Converting a FAT32 to NTFS without formatting

[-Jv-]

Today I was copying a large iso (5GB,a backup) to my external hdd wich was FAT32 and only supports files to 3.2GB (I believe) so I googled how to convert without formatting, but then i remebered i've come across such a thing in a computer magazine, so I look under my bed where all my magazines are(No dirty magazines, as some of you were already thinking ) and found the solution !

I'm just posting this for other people that had the same problem as me:

Open up command prompt (Windows button + R) and type in convert x: /fs:ntfs where X is you drive letter, now it will start converting, if it asks to force the connection that just means another application is making use of it, so just press Y to confirm. That's it !

-Jv

 

[.[BORN]2kill]

Man I haven't used fat32 this century I think

 

[kashusmc]

Whats fat32 and NTFS

dont laugh I wanna learn

 

[Havegooda {A|R}]

Different file systems. HDDs (and some flash drives) normally use NTFS, while small things like a flash drive use FAT(32).

~Gooda~

 

[Mustachio]

If this is simply a storage solution, you could have also used winrar or some other archiver to compress and split it into multiple files.

And also, if I am not mistaken, once you convert to NTFS you cannot convert back to FAT32 without formatting, something to keep in mind (unless I am wrong)

 

[!Pluforia!]

More specifically, if you were wondering what the actual acronym's mean


NTFS: New Technology File System

FAT32: File Allocation Table 32 bit

 

[-Jv-]

If this is simply a storage solution, you could have also used winrar or some other archiver to compress and split it into multiple files.

And also, if I am not mistaken, once you convert to NTFS you cannot convert back to FAT32 without formatting, something to keep in mind (unless I am wrong)

that's right, because if you do have files larger the 4gb and try to convert back, it will give an error...

 

[-Jv-]

NTFS is generally seen as better than FAT32 for the main fact that it can archive files more efficiently and so you can store more files technically. Also I do believe that NTFS is more reliable then FAT32.

Most drives are formatted to NTFS these days. It's just the done thing I suppose.

Hope this helps

Aarandorf

Some are still FAT32, because mac (not sure about mac) and some linux versions don't work with NTFS

 

[blizbiggy]

Some are still FAT32, because mac (not sure about mac) and some linux versions don't work with NTFS

They have their own file system.


Windows use to have other systems like fat16 and raw. Windows 98 brought in FAT32 and windows 2000 introduced NTFS

I keep my flash drive at FAT32 for the simple fact if I need to work on an older pc that only has FAT32, that it will be more compatible.