My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is not as
simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a different way that
I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?

Jack wrote:
> My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
> NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is not
> as simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a different
> way that I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?

Start button --> RUN
Type in:

CMD

Click OK.
In the Command Prompt windows type:

CONVERT /?

Press ENTER.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Jack wrote:

> My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
> NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is not as
> simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a different way that
> I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?


Sure. That's the easier way to go, and for that no thiord-party software is
required.

To convert to NTFS, you use the CONVERT command. But first read
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm because there's an issue regarding
cluster size that isn't obvious.

Also note that conversion is a big step, affecting everything on your drive.
When you take such a big step, no matter how unlikely, it is always possible
that something could go wrong. For that reason, it's prudent to make sure
you have a backup of anything you can't afford to lose before beginning.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

On Sat, 24 Dec 2005 19:10:44 -0600, "Shenan Stanley"
<newshelper@gmail.com> wrote:

>Jack wrote:
>> My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
>> NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is not
>> as simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a different
>> way that I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?
>
>Start button --> RUN
>Type in:
>
>CMD
>
>Click OK.
>In the Command Prompt windows type:
>
>CONVERT /?
>
>Press ENTER.
>
>--
>Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP


That did it! Thanks Shenan.

>
>Sure. That's the easier way to go, and for that no thiord-party software is
>required.
>
>To convert to NTFS, you use the CONVERT command. But first read
>http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm because there's an issue regarding
>cluster size that isn't obvious.
>
>Also note that conversion is a big step, affecting everything on your drive.
>When you take such a big step, no matter how unlikely, it is always possible
>that something could go wrong. For that reason, it's prudent to make sure
>you have a backup of anything you can't afford to lose before beginning.


Uh Uh! I went ahead with the conversion WITHOUT alignment. Will
running Bootit NG still be helpful?

Jack wrote:

>> Sure. That's the easier way to go, and for that no thiord-party
>> software is required.
>>
>> To convert to NTFS, you use the CONVERT command. But first read
>> http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm because there's an issue regarding
>> cluster size that isn't obvious.
>>
>> Also note that conversion is a big step, affecting everything on
>> your drive. When you take such a big step, no matter how unlikely,
>> it is always possible that something could go wrong. For that
>> reason, it's prudent to make sure you have a backup of anything you
>> can't afford to lose before beginning.
>
>
> Uh Uh! I went ahead with the conversion WITHOUT alignment. Will
> running Bootit NG still be helpful?


No. How big are your clusters now? Create a small test file, then
right-click on it and choose properties. What does it say under Size on
disk?

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

>>
>> Uh Uh! I went ahead with the conversion WITHOUT alignment. Will
>> running Bootit NG still be helpful?
>
>
>No. How big are your clusters now? Create a small test file, then
>right-click on it and choose properties. What does it say under Size on
>disk?


Says 4 kb, so I guess I got lucky and it is the right size anyway.
Thanks for the info.

Jack wrote:

>>> Uh Uh! I went ahead with the conversion WITHOUT alignment. Will
>>> running Bootit NG still be helpful?
>>
>>
>> No. How big are your clusters now? Create a small test file, then
>> right-click on it and choose properties. What does it say under Size
>> on disk?
>
>
> Says 4 kb, so I guess I got lucky and it is the right size anyway.
> Thanks for the info.


Great! Glad to hear it, and you're welcome.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Jack wrote:

> My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
> NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is not as
> simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a different way that
> I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?
I must be dumb, but discovering this thread, a little late, there is
something I do not understand. Changing from NTFS to FAT32, whichever
tool you use, and PQ Magic 8 is as good as any, most often fails, for
reasons way above my head that seem to relate to protection of folders
and files, among others. But converting from FAT32 to NTFS is handled by
any utility, including XP and never fails unless the FAT32 partition is
defective.

If you do not believe me, convert any FAT32 partition to NTFS with any
tool you like, including XP and try converting it back to FAT32. First,
XP does not provide for such a conversion; second, Partition Magic, and
other tools I guess, will almost always fail to convert back to FAT32.

So I am somewhat surprised that the OP finds the opposite. What am I
missing here?

Regards

--
John Doue

Jack wrote:
> My C partition is currently FAT32. A while back, I changed it from
> NTFS to FAT32 with Partition Magic 8. I find now that there is
> not as simple a way to change it back to NTFS. is there a
> different way that I can do so without a clean reinstall of WinXP?

John Doue wrote:
> I must be dumb, but discovering this thread, a little late, there is
> something I do not understand. Changing from NTFS to FAT32,
> whichever tool you use, and PQ Magic 8 is as good as any, most
> often fails, for reasons way above my head that seem to relate to
> protection of folders and files, among others. But converting from
> FAT32 to NTFS is handled by any utility, including XP and never
> fails unless the FAT32 partition is defective.
>
> If you do not believe me, convert any FAT32 partition to NTFS with
> any tool you like, including XP and try converting it back to
> FAT32. First, XP does not provide for such a conversion; second,
> Partition Magic, and other tools I guess, will almost always fail
> to convert back to FAT32.
> So I am somewhat surprised that the OP finds the opposite. What am I
> missing here?

You didn't comprehend the original post as intended I believe.

While you are correct in that it can be more difficult to go from NTFS to
FAT32 (from a file system with security to one with none) - the OP obviously
chose to do this in the past for some reason and it worked out fine for
them. While you are correct there is a built-in method to go from FAT32 to
NTFS in Windows XP (from a file system with NO security to one with
security) and that it usually goes smoothly (not always) - that only makes
sense - since the change is an adding of features - not a removal.

I am not sure what you are missing, actually. The more I read your
response - the less I see any idea you are trying to convey or understand.

The OP - in the past - either did or believes they did convert NTFS to
FAT32. It worked for them. It's a done deal.

The OP - now - wanted to go from FAT32 to NTFS again. They may have always
been unaware of a tool (built-in or otherwise) to go in that direction. The
OP was ignorant of this fact and chose to ask about it.

The OP did not "find" anything - but expressed an ignorance of a way to do
something and a interest to discover how to do it so they would now know
(not be ignorant of the way to do what they wanted.) Simple as that.

Just because you know how to disassemble somethign complex does not mean you
will be able to reassemble it in the same manner if you did not keep careful
notes. =)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html