FAT32 To NTFS

Riptorn

Vista Guru
Vista Pro
Hi,
I just bought a external hard drive
But, after transfering all my data I found out it is FAT32?
Is there a way I can change this to NTFS?
Without losing the data?

it is drive G
Can someone help me?

Thanks
Rip
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    CPU
    CELERON DUO
    Memory
    4GB
    Hard Drives
    360GB
Hello Riptorn,
Try this, seems to work OK and is very easy to do.
Good luck and post your results.

How to convert a FAT volume or a FAT32 volume to NTFS

Note Although the chance of corruption or data loss during the conversion is minimal, we recommend that you perform a backup of the data on the volume that you want to convert before you start the conversion.


To convert an existing FAT or FAT32 volume to NTFS, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
  2. At the command prompt, type the following, where drive letter is the drive that you want to convert: convert drive letter: /fs:ntfs
    For example, type the following command to convert drive E to NTFS: convert e: /fs:ntfs
    Note If the operating system is on the drive that you are converting, you will be prompted to schedule the task when you restart the computer because the conversion cannot be completed while the operating system is running. When you are prompted, click YES.
  3. When you receive the following message at the command prompt, type the volume label of the drive that you are converting, and then press ENTER: The type of the file system is FAT.
    Enter the current volume label for drive drive letter
  4. When the conversion to NTFS is complete, you receive the following message at the command prompt: Conversion complete
  5. Quit the command promp
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/228905-convert-fat-fat32-volume-ntfs.html
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
Thanks.
It asks for a volume lable?
what is it?
I put G but is incorrect?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    CPU
    CELERON DUO
    Memory
    4GB
    Hard Drives
    360GB
Open an elevated command prompt, cut and paste this.


G:\> CONVERT G: /fs:ntfs


Reboot and it will convert. (hopefully).
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
Open an elevated command prompt, cut and paste this.


G:\> CONVERT G: /fs:ntfs


Reboot and it will convert. (hopefully).
Well, when I put the G:\ Convert it asks for a volume lable??
I don't know what it is??:confused:
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    CPU
    CELERON DUO
    Memory
    4GB
    Hard Drives
    360GB
There's two ways to tell. In My Computer, right click the drive and select Properties. In the General tab the volume label is the name in the top box. Or you can go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer management > Disk management and in the top pane it will list the drives by Volume
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
If you cant find it try this.
To find your volume label, just right-click on your G drive in MyComputer
and Hit Properties. If it's blank, just simply hit enter when you try that
convert command. If you're at the command prompt, VOL G: will also show you the volume label.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
There's two ways to tell. In My Computer, right click the drive and select Properties. In the General tab the volume label is the name in the top box. Or you can go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer management > Disk management and in the top pane it will list the drives by Volume
:confused:
Now it is asking if I want to dismount this volume Y/N
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    CPU
    CELERON DUO
    Memory
    4GB
    Hard Drives
    360GB
Type y, it's because the drive is in use..
Don't forget, it wont convert until you reboot.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
Type y, it's because the drive is in use..
Don't forget, it wont convert until you reboot.

Ok, thanks, stoney, all done
But how can I change the drive from G to F??
Do you know this?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    CPU
    CELERON DUO
    Memory
    4GB
    Hard Drives
    360GB
Go to My Computer and make sure nothing is F:
Plug in that hard drive and go to computer management (in Administrative tools) and under Storage find Disk Management
Right click on the partition of the portable hard drive and click change drive letter
Click Change and select F:
Click OK then Yes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
Go to My Computer and make sure nothing is F:
Plug in that hard drive and go to computer management (in Administrative tools) and under Storage find Disk Management
Right click on the partition of the portable hard drive and click change drive letter
Click Change and select F:
Click OK then Yes.

Great, thanks, I did it.
But now the default picture that came with the drive has changed to something weird?
it has 3 dots on it?eek?What's with that?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    CPU
    CELERON DUO
    Memory
    4GB
    Hard Drives
    360GB

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    CPU
    CELERON DUO
    Memory
    4GB
    Hard Drives
    360GB
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