for converting from NTFS to FAT32.

There are a couple of things to do in advance if the conversion is to be efficient. If you do not take these preliminary steps, you are liable to end up with only 512 byte clusters, which is not a good idea.

What happens is that FAT32 partitions formatted by most Windows versions except Windows XP itself (and possibly Windows 2000) have an odd multiple of 2 kilobytes in the “system” sectors before the data area, where the File Allocation Tables themselves and clustering start. Therefore, clusters 4 KB in size are not aligned on 4 KB boundaries, as NTFS will want. CONVERT.EXE, finding it cannot use 4K clusters, gives up and makes the clusters only 512 bytes (one half KB) instead. (For a table of the varying default cluster sizes used by FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS for partitions of varying sizes, click here.)

It is, therefore, important to realign the partition before conversion, by moving all the data area up to a 4K boundary. (This will absorb odd sectors at the far end which otherwise would not get used). For this, I suggest BootIT NG, from BootitNG.com. This is a shareware program, priced at US$30 but with a 30-day fully functional trial. You may well find it valuable also for its Disk Imaging and Partition Management capabilities.

Download the BOOTITNG.ZIP file to its own folder, extract the contents of the ZIP file, then run BOOTITNG.EXE, which will make a bootable floppy. Boot this floppy. For purposes of Partition Management, there is no need to install the program to hard disk, so click Cancel Install, thus entering Maintenance. Click Partition Work. Highlight the partition you intend to convert. Click Slide, which has an option check box to Align for NTFS only. Click OK. As it has to move almost every sector on the entire partition, this will take a very long time — schedule it for a meal break, or start it to run overnight. (If it finishes quickly, that probably means that the partition was properly aligned already.)

Then restart the computer, boot Windows XP, being sure to logon as an Administrator, and defragment the disk. This ensures that there is, as far as possible, a contiguous area for the NTFS Master File Table. It is best if there is a fairly substantial amount of free space while you do it.

Now use the Windows XP convert tool: Go to Start | All Programs | Accessories | Command Prompt (or, from a Run box, type CMD) and, assuming you intend to convert C:, give the command:

VOL C:

Note the name of the disk in the first line, and the Volume Serial Number (for example, 3F4E-2D1B) in the second. Then type:

CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS

It will ask for that name in confirmation. Then it will ask two further questions. Reply Y each time to set up conversion to happen at the next boot, then restart the machine. (If you are converting a partition other than the operating system’s partition, you may find that it runs without rebooting.) After returning to Win XP, the hard disk will work for two or three minutes, tidying up. Leave things alone during this time.

Consult the Hints in the Windows Product Activation article (under What About Formatting a Hard Disk?) regarding the resetting of the volume serial number, which will have been changed. The hints given will assure that you do not lose a Windows Product Activation “life.”

Please note - the above method is taken from the internet (http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.php) is is not endorsed by me as a solution! - I would simply hive all the data of and do it properly....

Answer 3

Check out this link.

http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/it/2005/06/28/convert-fat32-to-ntfs/

Excerpt for the above link.

"First, back up your data. Pictures, Word files, whatever it may be, save it all to something off of that drive/partition. Also, by doing this, understand that there is always the risk of data loss. So if something goes wrong, you are the responsible party. Also, make sure all applications are closed before doing this.

OK, now get yourself to a command prompt. Just Start, Run, CMD will get you there. Now type
CONVERT G: /FS:NTFS
You will be asked to press Y or N. You will want to say N to unmounting right there and then. You will then be prompted schedule a conversion. Say Y to this. From here, just follow the instructions. Now if memory serves me, you will have to reboot. After the PC has restarted, let it run without you doing ANYTHING. I’d say about five minutes ought to do it. And that should do it for you!"


Good Luck.

Answer 4

First, you should know this is a one way process. You can't go back from NTFS to FAT32 without losing your data, unless you use Partition Magic or another third party software.

- Open up command prompt
- Type "VOL C:" then enter (Replace C: with the drive you are trying to convert if need be)
- Copy down this information for future reference
- Type "CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS" then enter

Command prompt will ask you a few questions and then just let it do its thing.

Answer 5

You really should back up your files.

USB memory sticks don't cost as much as they used to cost. And CD-R discs or DVD+R/-R/+RW/-RW discs don't cost that much either (unless you are broke).

The only time I have gone from FAT32 to NTFS was during a Windows upgrade from 98 to 2000. I let Windows handle the changeover.

Answer 6

type this commands in msdos prompt --> convert c: /fs:ntfs

Answer 7

Look up partition magic it should let you convert the type of filesystem for your partitions.

I am pretty sure i am right.