Change of disk from FAT32 to NTFS
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From: Alain Dekker on 28 Feb 2010 11:56 Hi, Running Windows XP Home, SP3. I understand that NTFS is more efficient than FAT32 (faster, some nice features). My home computer is only a 60GB disk, with two partitions. I don't remember the reason for this, but the primary partition (where the OS is installed) is FAT32 and the secondary partition is NTFS. Is there any way to convert the primary partition to NTFS without losing data? Note that the OS is installed on C: If I wanted to go for a more modern HDD with, say, 320Gb, whats the basic procedure for getting everything transferred? Will I have to re-install all applications, redo all settings, etc or can I "ghost" my old computer onto the new disk? Will the new disk need to be partitioned in the same way as the old one? Many thanks! Alain
From: Bruce Chambers on 28 Feb 2010 12:39 Alain Dekker wrote: > Hi, > > Running Windows XP Home, SP3. I understand that NTFS is more efficient than > FAT32 (faster, some nice features). My home computer is only a 60GB disk, > with two partitions. I don't remember the reason for this, but the primary > partition (where the OS is installed) is FAT32 and the secondary partition > is NTFS. > > Is there any way to convert the primary partition to NTFS without losing > data? Note that the OS is installed on C: > You can safely convert your current hard drive to NTFS whenever desired, without having to format the partition and reinstall everything. As always when performing any serious changes, back up any important data before proceeding, just in case. A little advance preparation is also strongly recommended, so you can avoid any performance hits caused by the default cluster size: Converting FAT32 to NTFS in Windows http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm > If I wanted to go for a more modern HDD with, say, 320Gb, whats the basic > procedure for getting everything transferred? Will I have to re-install all > applications, redo all settings, etc or can I "ghost" my old computer onto > the new disk? You could use a 3rd party cloning utility (i.e., Acronis TrueImage, Symantec Ghost, TeraByte's Image for WIndows, etc.to transfer everything to the larger hard drive. Most of these will adapt from the smaller to larger partitions. > Will the new disk need to be partitioned in the same way as > the old one? > Generally, cloning software clones by partition, so you'd likely automatically end up with two proportionately larger partitions on the new hard drive. But you could then use a partition manager to merge the two partitions into one, if so desired. (Or you could perform the merge before the cloning action.) -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot
From: Andrew E. on 28 Feb 2010 23:37 Two simple ways to do that,go to run,type: cmd In cmd type: CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS The cmd runs auto.Or,boot to xp cd,recovery console,select 1 for C:,press enter for password,type the same cmd. "Alain Dekker" wrote: > Hi, > > Running Windows XP Home, SP3. I understand that NTFS is more efficient than > FAT32 (faster, some nice features). My home computer is only a 60GB disk, > with two partitions. I don't remember the reason for this, but the primary > partition (where the OS is installed) is FAT32 and the secondary partition > is NTFS. > > Is there any way to convert the primary partition to NTFS without losing > data? Note that the OS is installed on C: > > If I wanted to go for a more modern HDD with, say, 320Gb, whats the basic > procedure for getting everything transferred? Will I have to re-install all > applications, redo all settings, etc or can I "ghost" my old computer onto > the new disk? Will the new disk need to be partitioned in the same way as > the old one? > > Many thanks! > Alain > > > . >
From: Alain Dekker on 1 Mar 2010 04:50
Thanks for that help. I'll back all my data up before trying this. :o) "Andrew E." <eckrichco(a)msn.com> wrote in message news:93905E9C-735F-45C6-B5BA-F57744545F8E(a)microsoft.com... > Two simple ways to do that,go to run,type: cmd In cmd type: > CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS The cmd runs auto.Or,boot to xp cd,recovery > console,select 1 for C:,press enter for password,type the same cmd. > > "Alain Dekker" wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> Running Windows XP Home, SP3. I understand that NTFS is more efficient >> than >> FAT32 (faster, some nice features). My home computer is only a 60GB disk, >> with two partitions. I don't remember the reason for this, but the >> primary >> partition (where the OS is installed) is FAT32 and the secondary >> partition >> is NTFS. >> >> Is there any way to convert the primary partition to NTFS without losing >> data? Note that the OS is installed on C: >> >> If I wanted to go for a more modern HDD with, say, 320Gb, whats the basic >> procedure for getting everything transferred? Will I have to re-install >> all >> applications, redo all settings, etc or can I "ghost" my old computer >> onto >> the new disk? Will the new disk need to be partitioned in the same way as >> the old one? >> >> Many thanks! >> Alain >> >> >> . >> |