Is there anyway to convert NTFS to FAT 32 without using any third parties programs or reformating the hard drive?
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You cannot do that without using third-party software like PartitionMagic www.powerquest.com
But the oppossite is possible: you can do a convert from fat32 to ntfs, but not ntfs to fat32: therefore you need third-party tools like the one I mentioned above.
I did that few months ago.
You can do this by using the Windows XP Startup disks or, if your computer supports a bootable CD-ROM, by using the Recovery Console tool on the Windows XP CD-ROM. Reformatting or repartitioning a disk deletes all of the data that is on the disk, so make sure that you back up your data before you reformat the disk.
To use Recovery Console to reformat a drive, follow these steps:
1. Start the computer by using the Windows XP CD-ROM or the Startup disks.
2. When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press F10.
3. In Recovery Console, specify the appropriate installation, and then log on by using your Administrator password.
4. Type map, and then press ENTER.
5. Note the drive that you want to reformat. The drive letters may be different in Recovery Console from what they are in Windows XP.
5. Type format x: /fs:fat32, where x is the letter of the drive that you want to format and FAT32 is the file system that you want to use, and then press ENTER.
6. Type y and then press ENTER to confirm your choice. When the formatting process is finished, type exit and then press ENTER, to restart the computer.
Hope this help!
Chongpc
The answer to your question is no.
Cedric80 You say you did that a few months ago, and then go on to describe doing something oppositte to what the questioner asked. He specificaly said <<without using any third parties programs or reformating the hard drive? >> Did you read the question ?
Husseyin have you actualy tried this ?.
there is no such command.
Excuse me....iismatt, If you never did that or don't know how to do it, Please don't post anything that confusing others ok? I did that several times in past few months, If this not working, How my colleague working using thier pc that I downgrade from WInXP(NTFS file system) to Win98(FAT32)?
tgtcat69, Yes, Agree! I forgot to mention that backup all your data to second disk or other media before convert NTFS to FAT32.
Chongpc
As i said before what you are asking cannot be done, The convert command only works one way. fat32 to ntfs.
Cedric80
The way you are suggesting is to format the disk, this is not what the questioner asked.
As i said before he wants to do this without formatting the disk. There are many ways to format a disk,
I am sure chongpc knows this already.
You are saying you have done this several times, NOT what the questioner asked.
So why are you telling the questioner how to do something that not only has he not asked but also something he probably already knows.
1. Do you have to convert your hard drive before playing Quake?
"convert C: /fs:KWAKE2"
2. Will this affect my ability to pick up first aid boxes and nail guns?
3. Can I later reverse this process to allow me to play Age of Empires, or will I be stuck with a Kwake2 Partition forever? :-)
Well cooled, dzenar. Next question please.....
Stop, stop...
And what if i CAN'T use PartitionMagic and CAN'T back-up my data?
I have a problem like this...
Partition magic doesn't work, reporting stragne errors (error 714 or wrong file names (always files 9 and 11)), maybe because of non-english system?
I cannot copy data to other system: the partition is C, system one, and some files are always in use. And if I switch to another operating system, I can't access some forbidden/encrypted/otherw
What can I do???
You have to make two rescue diskettes (one bootable, the other with PM) if you have PM installed there is an option to create those diskettes.
Then first you have to reboot the pc with the bootable diskette (make sure you first boot device is the floppy) when it's loaded, it'll ask for the diskette with PM on it. And with that program you can create, resize, ... the partition.
ikari_87
Just a minor point here. This question by chongpc has already been closed and an answer accepted. The most recent comment before your fresh question here was 2nd August 2003.
You should really be starting a fresh question of your own which, by all means, could be cross-referenced to this one.
Welcome to EE :-)
Don't worry about it, nugre. I've done it myself, and it's sometimes difficult to see the "accepted answer" if it is way up near the top of a long question.
The best indication is if you go right to the top of the question and see this:
Points: 50 Grade: B
Type: PAQ
View Accepted Answer
The expression PAQ means that it has been saved as a "Previously Asked Question" and can then be found with a search.
Have a look at this page for some more explanations:
http://www.experts-exchang
Hope this helps you get the feel of things here.
Regards
Bill
I was just researching this exact thing when I ran across this thread. From what I've come up with, WinXP performs much better on smaller drives if installed as FAT32 rather than NTFS. The benefits of NTFS really don't kick in unless the partiton that XP is installed on is 25gb or larger. You MUST use NTFS is your partiton size is 32gb or larger.
Here's a couple of links to check out:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/nt
http://www.robertmoir.co.u
http://faq.arstechnica.com
http://www.neoseeker.com/A
jamx13.
While your comment is certainly useful, I was just pointing out to nugre (who had also added a comment) that this question has been closed.
Hang onto those links and wait for another similar question to be asked, and then dive in there with them. They will then be helpful at the time when the question is still open.
Sometimes it isn't obvious when a comment has been accepted, because the "Accepted Answer" text is light-green on light-blue, but the best indication of what questions are open is to look at the main index under each "topic area" (you'll see this being referred to as a TA). There are 2 separate indexes with the headers:
Questions Awaiting Answers: (referred to as an "unlocked" question)
and
Previously Asked Questions: (referred to as a Previously Asked question or PAQ).
