Is it possible to convert an FAT drive to NTFS without having to format the drive and lose all the data in it?
826101
yes you can.\n\nhttp://www.soft32.com/download_151.html\n\n\ndownload and install Partition magic program.\nopen partition magic and right click on the particular drive you want to convert. simple
1093236
Boot to DOS, then run NTFSDOS. It will only allow you to read the files, but that should be enough to backup your stuff.\n\nhttp://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/NtfsDos.html\n\nIf the problem is more serious or if you have larger files you need to back up, I'd recommend purchasing VCOM Fix-It Utilities 6 Professional. You can find it at Amazon.
317030
WIndows will reformat it to the NTFS system when you install it. I have hard drives that I switch between Linux and Windows all the time.
1102166
NTFS is a better option . dont stop
65911
format c: /s /u\n\nbut you can only do this from a boot cd / floppy and it will wipe the boot drive clean.\n\nof course that assume a DOS format and not a NTFS format.
740914
reload using the ntfs file system and get sp/2
735890
if your thumbdrive is formatted using ntfs, chances are you will not be able to use it unless you are the administrator and you have full rights to it.  however, you can use your workstation(provided you are a local administrator in your pc), connect the thumbdrive and change the ownership of the files therein and the drive itself.  otherwise, you may need to reformat your thumbdrive.
273260
It's not really a problem, this is often done when you want to have a machine dual boot, lets say... windows xp, and windows 98. Xp uses ntfs, and 98 uses Fat32.
597013
Try using the FORMAT command. The Syntax may vary depending on your version of Windows.\n\nIt should be: FORMAT X: /FS:FAT\n\nWhere X: is the drive letter assigned to your card.
973942
If you're using an older OS like Win98, it can't see ntfs partitions.  It sounds like the 120GB drive is formatted in ntfs and the recovery partition is formatted in FAT32 (which all Windows OS recognizes).\n\nI suggest reformatting the drive in FAT32 or upgrade to WinXP.
199207
You can use a linux live CD to format almost any partition scheme you want (live meaning that the OS runs off of a CD), here is one I use regularly, it has saved my computer/data several times, you will need a CD burner, and burning software that can burn .ISO disc image files (like NERO, or Record Now!):\nhttp://slax.linux-live.org/\n\nIf you want to completely wipe/zero out your hard drive, you can use this software (note that your hardrive will be completely erased, and all data on it will be unrecoverable, even by the best professionals):\nhttp://dban.sourceforge.net/\n\n............AND\ngojurokusai, I know what you are talking about, what it is saying, is that if you have formated a drive as NTFS, you cannot change it back to FAT32 without loosing data, however, you can "upgrade" your EXISTING FAT32 to NTFS without loosing any data, not to say that you cannot completely erase/reformat a NTFS partition, however you will loose all data... But with the proper tools, you can now go back to FAT32 from NTFS...\n\nWhich brings up a good point, if your willing to cough up about 40-60$, you can easily do about anything, with any kind of partition you can imagine, this is probably the easiest route to go, The utility is "Partition Magic", and it is made by "Norton/Symantec". Here is a link to the product:\nhttp://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/products/system_performance/pm80/index.html\n\n..and if that don't help you, PRAY!\n\nBest of Luck!
1070463
In NTFS (new technology file system) you get more options like encrypting data and more and you can have unlimited hard drive unlimited partitions and in FAT you don't have any more options and you cannot have hard drive more than 108 GB.\n                                             hope it helps
915158
Hi Peter,\n\nYou have a number of options. First one would be to give the 'everyone' group full permissions on everything on all your NTFS folders - and then modify them when your windows has been reinstalled. Or you can not change anything and simply 'take ownership' of the files when you are in your new windows install - there is a knowledgebase article on that here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421. If you do that with the USB drive, it's advisable to give everyone read and write access otherwise yes, if it's permissions are only for your local account on a local computer you will have problems accessing it. I wouldn't bother formatting it with NTFS unless you need it - format it with FAT32 and all NTFS permissions are lost when you copy everything across.
200101
Using a program such as Partition Magic you can accomplish your goal. Bad news though, Many times people lose all their data when attempting to do what you are talking about.  Partition Magic if used correctly will not do that.  Using this program if you are not computer saavy could be a disaster.  A computer shop should be able to do it for you at a cost of 25 to 50 dollars.\n\nPerhaps you should just tranfer most of your files and programs to the D: drive.\n\nHave a Great Day
136269
No, it's not possible to transfer the space.  You could, however, format the C drive and then copy all the files from the E drive to it and then use it again.
1007753
Reading follow excepts from Active@KillDisk for Dos manual is scary enough!\n\nThe FORMAT utility actually creates new FAT and ROOT tables, leaving all previous data on the disk untouched. Moreover, an image of the replaced FAT and ROOT tables are stored, so that the UNFORMAT command can be used to restore them. FDISK merely cleans the Partition Table (located in the drive's first sector) and does not touch anything else.\n\nSo u can go and reformat your HDD as many times as you like, your DATA can still be resurrected by unformatting!\n\nIf you really want to KILL that HDD confidential content better use Active@KillDisk for DOS.  It's only 622kb big! Boot from DOS and key in the commandline to start erasing your HDD completely.\n\nProperly there are dozens of other similar programs available.
1117144
The only suggestion I can think of off hand is to check and make sure the formatting is correct on the drive.  Use HFS+, unless you want to do multi-platform transfers, then go with FAT 32.