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NTFS to FAT32 without losing any data
- Thread starter *JimmyJ*
- Start date
Yeah I know that, thats why im asking if I can change the file structure from NTFS to FAT32 without losing any data.
Better than yours. C*nt.
I wasn't sure - I've always formatted stuff NTFS because security/performance are a key part of what I do - my iPod deals with itself and plugs into my XBox/PS3 whatever. Can't be doing with FAT32 any more unless absolutely necessary, so have no recent experience.
impossible im afraid!
GP
GP
BMW M4; S1000 RR
Out of interest why would you WANT to go from NTFS to FAT32?
'91 Clio RT =D
nope you cant mate. You will have to back it all up. To convert it should just be right click and press format then it gives you the option.
BMW Z4 3.0i
Because he said he wants to connect his external hard drive to his PS3 but PS3's don't recognise NTFS drives.
BMW M4; S1000 RR
Ah didn't see that.
OK, just get some partitioning software and create a partition on the external harddrive, now format this partition under FAT32 (file allocation table).
Partition Magic allows you to convert an NTFS partition back to FAT32, but there is a reason that Partition Magic is not so lovingly referred to as "Partition Tragic". Often conversions simply fail, or worse, destroy data.
This guide is to walk you through the former method of conversion: deleting a partition, and recreating it anew as FAT32. However, no matter which route you choose, backing up your data should be your first priority.
First off, delete the partition that you wish to convert. This is done by going into Disk Management: right click "My Computer" -> Manage -> Disk Management, which is found under the Storage section. Right click the partition you wish to remove, and click "Delete Volume". This will erase the partition.
Once you have done this, you must re-create the partition. This is done by right clicking on an unallocated region of a disk, and selecting "Create Partition". Then click "Create Logical Drive". Bear in mind that Windows cannot format a FAT32 partition that is any larger than 32GB. This is the case because FAT32 is terribly inefficient on volumes that are larger than 32GB: fragmentation becomes a serious problem.
To format this new volume, right click it, and choose Format. Again, if the volume you wish to format is larger than 32GB, FAT32 will not be one of the options available to you in the drop-down box. You will have to create multiple partitions if you want to format a large drive as FAT32.
Partition Magic allows you to convert an NTFS partition back to FAT32, but there is a reason that Partition Magic is not so lovingly referred to as "Partition Tragic". Often conversions simply fail, or worse, destroy data.
This guide is to walk you through the former method of conversion: deleting a partition, and recreating it anew as FAT32. However, no matter which route you choose, backing up your data should be your first priority.
First off, delete the partition that you wish to convert. This is done by going into Disk Management: right click "My Computer" -> Manage -> Disk Management, which is found under the Storage section. Right click the partition you wish to remove, and click "Delete Volume". This will erase the partition.
Once you have done this, you must re-create the partition. This is done by right clicking on an unallocated region of a disk, and selecting "Create Partition". Then click "Create Logical Drive". Bear in mind that Windows cannot format a FAT32 partition that is any larger than 32GB. This is the case because FAT32 is terribly inefficient on volumes that are larger than 32GB: fragmentation becomes a serious problem.
To format this new volume, right click it, and choose Format. Again, if the volume you wish to format is larger than 32GB, FAT32 will not be one of the options available to you in the drop-down box. You will have to create multiple partitions if you want to format a large drive as FAT32.
