fat32 to ntfs without reformating?

m3_tw0 · 11-October-03, 11:40 AM

Well my moms comp has a 120 gig hd and it was formatted in fat32..her comp has been runnin really slow and so I think this will help bump up the speed a little and also add some more security...the thing is..I am goin to change from fat32 to ntfs while runnin in windows...but I have one question...With the picture below it says I need to dismount the hd..is that safe to do? I want to keep all her files now intact so I am not doin a totally fresh install of xp or anythin...also if anyone knows another way to do this it would be appreciated..or if dismounting the hd is ok then should I do that? Thx in advance.

M.D.K. · 11-October-03, 12:35 PM

I've done it before, worked fine for me. Keep in mind you cant change it back this way, unlesss....

The other option is to use a program like partition magic. It'll convert and format to any format without loosing files.

BigAkita · 11-October-03, 12:42 PM

I've done that to many drives and haven't lost any data...yet.

G Money · 11-October-03, 02:46 PM

I think dismounting it just means taking it offline. It is just like CDs mounting in OS X, then dismounting when I eject the CD. When I convert the Windows 2000 machines at work I use the command prompt and type from c:

convert C: /fs:ntfs (I'm pretty sure those are the correct slashes and parameters. You can type "convert help (or ?)" and it will give you all the directions. I'm sure this is stuff you already know, but just putting out the knowledge.

m3_tw0 · 11-October-03, 04:51 PM

Well I did it and it worked without a problem...piece of cake.

Reverend KWR · 11-October-03, 06:30 PM

cool, and you should be able to boot to DOS in the future and and do it with no problem. it has to dissmount it because you are still running windows

11-October-03, 11:40 AM		#1 (permalink)
m3_tw0 Apex Tech Fanatic Supreme	fat32 to ntfs without reformating? Well my moms comp has a 120 gig hd and it was formatted in fat32..her comp has been runnin really slow and so I think this will help bump up the speed a little and also add some more security...the thing is..I am goin to change from fat32 to ntfs while runnin in windows...but I have one question...With the picture below it says I need to dismount the hd..is that safe to do? I want to keep all her files now intact so I am not doin a totally fresh install of xp or anythin...also if anyone knows another way to do this it would be appreciated..or if dismounting the hd is ok then should I do that? Thx in advance. Attached Thumbnails

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11-October-03, 12:35 PM		#2 (permalink)
M.D.K. Apex Tech Maniac Supreme	I've done it before, worked fine for me. Keep in mind you cant change it back this way, unlesss.... The other option is to use a program like partition magic. It'll convert and format to any format without loosing files.

11-October-03, 12:42 PM		#3 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	I've done that to many drives and haven't lost any data...yet.

11-October-03, 02:46 PM		#4 (permalink)
G Money Fuel Hoe-lio	I think dismounting it just means taking it offline. It is just like CDs mounting in OS X, then dismounting when I eject the CD. When I convert the Windows 2000 machines at work I use the command prompt and type from c: convert C: /fs:ntfs (I'm pretty sure those are the correct slashes and parameters. You can type "convert help (or ?)" and it will give you all the directions. I'm sure this is stuff you already know, but just putting out the knowledge.

11-October-03, 04:51 PM		#5 (permalink)
m3_tw0 Apex Tech Fanatic Supreme	Well I did it and it worked without a problem...piece of cake.

11-October-03, 06:30 PM		#6 (permalink)
Reverend KWR Apex Tech Fanatic Supreme	cool, and you should be able to boot to DOS in the future and and do it with no problem. it has to dissmount it because you are still running windows