How to Use Convert.exe to Convert a Partition to the NTFS File System?

SUMMARY

Windows XP supports two disk file systems: the file allocation table (FAT) file system and the NTFS file system. This article explains how to convert a FAT partition into an NTFS partition and discusses the considerations that you must take into account.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows XP includes the Convert.exe utility for converting a FAT partition to an NTFS partition. Convert.exe is simple to use, but there are some limitations that you should consider before using the utility.

You should consider the following limitations before you convert a FAT partition to NTFS:

• The conversion is a one-way process. After you convert a partition to NTFS, you cannot convert the partition back to FAT. To restore the partition as a FAT partition, the partition would have to be reformatted as FAT, which erases all data from the partition. Data would then be restored from backup.
• Removing Windows XP to revert to Windows 98 or to Windows Millennium Edition (Me) is not an option after you convert any drive on the computer to NTFS.
• You cannot convert the system partition of a RISC-based computer to NTFS. The ARC specification requires that the system partition be FAT. It is possible to create a small (1-megabyte) FAT partition for the system partition and then install Windows on an NTFS partition (the boot partition).
• Convert.exe requires that a certain amount of free space be present on the drive in order to convert the file system.For additional information about the amount of free space that is required for a conversion, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Free Space Required to Convert FAT to NTFS.

NOTE: Although there is little chance for corruption or data loss during the conversion from FAT to NTFS, it is a good idea to perform a full backup of the data on the drive that it is to be converted before you run the convert command. Before you proceed, it is also a good idea to verify the integrity of the backup.

To convert a FAT partition to NTFS, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.

2. At the command prompt, type CONVERT driveletter: /FS:NTFS.

3. Convert.exe attempts to convert the partition to NTFS.

While Convert is running, you may receive the following error message:

Convert cannot gain exclusive access to the driveletter:, so it cannot convert it now. Would you like to schedule it to be converted the next time the system restarts (Y/N)?

You receive this error message under any of the following three conditions:

• If you run the CONVERT command while the current directory is on the drive that is to be converted (for example, if you type CONVERT F: /FS:NTFS at the F:\> prompt). To resolve this, either click Yes in the error message and then restart the computer, or change to a directory on another drive and retype the command.
• If a program has a file open on the drive that is to be converted. To resolve this, either click Yes in the error message and let the drive be converted next time the computer is restarted, or close any programs that may be using files on the drive. Remember that this also applies to users who connect to files over the network and to a paging file that resides on the drive.
• If you attempt to convert the partition from which the operating system is running. It is not possible to convert the boot partition while the operating system is running. To convert the boot partition, it is always necessary to run the CONVERT command, click Yes in the error message, and then restart the computer. The partition is converted the next time the computer is restarted. As an alternative, you can start the computer in an installation of Windows XP that is on a different partition, and convert the boot partition from that installation of Windows XP.

Another Solution for Converting Partition

Converting partition by convert.exe seems to be one solution for converting FAT to NTFS. However, the converting operations in this way are somehow difficult for common users since not all of them are computer experts. So an alternative which is easy to use is what they really need.

Fortunately, the updated version of EaseUS Partition Master is with two new features added: convert and explore partition. The convert utility of this software allows users to convert FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 to NTFS without any data loss. Below is the screenshot of converting partition by this partition software:

From above, you will find that with user-friendly interface, EaseUS Partition Master convert partition easily and safely. Its operations are more convenient for common computer users.

Aside from converting partition, the most shining point of this partition software is resize/move partition without destroying your data. Furthermore, disk & partition copy utility allows users to backup their data before performing any operations. This is also useful for converting partition if you are afraid of any data loss because of accidental affairs.

No matter which solution you choose, it is always better to backup your data in advance.

Related Articles:

• How to Convert FAT Disks to NTFS?
• How do I convert FAT 32 to NTFS in Windows 2000, XP, 2003 Server and Vista?
• How to Convert FAT Partition to NTFS?
• Convert FAT32 to NTFS File System Easily and Safely
• Partition Software to Replace Convert Command
• Convert File System without Data Loss
• How to change fat/fat32 file system to ntfs?
• How to Switch from FAT32 to NTFS?

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