Convert FAT32 NTFS utility

The three different types of file systems we shall cover are FAT32 (file allocation table 32), FAT16 (file allocation table 16) & NTFS (new technology file system)

Only Windows XP, 2000 and NT support the NTFS file system, (you cannot use it on Windows ME, 98 or 95.

• NTFS is the one to choose unless you really have a reason to use one of the other two.
• NTFS is far more secure and is an altogether more powerful file system, with better file compression.

Convert FAT32 NTFS article

I’ve never had problems converting mine or anyone else’s pc to NTFS, but I’ve always backed up the data just in case, as you should.

Convert FAT32 NTFS article

Note :: once you have converted to NTFS you cannot revert back

Ok so your ready to convert..

Close all application and windowsGo to the Start menu, select Run, type cmd click ok

A black DOS screen should now appear

Now type convert “the drive letter you wish to convert”: /fs:ntfs

For example if the drive you wish to convert is your C drive you would type

Convert c: /fs:ntfs

If your hard drive is already NTFS it will tell you,

otherwise from here just follow the next prompt and your off and running, depending on the size of your drive it may take about ten minutes to complete,

Your pc may ask you to reboot to do this, if so, reboot your pc and it will then begin to convert the file system.

Once again this might take a while

It’s very important at this stage that you do not power off your pc.

Once this is finished you’re pc hard drive should now be NTFS,

This can be checked by going to the start menu select run and type compmgmt.msc under the storage section select Disk management Select the drive you converted to NTFS and you should see the disk format,

Hopefully it should say NTFS.

FAT16 This is the original DOS file allocation system, it’s not really used in hard disk technology now due to the fact it can only support partitions up to 2048mb (just over 2gb)

FAT32 first came along with windows 98 rev b, can support drives up to 127gb, it file compression ratio is about 25% more than FAT 16,

The only downside to FAT32 is it’s security and it has a known but that can misreport files sizes after a system crashes, this is easily fixed by scandisk though

NTFS The latest and most resilient of the systems, is able to recover from system crashes/ disk failures, has much improved security for files or directories,

It also supports file compression, and fault tolerance disk configs such as mirroring and raid 5, has partition size limit is 2tb.

Convert FAT32 NTFS article

Operating systems and supported file systems

• Windows 95 – FAT 16
• Windows 98 – FAT 16
• Windows 98 rev b – FAT 16 & FAT 32
• Windows ME – FAT 16 – FAT 32
• Windows NT3 or 4 – FAT 16 – NTFS
• Windows 2000 – FAT 32 – NTFS
• Windows XP, Vista & 7 -  FAT32 – NTFS

Checkout some of our other articles for more on how to convert FAT32 NTFS

computer adviser ntfs utility article