Changing HD from FAT 32

[tmh]

My desktop HD is currently FAT 32. Can I change it to NTFS without losing my data? If so, how?

I have an external HD that is NTFS which I've been using for video work. Should I backup my FAT 32 drive to the external before trying anything?

Thanks.

[macleod]

you shouldnt lose anything in the conversion. But, its always a good idea to back up your work from time to time.

Actually, I was reimaging my machine and hooked up my external drive to copy files on it that I can put back after the image is finished loading and this @#%@$%#@$% HP, formats my external drive instead of the C drive. I am ticked!!!!

[808smokey]

in xp you should be able to just "convert it" through the system manager without any loss

[jackal70058]

I've never converted FAT32 to NTFS.

But I've converted FAT16 to FAT32 using the Drive Converter (FAT32) in Windows 98 with no data loss. But I backed up before doing it jsut in case.

When ever you are fooling around with the hard disk, it always a good idea to back up.

It always a good idea to back up files, you will have a backup in case you get a virus.

[ViRaL1]

The conversion process from FAT32 to NTFS is virtually painless.

convert c: /fs:ntfs (or whatever drive you want to convert)

[aanaravs]

The conversion process from FAT32 to NTFS is virtually painless.

convert c: /fs:ntfs (or whatever drive you want to convert)

Yea, I have used that method without any loss.

[bazooka]

Can I change it to NTFS without losing my data?

Yes

[zzyzzx]

Can you convert it back also. Just curious.

[Capmaster]

I believe so. If you use Partition Magic you can go back and forth at will, so I would imagine the DOS command line "Convert" should do it as well

[ViRaL1]

The command line utility will not convert from NTFS to FAT32.

[bazooka]

Can you convert it back also. Just curious.

No,

It is a one way conversion.

[tmh]

Is there any advantage to FAT32? If it's a one-way conversion is there a downside to doing it?

Thanks fo all the help so far. Looks like it's easy, but also important to back up before doing "just in case". Also easy with a 2nd HD.

[zzyzzx]

Is there any advantage to FAT32? If it's a one-way conversion is there a downside to doing it?

Yeah, you might not be able to convert it back...

[Garibaldi]

Is there any advantage to FAT32? If it's a one-way conversion is there a downside to doing it?

Yes and no. Fat32 can be read by more operating systems like Linux and Mac OS X, might be important if you do anything with those. One disadvantage of Fat32 though is that it only supports filesizes up to 4 GB, where NTFS goes alot higher. This can be a problem when doing video-editing.

[tmh]

Thanks for all the info, folks. I didn't get around to doing the conversion but will try to get at it this weekend. Sounds like for me (Windows XP only and lots of video editing) NTFS is a better choice.