Home > IT Answers > Microsoft Windows > Window Vista
Bryo's
10 pts.
0
Q:
Window Vista
FAT and NTFS, Windows Vista
Is it possible to change files from FAT32 to NTFS in windows Vista without it affecting my files and folders??

Thanks
ASKED: Nov 20 2007  6:24 AM GMT
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
RELATED QUESTIONS
0
Galucio
280 pts.
0
A:
 RATE THIS ANSWER
+2
Click to Vote:
  •   2
  •  0
  • AddThis Social Bookmark Button
You asked about converting "files" from FAT32 to NTFS. If you meant individual files, that is not possible. FAT stands for File Allocation Table and NTFS is New Technology File System. Essentially what it breaks down to is that FAT32 and NTFS are just means of storing directories of file locations, also some information surrounding the file in NTFS but if you look at the file, bit for bit on the hard disk it is exactly the same in NTFS as it is in FAT32 (If you need further info on this, please visit this site.) However, you can convert partitions from FAT32 to NTFS in Vista easily. This isn't a Vista thing, you could also do this in Windows XP. Just open a command window by typing "cmd" in the search field of your start menu.

You should first type in the help switch to learn more about how this utility works. 
convert /?


Below is the command to use if you want to convert your D drive. But make sure you fully understand the implications of using this utility before you use it. To convert a different partition, you'd simply change the "d" to the applicable letter. 

convert d: /fs:ntfs
Last Answered: Jul 8 2008  5:43 PM GMT by Galucio   280 pts.
Latest Contributors: BrentSheets   6535 pts., 3   20 pts.
  •   
0
0
RSS - Discussions Help
Discuss This Answer:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _



_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

BrentSheets   6535 pts.  |   Nov 20 2007  2:29PM GMT

Byro, after I improved the answer I found a Microsoft article that you might find interesting, too. It’s called Convert a hard disk or partition to NTFS format.

 

HCream   1235 pts.  |   Nov 22 2007  6:27AM GMT

Please beware that in Windows, this is a one way endeavor. Once you convert to NTFS, it is not possible to convert back to FAT32. (not without some help from 3rd party utilities such as Partition Magic)

 

Galucio   280 pts.  |   Jul 8 2008  5:44PM GMT

I added brief info on the purpose and function of a file system.

 
0