Converting FAT32 to NTFS

  • Thread starter Thread starter ColinH
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ColinH

I want to convert to NTFS but am unsure how this will
affect my files. I have 2 hard drives, a 20GB and 60GB
with Windows XP OS on the 20GB drive. All my mp3, mpeg,
cd+g files are on the 60GB drive. If I convert to NFFS
will i still be able to access/play the above files?

Also, is it better to reinstall rather than convert?

Many thanks in anticpation
 
ColinH said:
I want to convert to NTFS but am unsure how this will
affect my files. I have 2 hard drives, a 20GB and 60GB
with Windows XP OS on the 20GB drive. All my mp3, mpeg,
cd+g files are on the 60GB drive. If I convert to NFFS
will i still be able to access/play the above files?

Also, is it better to reinstall rather than convert?

Many thanks in anticpation

And what has led you to believe otherwise?! Conversion only affects the disc
structure, not the files stored on said disk. If you restructure your
wardrobe, can you still wear your clothes?
 
Most of the people ask questions in earnest and would like the answers the
same. Not sarcasm! Fortunately most of the people are not that way.
 
~¢makey$ said:
Most of the people ask questions in earnest and would like the
answers the same. Not sarcasm! Fortunately most of the people are not
that way.

I wasn't being sarcastic - I was making a point. Fortunately, most people
can tell the difference.
 
It's possible you will run into file ownership issue that will temporarily
block access. You would receive an access denied message. This is the
result of the additional security implemented by NTFS even under "Simple
File Sharing." Fortunately, this can be remedied as followed:


Note, file ownership and permissions supersede administrator rights. How
you resolve it depends upon which version of XP you are running.



XP-Home



Unfortunately, XP Home using NTFS is essentially hard wired for "Simple File
Sharing" at system level.

However, you can set XP Home permissions in Safe Mode. Reboot, and start
hitting F8, a menu should eventually appear and one of the
options is Safe Mode. Select it. Note, it will ask for the administrator's
password. This is not your administrator account, rather it is the
machine's administrator account for which users are asked to create a
password during setup.

If you created no such password, when requested, leave blank and press
enter.

Open Explorer, go to Tools and Folder Options, on the view tab, scroll to
the bottom of the list, if it shows "Enable Simple File Sharing" deselect it
and click apply and ok. If it shows nothing or won't let you make a change,
move on to the next step.

Navigate to the files, right click, select properties, go to the Security
tab, click advanced, go to the Owner tab and select the user that was logged
on when you were refused permission to access the files. Click apply and
ok. Close the properties box, reopen it, click add and type in the name of
the user you just enabled. If you wish to set ownership for everything in
the folder, at the bottom of the Owner tab is the following selection:
"Replace owner on subcontainers and objects," select it as well.

Once complete, you should be able to do what you wish with these files when
you log back on as that user.



XP-Pro



If you have XP Pro, temporarily change the limited account to
administrative. First, go to Windows Explorer, go to Tools, select Folder
Options, go to the View tab and be sure "Use Simple File Sharing" is not
selected. If it is, deselect it and click apply and ok.



If you wish everything in a specific folder to be accessible to a user,
right click the folder, select properties, go to the Security tab, click
Advanced, go to the Owner tab,
select the user you wish to have access, at the bottom of the box, you
should see a check box for "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects,"
place a check in the box and click apply and ok.

The user should now be able to perform necessary functions on files in the
folder even as a limited account. If not, make it an admin account again,
right click the folder, select Properties, go to the Security tab and be
sure the user is listed in the user list. If not, click add and type the
user name in the appropriate box, be sure the user has all the necessary
permissions checked in the permission list below the user list, click apply
and ok.

That should do it and allow whatever access you desire for that folder even
in a limited account.
 
Your response, while factually correct, does not take into account the
higher level of security employed under NTFS and the possibility of running
into file ownership issues, all the more so with two hard drives. The OP
was correct in expressing concern, any user venturing into an area of which
they are unfamiliar is wise to raise such questions and the issue of file
ownership comes up often on these boards. If you restructure your wardrobe,
your closet doesn't immediately assign an ownership signature to each
article of clothing forcing you to retake ownership if you move to a new
house.
 
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