converting from FAT to NTFS

[swartsz 7]

at the moment i am running one HD with 3 partitions, the C drive is NTFS and the rest are still on FAT32. I want to convert both of them to NTFS without doing a complete format, now i found this, what it looks like, very easy and simple way of converting them, but can it really be this simple? or are there problems with using this method?

method ( from thegamingelement.com ):

Open Command Prompt from your start menu and simply type in the following line of text:

C:\> CONVERT C: /fs:ntfs

Of course, the C:\> is part of the command prompt, so don't type that in. It will usually schedule the conversion after next reboot. Don't worry if it reboots a few times when it looks like its converting, this is normal.

[Giampi 39]

I'm almost sure Windows XP includes a tool to convert from FAT32 to NTFS.

Actually I can't check now cause all my hd are NTFS but you should check inside Administrative tools located in your Control Panel.

Anyway best way is to use Partition Magic that is a commercial software but I belive there are other freeware softwares.

[Recon 0]

I converted my HDD with the command prompt and it worked fine. Have a look here.

[swartsz 7]

thanks guys, just ran the conversions for my 2 partitions and everything seems to be working fine!

Never knew it was this easy

[Specter 0]

The command prompt method that you have posted Swartsz, is the correct and safe way to do it. It is very reliable, and the way I do all of my client machines.

I know this is a bit late, but some things to consider before doing this:

The files can't be changed back, they are NTFS for good, without a reformat.

The partitions that you convert will not, as of yet, be sharable by anything other than another XP machine, and possibly, although I'm not sure, a Win2K machine with the latest service pack.

So, if you run Linux or Win98, or even 2K, and want to share the partitions for other OS's, they won't be seen, you will have to share individual files.

Edited September 30, 2004 by PhantmSniper

[swartsz 7]

thanks PhantmSniper for the tips, but it is my personal computer and i wasn't planning to connect to another pc any time soon so i will not have any problems.

but there is one thing that puzzles me, ever since i converted the partitions to NTFS some of the filenames are blue instead of the normal black, does it mean anything?

here is a little picture of the blue names i am talking about:

EDIT: spoke a little bit too soon, found that they are encrypted or compressed NTFS files and work normally.

Edited September 29, 2004 by swartsz