Click on this link which will open this same page, but in an older layout which isn't always available and doesn't support some of the features.
http://oldlook.experts-exc
You will see the bold green shading on the horizontal header bar of the comment:
"Accepted Answer from barcelona_blom".
Revert back to this page, and then look to the right of that same comment. You will see "Accepted Answer", and this is what to look for in future. In fact, as I was pointing out to nugre, there is an indication of the question's "status" available right before the opening question. In this case:
Points: 50 Grade: B
Type: PAQ
View Accepted Answer
you guys better read this article about fat to ntfs conversion:
http://www.microsoft.com/w
it stated there that it is possible to convert fat to ntfs and vice versa!
You can get a partitioning tool for windows xp i belive its called partition manager. Forgive me for my accuracy but im a linux native expert ive been on linux since the good old days with the comand interface, ntfs partitions and fat/fat32 partititons are like alian languages to me so im just going off some good old professional advice here. Oh you guys dont know any good advanved prtitioning toos do ya or really good windows programming sites planetource code source forge i already know. Regarding Huseyin1's post well he is absouloutly right you cant convert straight from ntfs to fat32 i think there is some lega security reason for this as ive explored other options you need a partionion manager to do this as ive said already partiton manager 9.0 seems to be the best as it logicaly supports ntfs partitioning.
right on bro
regards josh
I don't really understand what everyone is trying to say here, some say Convertion is possible from NTFS to FAT32 and some say its not. As far as I have done, NTFS cannot be converted to FAT32 without formatting or deleting the partition. Please don't confuse by saying you have done this.
So the final answer is NO.
ntfs can not be directly cnverted to fat32 it is important to rember this ie ntfs is not backward compatible with fat32 as a rule in the windows enviroment. However it is possible to convert it back to fat32 i know ive just corrected my self but the only way to acomplish this is to use a third party editor. (you may download partition manager directly from this link "http://www.ranish.com/par
so the morale of the story is you cant directly alter it but it is possible using the above method.
hope this helps
josh
dear chonpc
the best way to convert ntfs drive to fat32 is if you have more than one drive first copy files from one drive to another and format the empty drive in the format option give fat32 ot fat then the drive will be converted into fat.when it had converted into fat32 copy the files back to the drive like wise from one to another don't do that for program drive.
first of all let me know that all of your drive has been converted to ntfs. i too have a same problem. this stupid microsoft startup disk don't even detect ntfs drive in ms-dos mode and i dont know why are they giving ntfs conversion option. i too suffer from the same problem but first try this
*if you have a windows xp Cd
then while booting up press del key and system setup will appear in that select advanced bios setup, in that change the primary boot device into cd-rom and restart now insert the windows Xp cd and when it detects the cd rom i think so that windows setup will automatically start even if ms Dos doesn't detect ntfs drives i think so that windows Xp setup will detect ntfs drive in that select the program drive where you first installed the windows Xp.
the setup will only reinstalles your windows Xp and no problem that all of your programs is safe.
CK_lee
Please read through the entire question, including the 6 comments made by myself and others indicating that this question has been closed for quite some time, and a comment accepted as an answer.
You might also like to read through the following page:
http://www.experts-exchang
It's been a wihle since the topic closure.
I'd also like to add something:
if partition magic failing to convert to fat32, you can shirn ntfs partition , create second fat32 partition, when move all movable files to it. also redirect page.sys file to reside on D drive
then shrink NTFS again and increase D drive size.
and when copy system files (or move, whatever) to D drive
when you can reboot mark ntfs partition for deletion and Fat32 for resizing to become only one partition
and after reboot partition magic will complete this operations
or use partition magic botable cd/floppy
I have converted a bootable NTFS partition to FAT32, using some linux utilities and windows boot disks:
http://www.dynevor.org/lin
Wow, this topic has gone for 2 years, that's amazing.
The answer to the original question dated 7/30/2003 is simply "no, you cannot convert ntfs to fat32 without using 3rd party tools and without reformatting the drive."
To all the people that posted, use partition magic, etc.... those are 3rd party tools.
To all the people who suggested using a boot disk, etc... that is reformatting the drive.
This answer could have easily ended an ongoing 2 year debate.
You can't do that. From converting FAT32 to NTFS, there is an option in windows XP. but without using third party software you can't do this.
But try this once.
Run Disk Management (right click on my computer -- manage --- disk management {windows xp})
delete the partition (First backup it if there is necessary files.)
create now partition -- primary / logical... then choose the file system as ntfs.)
it will work I think..
Reards
Suzesh
Converting a filesystem from NTFS to FAT32 can only be done using 3rd party software :
- partition magic (you have to pay and install it in windows)
- GNU GParted under GPL on a live CD, that let's you do the job without installing anything
http://gparted.sourceforge
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by: Huseyin1Posted on 2003-07-31 at 00:45:32ID: 9041861
If this is the primary partition, I dont think this is possible, but if not at the DOS box (booting from CD) type convert X: /fs:fat32.
where the letter X is the letter of the drive you want to convert.
H