How to switch FAT32 to NTFS without clean reinstall?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack
  • Start date Start date
J

Jack

My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is not as
simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a different way that
I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?
 
Jack said:
My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is not
as simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a different
way that I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?
Click to expand...

Start button --> RUN
Type in:

CMD

Click OK.
In the Command Prompt windows type:

CONVERT /?

Press ENTER.
 
Jack said:
My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is not as
simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a different way that
I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?
Click to expand...


Sure. That's the easier way to go, and for that no thiord-party software is
required.

To convert to NTFS, you use the CONVERT command. But first read
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm because there's an issue regarding
cluster size that isn't obvious.

Also note that conversion is a big step, affecting everything on your drive.
When you take such a big step, no matter how unlikely, it is always possible
that something could go wrong. For that reason, it's prudent to make sure
you have a backup of anything you can't afford to lose before beginning.
 
Sure. That's the easier way to go, and for that no thiord-party software is
required.

To convert to NTFS, you use the CONVERT command. But first read
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm because there's an issue regarding
cluster size that isn't obvious.

Also note that conversion is a big step, affecting everything on your drive.
When you take such a big step, no matter how unlikely, it is always possible
that something could go wrong. For that reason, it's prudent to make sure
you have a backup of anything you can't afford to lose before beginning.
Click to expand...


Uh Uh! I went ahead with the conversion WITHOUT alignment. Will
running Bootit NG still be helpful?
 
Jack said:
Uh Uh! I went ahead with the conversion WITHOUT alignment. Will
running Bootit NG still be helpful?
Click to expand...


No. How big are your clusters now? Create a small test file, then
right-click on it and choose properties. What does it say under Size on
disk?
 
No. How big are your clusters now? Create a small test file, then
right-click on it and choose properties. What does it say under Size on
disk?
Click to expand...


Says 4 kb, so I guess I got lucky and it is the right size anyway.
Thanks for the info.
 
Jack said:
My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is not as
simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a different way that
I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?
Click to expand...
I must be dumb, but discovering this thread, a little late, there is
something I do not understand. Changing from NTFS to FAT32, whichever
tool you use, and PQ Magic 8 is as good as any, most often fails, for
reasons way above my head that seem to relate to protection of folders
and files, among others. But converting from FAT32 to NTFS is handled by
any utility, including XP and never fails unless the FAT32 partition is
defective.

If you do not believe me, convert any FAT32 partition to NTFS with any
tool you like, including XP and try converting it back to FAT32. First,
XP does not provide for such a conversion; second, Partition Magic, and
other tools I guess, will almost always fail to convert back to FAT32.

So I am somewhat surprised that the OP finds the opposite. What am I
missing here?

Regards
 
Jack said:
My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is
not as simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a
different way that I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?
Click to expand...

John said:
I must be dumb, but discovering this thread, a little late, there is
something I do not understand. Changing from NTFS to FAT32,
whichever tool you use, and PQ Magic 8 is as good as any, most
often fails, for reasons way above my head that seem to relate to
protection of folders and files, among others. But converting from
FAT32 to NTFS is handled by any utility, including XP and never
fails unless the FAT32 partition is defective.

If you do not believe me, convert any FAT32 partition to NTFS with
any tool you like, including XP and try converting it back to
FAT32. First, XP does not provide for such a conversion; second,
Partition Magic, and other tools I guess, will almost always fail
to convert back to FAT32.
So I am somewhat surprised that the OP finds the opposite. What am I
missing here?
Click to expand...

You didn't comprehend the original post as intended I believe.

While you are correct in that it can be more difficult to go from NTFS to
FAT32 (from a file system with security to one with none) - the OP obviously
chose to do this in the past for some reason and it worked out fine for
them. While you are correct there is a built-in method to go from FAT32 to
NTFS in Windows XP (from a file system with NO security to one with
security) and that it usually goes smoothly (not always) - that only makes
sense - since the change is an adding of features - not a removal.

I am not sure what you are missing, actually. The more I read your
response - the less I see any idea you are trying to convey or understand.

The OP - in the past - either did or believes they did convert NTFS to
FAT32. It worked for them. It's a done deal.

The OP - now - wanted to go from FAT32 to NTFS again. They may have always
been unaware of a tool (built-in or otherwise) to go in that direction. The
OP was ignorant of this fact and chose to ask about it.

The OP did not "find" anything - but expressed an ignorance of a way to do
something and a interest to discover how to do it so they would now know
(not be ignorant of the way to do what they wanted.) Simple as that.

Just because you know how to disassemble somethign complex does not mean you
will be able to reassemble it in the same manner if you did not keep careful
notes. =)
 
Shenan said:
You didn't comprehend the original post as intended I believe.

While you are correct in that it can be more difficult to go from NTFS to
FAT32 (from a file system with security to one with none) - the OP obviously
chose to do this in the past for some reason and it worked out fine for
them. While you are correct there is a built-in method to go from FAT32 to
NTFS in Windows XP (from a file system with NO security to one with
security) and that it usually goes smoothly (not always) - that only makes
sense - since the change is an adding of features - not a removal.

I am not sure what you are missing, actually. The more I read your
response - the less I see any idea you are trying to convey or understand.

The OP - in the past - either did or believes they did convert NTFS to
FAT32. It worked for them. It's a done deal.

The OP - now - wanted to go from FAT32 to NTFS again. They may have always
been unaware of a tool (built-in or otherwise) to go in that direction. The
OP was ignorant of this fact and chose to ask about it.

The OP did not "find" anything - but expressed an ignorance of a way to do
something and a interest to discover how to do it so they would now know
(not be ignorant of the way to do what they wanted.) Simple as that.

Just because you know how to disassemble somethign complex does not mean you
will be able to reassemble it in the same manner if you did not keep careful
notes. =)
Click to expand...
Well, I must confess, I am surprised the OP knew and, more surprisingly,
succeeded in converting NTFS to FAT32 using PQ Magic and did not find
that the same program (to say nothing of XP) could do the opposite too.
I thought, may be I misunderstand something here.

Most people have trouble going from NTFS to FAT32, and ask about it, not
the other way round. But, of course, I did not imply there was something
wrong in asking, on the contrary. What is wrong is making a mistake for
failure to ask, or research an issue.

Regards
 
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