do i need to convert old fat32 file data to ntfs upgrading to new

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general question? old system, win 2000, dual pent II cpu, fat32 file system;
new system still win 2000, pent 4 3.2 ht, dual 300 GB hdd's want to go to
ntfs file system. have 300-400 GB data that is fat32. dont want to lose it.
concerned about data becoming corrupt if/when i convert to ntfs. question can
i leave it fat32 and transfer data to new ntfs drive? how would i convert
(data is backed up) can anyone help solve my delema old system is just out
dated but cant afford to lose data Help
 
nethinim said:
general question? old system, win 2000, dual pent II cpu, fat32 file system;
new system still win 2000, pent 4 3.2 ht, dual 300 GB hdd's want to go to
ntfs file system. have 300-400 GB data that is fat32. dont want to lose it.
concerned about data becoming corrupt if/when i convert to ntfs. question can
i leave it fat32 and transfer data to new ntfs drive? how would i convert
(data is backed up) can anyone help solve my delema old system is just out
dated but cant afford to lose data Help
Click to expand...

Although NTFS is the "native" file system for Win2000/XP, it
is perfectly capable of running with FAT32.

To convert a FAT system to NTFS, open a Command Prompt
and type this command:

convert X: /fs:NTFS

where X: is the drive letter to be converted. The conversion
progress is safe but accidents do happen, hence it's a good
idea to back up your data first.
 
Pegasus thank you. if i format the new drives as ntfs. can i transfer the
old fat32 data to the new drives as fat32 and still access the data??? or
must i convert the old drive to ntfs then transfer the data to the NEW ntfs
drive. thanks.
 
Windows 2000/XP will support any mix of FAT32 or
NTFS partitions. You can do as you please - Windows
won't mind.
 
Hi nithinim,

If you copy files from a FAT32 partition to a NTFS one they will be
converted automatically. The file storage type doesn't effect the
content and doesn't need converting first.



---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self
AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Technical Counselor
 
hi pa20pilot and pegasus:
i am still not quite getting it. this is what i got. the old system dual
pII's with win95 os upgraded to win 2000 prof. but was wary of making ntfs
during upgrade, did not want to loose data so stayed fat32. now have
components for new system, not assembled yet p4 3.2 ht lots of storage. i
have ten years of all types of files (AOL Favorets and personal file) wave
files. i like win 2000 dont need to go to xp. after i load os onto new
system and all programs. i am left with migrating all my stuff into the new
system. what is the best and safest way to migrate my files to the drive in
the new system. i was going to remove the drive from old, install temperary
as slave in new to be removed after migration of data. this is where i am
stuck. do i convert then migrate?. do i partition an fat32 and migrate?. do
i just migrate? and what percentage of files might become corrupt?
thanks i appreciate this very much. i have been waiting a long time to do
this and am just being very cautious.
thanks and have a great Christmas, Holiday, ETC.
nethinim
 
Contrary to what other posters say, copying a file from
a FAT to an NTFS partition does NOT involve a
conversion of any kind. You simply copy the file - the
OS will store it according to the rules of the current
file system.

Your idea of connecting the Win95 disk as a slave disk
is good. It will let you copy your old stuff across with
no fuss at all. You won't even be aware that the old
disk uses FAT32 and the new disk uses NTFS. It's
no different from copying files from one folder to another
on the same disk!

A word of caution: I get the impression that your old
disk contains ten years worth of data, none of it backed
up. Now there are two groups of PC users: Those who
back up their important files regularly, e.g. once a week,
and those who wait until disaster stares them in the face.
We see them almost daily in these newsgroups. Do yourself
a favour and buy a hard disk and a USB case for your
backup. They cost surprisingly little, especially when
compared to the inconvenience of losing all your data.
 
thanks PEGASUS
are you suggesting that i leave the old drive in the new system??? i was
only going to connect it to new to make xfer easier. question when/if i
convert file system does that convert the makeup of existing files?? or just
the way new files are constructed? i am asuming that my AOL files suould be
on the drive with the operating system. my new system will have two 300 gb
pata and poss one 200 gb sata drives. I do backup but it has gotten labor
intensive with the old system.

should i just purchase a drive enclosure and a drive back up all existing
fat32 files then run the convert X:/fs:NTFS command on the backed up drive
in enclosure. then migrate converted files in to new system.
sorry that i keep asking questions
thanks
 
You should do this:
1. Connect your old disk as a slave disk in your new system.
2. Copy all data across.
3. If your new drive is FAT32 and if you wish then you can
convert it to NTFS. You don't have to!
4. You can leave the old disk as a slave disk in your new
PC, or you can place it inside a USB case and use it
as a backup medium (provided that it is of sufficient
capacity).
5. You can convert your old disk to NTFS if you wish,
or you can leave it as FAT32.
 
Hi again,

Not to confuse you, but you might also consider using a program like
Ghost to clone your old drive to your new drive. There are some free
programs out there that do about the same thing though.

I use my second drive in a removable carrier that works or not depending
on turning its key. Once a week I clone my main drive to the slave.
Using a program like Ghost will make the second drive bootable in the
event your main drive throws a rod or something. All you would need to
do is physically plug the slave in with the appropriate jumper to
master, and you're good to go as you were before the main drive failure.

The benefit to using a removable drive is that it can't be written to
between backups, a good deal with the crap out there that happens
without your knowledge.



---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self
AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Technical Counselor
 
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