Fat 32 or NTFS and no I don't want Linux

[richie]

My Centrino portable PC is using FAT 32.

Would it be a problem to convert it to NTFS which is surly superior, and would I have to reinstall things to do this.

Does it need to be completely formatted etc to achieve the NTFS system.

It a Centrino 1,4 512 meg of ram 40 gigabytes hard disk. Bla Bla Bla, by the way it works fine, I'm just interested and have never done this before...

 

[BlackBetty]

You can convert the file system without reformatting or re-installing. However it is a oneway street and you can't go back without a reformat. Unless you have security issues I would not bother but the conversion can be made from the run command and is:

convert "driveletter" / fs:ntfs

 

[Fanum]

You can convert the file system without reformatting or re-installing. However it is a oneway street and you can't go back without a reformat. Unless you have security issues I would not bother but the conversion can be made from the run command and is:

convert "driveletter" / fs:ntfs

.......in theory..........

Might well work but FFS back EVERYTHING up first....

Personally I'd do a full backup to CD then do a full clean reformat......that way, you'll start with a clean new Windoze install anyway.......it's always faster even if you maintain a tidy system...I tend to reformat mine once a year regardless of the 'need'.

 

[cookie]

the proper way to do it..

so the master file table does not end up all over the place:

de-frag drive

create a blank placeholder file for the Master File Table (MFT) . open command window & type:

fsutil file createnew c:\placeholder.txt <size>

where <size> is the size of file in bytes. this should be 12.5% of total size of partition.
it will tell you file is created, it's not, it's still being created cos it's so big. wait until HDD LED goes out.

now run convert & tell it to use the placeholder file for the MFT:

convert c: /fs:nfts /cvtarealaceholder.txt

you'll get messages talking about dismounting volume etc. saying it can't do job without re-booting. let it. plough on.


i've done it that way. it worked for me.

personally i think NTFS is superior for reliability, also if you want some of the features in xp pro to work (encryption).

is it worth the effort/risk? dunno

 

[Fanum]

And while you're at it add a partition so you can defrag in stages afterwards, whilst still working ...makes life a lot easier.......