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Fat to NTFS using convert

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by macsuavity

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I have just stumbled across a server that has been set up with the C:\ drive as a FAT volume and the D:\drive as an NTFS volume. Is it possible to convert the c:\drive to NTFS without losing any info or settings on a live system? Someone suggestedthat I use the utility "convert" in system 32. I have never used this utility, any help would be appreciated. Many thanks

5 replies

by 4u21der

Yes you can convert the boot drive (c:).

Go to a command prompt. Type ' convert /? '

This will show you all the options available with the convert command.

A typical convert will look something like this.

x:\convert.exe c: /FS:NTFS

The above command would convert the C: drive to the NTFS file system.

You will more than likley have to reboot and let the conversion take place during boot as the system will not be able to gain exclusive access to that volume. Convert will ask you if you wish to schedule this for the next reboot, just answer YES and then reboot it when the server can be down for about a half hour.

Make sure you have a GOOD ERD and backup before you proceed.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck!

by bob the builder

The first answer is correct but you may want to consider not converting the C: partition if it only contains the boot files (Data on D:). The reason behind this is that with a bootfloppy disk you can bootup and use a command line interpreter to access the boot files in the system partition and possibly have an easy fix if something is amiss. If you do convert then a boot floppy will not be able to see an NTFS partition. If security is your main concern then converting should be your path.

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