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convert NTFS to FAT 32?

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I have a 40 gig HD, as NTFS, now due to it?s ?disk write errors? etc,have bought a new 60 gig HD to replace it, now have a dilemma:

-I sucessfully created dual boot W98 & wins 2000 pro Operating systems on new 60gig HD, left it as fat 32, so data can be shared

-but my old HD is NTFS,so I have no way for new HD-as fat 32-to see old data ,I want to copy

can you convert NTFS to FAT 32 in Windows 2000?

Without having to buy PartitionMagic 7 update?

18 replies

by joseph moore

Nope.
There are no conversion tools in Windows to convert from NTFS to FAT32.

Partiton Magic is what you need to get.

Sorry for the bad news.

by joseph moore

Yeah, if you put your NTFS drive in a system with a FAT32 primary partition, and you get the system to recognize the NTFS drive as an additional drive (like E: drive), then yes, you can copy data from the NTFS drive to the FAT32 drive.

by dmiles

No,there is no way to convert NTFS to Fat32 without using a third party software
Software suggestions included that may be considered
Paragon Partition Manager and PartitionMagic

by bobho

You cannot convert the ntfs to fat32 without reformatting and loosing all of the data. You can, however, go to the following website and get a free utility to read the ntfs volume in win98 (or there is a version available to purchase which will allow you read/write capability):

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/ntfswin98.shtml

Those guys at SysInternals are good!

Enjoy,

DrBob:>)

by jazzbo54

If its true , Windows 2000 supports FAT, FAT32 and NTFS, then since I have Windows 2000 pro,installed on new HD, and set up old (NTFS only)as slave,I should be able see & copy data from old to new HD(which is fat 32)
correct?

by thechas

Since you are looking to shelf or re-format the NTSF drive, yes you can install it as a slave drive (make sure to set all drive jumpers correctly) boot into W2K, and copy the files you need off of the drive.

Chas

by brian

1.Boot to the fat 32 drive with Win2k.
2.Copy the files from the old drive.

Win 2k can read the NTFS drive even if Win2k is running on a Fat32 drive.

by brian

The problem you are having is with the actual drive. If it were a good drive, you could read it. I would try booting a few times and hope that it starts working again on one of them.

If it does I wouldn't count on it working for long...

by jazzbo54

when reset-master as slave...get problem:

60gig master wants to format the now 40 gig slave!

?drive in D is not formted .do u want to format now??

by daya_hs

There is not option of converting NTFS to fat 32 or fat in winnt or win2000. win95/98/m3 doesn't support ntfs file system. the solution for your problem is convert the fat 32 to ntfs in order to copy the data from the 1st hdd. this is only option left out for you.

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