Problems with converting partitions..

[PRLYago]

I'm experiencing some weird difficulties with converting one of my NTFS partition to FAT32..

I have two HDD's, one 15GB ATA-33 drive and one 100GB ATA-100 drive. The 15GB one isn't split into any partitions, while the 100GB one is split into two. One for the OS and one for other things.

The partition for the OS is 7GB while the other partition is ..... 93GB.

Now here's the problem.... I can convert my old drive from NTFS to FAT32, and the other way around, however I like, and same goes for my new drive's OS partition, but, the 'bigger' partition of my new drive wont convert. The 'FAT32' option in Partition Magic 7.0 is grayed out, but only for that one partition.

Anyone know why, or knows any solution/work around for this? I really need this baby to go FAT32 style...

Thanks..

[Kieran]

Im not 100% sure about this, but isnt there a relativly low size barrior on FAT32? i know NTFS can go to some stupidly high sizes but I think you will be unable to use FAT32 on that size partition. Why on earth do u want it FAT32 anyway??

Kieran

[PRLYago]

The sizebarrier on FAT32 is 2 terrabytes, and I want FAT32 so that I can get the thing to work in LINUX. I see no benefits with NTFS what so ever, anyway.

So does anyone know what I need to do so that I can convert it?

[madscientist]

Have you tried FDISKing it?

It's worked for me before.

I FDISKed an NTFS 40Gb drive, then, becasue it got turned into FAT32 by FDISK (which I don't want), I had to turn it back into NTFS. Did that by right clicking and re-formating from My computer. NTFS Quick format only took 2 seconds:D

Good Luck:P

[PRLYago]

Doesn't FDISK require a format before conversion? I got 70+GB worth of useful stuff on this drive that I can't lose... I just need a regular foolproof conversion.

[nekrosoft13]

windows xp has a built in converting tool.

it is come command i forgot it.

i used it and it works great.

i can you the command when i get home, i'm in school now.

f-ing windows 98 and that ****ty novell

[PRLYago]

lol cool. Thanks, I appreciate it.

Does it require formatting though? If it does, then that option is out of the question.

[y_notm]

no it doesn't but it will only convert FAT/32 to NTFS. The reason the bigger partition won't convert is because FAT32 has a partition size limit of 32GB. Any bigger and you need NTFS

[nekrosoft13]

  Quote

Originally posted by PRLYago  

lol cool. Thanks, I appreciate it.

Does it require formatting though? If it does, then that option is out of the question.

ConvertConverts FAT and FAT32 volumes to NTFS.

Syntax

convert [volume] /fs:ntfs [/v] [/cvtarea:FileName] [/nosecurity] [/x]

Parameters

volume

Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume name to convert to NTFS.

/fs:ntfs

Required. Converts the volume to NTFS.

/v

Specifies verbose mode, that is, all messages will be displayed during conversion.

/cvtarea:FileName

For advanced users only. Specifies that the Master File Table (MFT) and other NTFS metadata files are written to an existing, contiguous placeholder file. This file must be in the root directory of the file system to be converted. Use of the /CVTAREA parameter can result in a less fragmented file system after conversion. For best results, the size of this file should be 1 KB multiplied by the number of files and directories in the file system, however, the convert utility accepts files of any size.

For more information about using the /cvtarea parameter, see "File Systems" at the Microsoft Windows XP Resource Kits Web site.(http://www.microsoft.com/)

Important

You must create the placeholder file using the fsutil file createnew command prior to running convert. Convert does not create this file for you. Convert overwrites this file with NTFS metadata. After conversion, any unused space in this file is freed. For more information about the fsutil file command, see Related Topics.

/nosecurity

Specifies that the converted files and directory security settings are accessible by everyone.

/x

Dismounts the volume, if necessary, before it is converted. Any open handles to the volume will no longer be valid.

Remarks

You must specify that the drive should be converted when the computer is restarted. Otherwise, you cannot convert the current drive.

If convert cannot lock the drive (for example, the system volume or the current drive), it offers to convert the drive the next time the computer restarts.

The location of the MFT is different on volumes that have been converted from previous version of NTFS, so volume performance might not be as good on volumes converted from Windows NT.

Volumes converted from FAT to NTFS lack some performance benefits compared to volumes initially formatted with NTFS. On converted volumes, the MFT might become fragmented. In addition, on converted boot volumes, NTFS permissions are not applied after the volume is converted.

Examples

To convert the volume on drive E to NTFS and display all messages, type:

convert e: /fs:ntfs /v

Related Topics

[madscientist]

You definately cannot convert this drive to FAT32.

It is to big:(

You wil have to leave it as NTFS, or break it down into smaller partitions.

FAT32 cannot be used on drives larger than 32Gb:dead: