NTFS file conversion in XP Home Ed

  • Thread starter Thread starter Len Dolby
  • Start date Start date
L

Len Dolby

Is there an easy way to convert FAT32 drive to NTFS (in XP Home edition) ?
There's no Help topic in XP-Home that I can find..
Microsoft site - apart from going round in ever-decreasing circles, ALL info
there relates to XP -PRO edition.
There's a file (convert.exe) in XP-Home System32 directory - clicking on it,
nothing happens. (this file was referenced to by MS)

If possible, step by step procedure for novices. I understand basics, but am
an
enthusiastic amateur of maturity (DOS >Win 3.1>W98>XP, silver surfer) some
experience the hard way but no formal technical training. Please keep it
simple !
 
Converting FAT32 to NTFS in Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm

[Courtesy of Alex Nichol, MS-MVP]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Is there an easy way to convert FAT32 drive to NTFS (in XP Home edition) ?
| There's no Help topic in XP-Home that I can find..
| Microsoft site - apart from going round in ever-decreasing circles, ALL info
| there relates to XP -PRO edition.
| There's a file (convert.exe) in XP-Home System32 directory - clicking on it,
| nothing happens. (this file was referenced to by MS)
|
| If possible, step by step procedure for novices. I understand basics, but am
| an
| enthusiastic amateur of maturity (DOS >Win 3.1>W98>XP, silver surfer) some
| experience the hard way but no formal technical training. Please keep it
| simple !
 
Len, just for your info if you go to Help and Support and type ntfs or
convert and do a search you would find the information you need.
 
In
Len Dolby said:
Is there an easy way to convert FAT32 drive to NTFS (in XP Home
edition) ? There's no Help topic in XP-Home that I can find..
Microsoft site - apart from going round in ever-decreasing circles,
ALL info there relates to XP -PRO edition.
There's a file (convert.exe) in XP-Home System32 directory - clicking
on it, nothing happens. (this file was referenced to by MS)
Click to expand...


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.
 
Carey,
Appreciate the link, which leads to several other essential links.

My PC was purchased pre-set-up with XP, why the blue blazes wasn't it
pre-formatted with NTFS ? Rhetorical question, don't answer.

Looks like best part of 2 days to download, assimilate the info, back-up all
data,
then create (and double-check each step of) a procedure - then do it. Hmm...
IF
I do it .... on the principle "if it ain't broke, don't fix " I may keep
FAT32 after all.
Am using only 30% of HDD space and no probs.

Nevertheless, MUCH VALUABLE INFO - well worth following up. Thanks !!

Sincerely, Len
 
Ken, thanks for the warning ! There's one conundrum already which I
haven't got clear in my mind - that is, according to the table, Fat32 is not
supported on disk partitions >32Gb, which is strange, 'cos mine is 40Gb,
and currently (seems to) work fine.
Having read a linked article about partition planning, I'd thought to get
round that limitation by first creating several smaller partitions, prior to
contemplating NTFS conversion. To say I'm trepidatious about that is a
gross understatement !

Appreciate your further thoughts ?

Sincerely, LEN
 
go>start\help and type in convert fat32 to ntfs and hit enter. Click the list button down the bottom with "microsoft knowledge base" #11 is the one you want. This takes you directly to the page on how it's done with tons of step by step articles and reference material. Took all of 10 seconds to find this. good luck.
 
Unfortunately this suggestion doesn't work in my XP_Home set-up. "Start"
buttonpress lists a few progs on left half of the pane, the right half list
(in order) My Docs, My Computer, Control Panel, Set Prog access, Search and
Run. No "Help" option visible. Nor can I get "Help" on the "Run" command
line. If you'd care to share knowledge how to get "Help" to appear in the
Start button list, that would be appreciated.
Sincerely, Len
The Unknown P said:
go>start\help and type in convert fat32 to ntfs and hit enter. Click the
Click to expand...
list button down the bottom with "microsoft knowledge base" #11 is the one
you want. This takes you directly to the page on how it's done with tons of
step by step articles and reference material. Took all of 10 seconds to find
this. good luck.
 
SUPPLEMENTARY - I've just learned from ng answer to a different problem, how
to customise, and added "Help" to my Start menu. Ain't ng's wunnerful ? full
of info, all you have to do is read, and laterally think on what you've
read.

The Unknown P said:
go>start\help and type in convert fat32 to ntfs and hit enter. Click the
Click to expand...
list button down the bottom with "microsoft knowledge base" #11 is the one
you want. This takes you directly to the page on how it's done with tons of
step by step articles and reference material. Took all of 10 seconds to find
this. good luck.
 
In
Len Dolby said:
Ken, thanks for the warning !
Click to expand...


You're welcome.

There's one conundrum already which I
haven't got clear in my mind - that is, according to the table, Fat32
is not supported on disk partitions >32Gb, which is strange, 'cos
mine is 40Gb, and currently (seems to) work fine.
Click to expand...


No, that's not true. FAT32 *is* supported at all sizes. This is a
common bit of confusion. Windows XP will not let you *create* a
FAT32 partition partition larger than 32GB, but will happily use
one if created externally. You apparently had a 40GB FAT32
partition before you upgraded to XP.


Having read a linked article about partition planning, I'd thought to
get round that limitation by first creating several smaller
partitions, prior to contemplating NTFS conversion. To say I'm
trepidatious about that is a gross understatement !

Appreciate your further thoughts ?
Click to expand...


That's not necessary.
 
Len Dolby said:
Is there an easy way to convert FAT32 drive to NTFS (in XP Home edition) ?
There's no Help topic in XP-Home that I can find..
Microsoft site - apart from going round in ever-decreasing circles, ALL info
there relates to XP -PRO edition.
There's a file (convert.exe) in XP-Home System32 directory - clicking on it,
nothing happens. (this file was referenced to by MS)

If possible, step by step procedure for novices. I understand basics, but am
an
enthusiastic amateur of maturity (DOS >Win 3.1>W98>XP, silver surfer) some
experience the hard way but no formal technical training. Please keep it
simple !
Click to expand...

Follow the steps below:
1. Click Start > Run.
2. type cmd and press ok
3. type CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS
4. Press enter.
 
Greetings --

How curious. A quick search of my Help & Support produced
something on the order of 45 useful entries.

You can safely convert your hard drive to NTFS whenever desired,
without having to format the partition and reinstall everything. As
always when performing any serious changes, back up any important data
before proceeding, just in case. A little advance preparation is also
strongly recommended, so you can avoid any performance hits caused by
the default cluster size:

Converting FAT32 to NTFS in Windows
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
SUPPLEMENTARY - I've just learned from ng answer to a different problem, how
to customise, and added "Help" to my Start menu. Ain't ng's wunnerful ? full
of info, all you have to do is read, and laterally think on what you've
read.
Click to expand...

Careful, Len. They're addicting. ;^)
 
Hey, Mr/Ms, T, now THAT's what I call a simple answer - just the "idiot
guide" old (but enthusiastic) fogies like me appreciate ! mille gratzie, may
a thousand blessings be upon you.

From advice elsewhere I addressed the potential issue of 4kb vs 512
sectors - seems my HD was already OK since the utility completed in no time
flat.

Sincerely, Len
 
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