XP: Convert Fat32 to NTFS

Contributed by AlexTheBeast

June 20, 2004

Tagged: Windows

NTFS has several advantages over the old Fat32 format. Here’s how to make the conversion.

Microsoft has decided to switch from fat32 to the NTFS format. The debate on which is better or worse is still raging. However, NTFS is now microsoft’s format of choice and is here to stay.

The conversion should not cause you to lose any data; however, I certainly would backup before large scale conversions like this.

1. Click Start
2. Select Run from the Start menu
3. Type cmd in the textbox and click OK
4. In the command window that opens type the following:

convert c: /fs:ntfs

(If you want to convert any other drive, change the c: to the drive of choice.)

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Viewing 7 Comments

Anonymous 4 years ago 1 point
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FYI,
It should be like this
1. Click Start
2. Select Run from the Start menu
3. Type cmd in the textbox and click OK
4. In the command window that opens type the following:

convert c: /fs:ntfs (Forward slash rather backward slash)

Cheers
Chan

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AlexTheBeast 4 years ago 1 point
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Thanks!

Recipe is corrected!

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Nat 4 years ago 1 point
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I've done the c: /fs:ntfs command. But the system refuses to convert stating that there was an error converting one of the Directories. It just stopped and refuses to convert. I can see the files ex; image.jpg BUT it can't read it.

Any ideas? :?

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MickeyMouse 4 years ago 1 point
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<ul id="quote"><h6>Nat wrote:</h6>I've done the c: /fs:ntfs command. But the system refuses to convert stating that there was an error converting one of the Directories. It just stopped and refuses to convert. I can see the files ex; image.jpg BUT it can't read it.

Any ideas? :?</ul>

From the command line run:
<ul>chkdsk c: /f

where c: is your drive of interest</ul> Reboot, let windows try to repair the errors, and see if that helps.

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Anonymous 3 years ago 1 point
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I recieve an error when I go to convert one of my drives. My C drive converted easily, but my E drive always has the same error message: "cannot determine file system of drive". Help?

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Anonymous 3 years ago 1 point
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try defragmenting the particular drive under the Admin account

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Stefanie 1 week ago 1 point
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Does convert format the drive?

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