Convert to NTFS?

[Guest Walter R.]

The hard drives in my seven year old computer are formatted in Fat 32.

 

Can I use Win XP pro SP2 to convert all my partitions and drives to NTFS. Is

it worth the trouble? How would I go about it? Can I convert the drive that

holds the OS (C: drive)?

 

--

Walter

http://www.rationality.net

-

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Convert to NTFS?

 

On Sun, 6 Jul 2008 15:50:26 -0700, "Walter R." <wer25@example.com>

wrote:

> The hard drives in my seven year old computer are formatted in Fat 32.

>

> Can I use Win XP pro SP2 to convert all my partitions and drives to NTFS.

 

 

Yes.

 

> Is

> it worth the trouble?

 

 

Only you can answer that.

 

> How would I go about it?

 

 

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.

 

 

> Can I convert the drive that

> holds the OS (C: drive)?

 

 

 

Yes.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Malke]

Re: Convert to NTFS?

 

Walter R. wrote:

> The hard drives in my seven year old computer are formatted in Fat 32.

>

> Can I use Win XP pro SP2 to convert all my partitions and drives to NTFS.

> Is it worth the trouble? How would I go about it? Can I convert the drive

> that holds the OS (C: drive)?

>

 

Yes, you can convert all the drives from FAT32 to NTFS. Read the following

article first:

 

http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm - Converting FAT32 to NTFS by Alex

Nichol

 

Make sure you have all your data backed up first because Stuff Happens.

Actually, you should be doing this anyway - particularly with such an

elderly machine.

 

As for whether it's worth it or not, only you can answer the question. What

is your reason for wanting to convert? After all, you've gone along with

FAT32 for 7 years; what has changed that you need NTFS now? NTFS is

certainly better but unless you have a pressing need I think I'd leave a

very old computer like yours alone.

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest Anna]

Re: Convert to NTFS?

 

> Walter R. wrote:

>

>> The hard drives in my seven year old computer are formatted in Fat 32.

>>

>> Can I use Win XP pro SP2 to convert all my partitions and drives to NTFS.

>> Is it worth the trouble? How would I go about it? Can I convert the drive

>> that holds the OS (C: drive)?

 

 

"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message

news:%2313u5973IHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Yes, you can convert all the drives from FAT32 to NTFS. Read the following

> article first:

>

> http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm - Converting FAT32 to NTFS by Alex

> Nichol

>

> Make sure you have all your data backed up first because Stuff Happens.

> Actually, you should be doing this anyway - particularly with such an

> elderly machine.

>

> As for whether it's worth it or not, only you can answer the question.

> What

> is your reason for wanting to convert? After all, you've gone along with

> FAT32 for 7 years; what has changed that you need NTFS now? NTFS is

> certainly better but unless you have a pressing need I think I'd leave a

> very old computer like yours alone.

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

 

 

Walter:

Malke's final sentence is the "controlling" one. There's really nothing to

be gained in any substantial way by converting your file system from FAT32

to NTFS given your seven year old PC. And there's a danger, slight as it is,

that unexpected problems will arise as a result of the conversion, even

should the conversion appear to be successful. We have seen too many cases

where that has happened. We're assuming that your PC is functioning without

any problems - (at least any problems that would be caused by the OS present

file system). Leave well enough alone.

Anna

[Guest JS]

Re: Convert to NTFS?

 

If it runs, doesn't burp, gurp or slurp then stay FAT and happy :-)

 

JS

 

"Walter R." <wer25@example.com> wrote in message

news:e7ikqq73IHA.4500@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> The hard drives in my seven year old computer are formatted in Fat 32.

>

> Can I use Win XP pro SP2 to convert all my partitions and drives to NTFS.

> Is it worth the trouble? How would I go about it? Can I convert the drive

> that holds the OS (C: drive)?

>

> --

> Walter

> http://www.rationality.net

> -

>

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: Convert to NTFS?

 

But why bother, if it's this old, and working fine as it is? Why take the

chance?

 

Walter R. wrote:

> The hard drives in my seven year old computer are formatted in Fat 32.

>

> Can I use Win XP pro SP2 to convert all my partitions and drives to NTFS.

> Is

> it worth the trouble? How would I go about it? Can I convert the drive

> that

> holds the OS (C: drive)?

>

> --

> Walter

> http://www.rationality.net

> -

[Guest Walter R.]

Re: Convert to NTFS?

 

Thank you all for your input. I will follow your advice: If it ain't broke,

don't fix it.

 

--

Walter

http://www.rationality.net

-

"Walter R." <wer25@example.com> wrote in message

news:e7ikqq73IHA.4500@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> The hard drives in my seven year old computer are formatted in Fat 32.

>

> Can I use Win XP pro SP2 to convert all my partitions and drives to NTFS.

> Is it worth the trouble? How would I go about it? Can I convert the drive

> that holds the OS (C: drive)?

>

> --

> Walter

> http://www.rationality.net

> -

>

[Guest JS]

Re: Convert to NTFS?

 

You're welcome.

 

JS

 

 

"Walter R." <wer25@example.com> wrote in message

news:ujTIeb$3IHA.4720@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Thank you all for your input. I will follow your advice: If it ain't

> broke, don't fix it.

>

> --

> Walter

> http://www.rationality.net

> -

> "Walter R." <wer25@example.com> wrote in message

> news:e7ikqq73IHA.4500@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>> The hard drives in my seven year old computer are formatted in Fat 32.

>>

>> Can I use Win XP pro SP2 to convert all my partitions and drives to NTFS.

>> Is it worth the trouble? How would I go about it? Can I convert the drive

>> that holds the OS (C: drive)?

>>

>> --

>> Walter

>> http://www.rationality.net

>> -

>>

>

>

[Guest michael]

Re: Convert to NTFS?

 

Walter R. wrote:

> The hard drives in my seven year old computer are formatted in Fat 32.

>

> Can I use Win XP pro SP2 to convert all my partitions and drives to NTFS. Is

> it worth the trouble? How would I go about it? Can I convert the drive that

> holds the OS (C: drive)?

>

 

convert /fs:ntfs C: