HELP!!!! FAT32 to NTFS conversion without data loss??? POSSIBLE?

[AthenianOwl]

Hi.

I have this 3 year-old 1TB external hard drive that is about 40% filled with "stuff". I want to convert it to NTFS with no data loss as a result. How do you do it safely? Have you tried this CMD method before? is it reliable? I'm sooo scared to try this I don't want to loose +400gb of "stuff" as a result of executing a simple, scary command.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Necuno]

Done that a few times, but if you fat is ****ed then you might have loss. Scan/repair before hand?

 

[AthenianOwl]

Ok, I tried the CMD method and I got this as a result.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>convert G: /FS:NTFS
The type of the file system is FAT32.
Volume Serial Number is 0FFC-0561
Windows is verifying files and folders...
File and folder verification is complete.
Windows has checked the file system and found no problems.
976*521*568 KB total disk space.
832 KB in 23 hidden files.
34*240 KB in 1*065 folders.
405*293*568 KB in 9*959 files.
571*192*896 KB are available.

32*768 bytes in each allocation unit.
30*516*299 total allocation units on disk.
17*849*778 allocation units available on disk.

This drive is dirty and cannot be converted. You will need to
clear the dirty bit on this drive by running CHKDSK /F or allowing
AUTOCHK to run on it the next time you reboot.
The conversion failed.
G: was not converted to NTFS

C:\Windows\system32>

Lol.

 

[Necuno]

What I said :erm:

 

[AthenianOwl]

Done that a few times, but if you fat is ****ed then you might have loss. Scan/repair before hand?

I have chkdsk'd it and it looks OK.

 

[Chevron]

There is no conversion. Just copy the data off. Format the drive. Then copy the data back.

 

[LazyLion]

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.php

Not sure if win7 aligns your partition, but it was always a good idea in WinXP to check it.

 

[Necuno]

How do you tell if my fat is ****ed? I have chkdsk'd it and it looks OK.

LOL. Just do a normal hdd scan and fix, that should come out clean unless you have actual hdd problems or things that couldn't be fixed. Did you run CHKDSK /F or just CHKDSK ?

 

[Necuno]

There is no conversion. Just copy the data off. Format the drive. Then copy the data back.

This. Cleanest method, better than the convert imho.

 

[AthenianOwl]

There is no conversion. Just copy the data off. Format the drive. Then copy the data back.

Too tedious I don't have time nor patience to pull it off.

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.php

Not sure if win7 aligns your partition, but it was always a good idea in WinXP to check it.

Uh, this doesn't look comfortable

 

[AthenianOwl]

LOL. Just do a normal hdd scan and fix, that should come out clean unless you have actual hdd problems or things that couldn't be fixed. Did you run CHKDSK /F or just CHKDSK ?

CHKDSK /F. It didn't help at all My HDD is being chkdsk/R'd now before trying the CMD method again.

 

[Bryn]

Too tedious I don't have time nor patience to pull it off.

Except that you'd be done already if you just copied the stuff off in the first place.

 

[Necuno]

Hey look I found a video

[video=youtube;vD-n_Vnzw-8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD-n_Vnzw-8[/video]

 

[Necuno]

CHKDSK /F. It didn't help at all My HDD is being chkdsk/R'd now before trying the CMD method again.

This was as:

CHKDSK G: /F ?

 

[AthenianOwl]

This was as:

CHKDSK G: /F ?

No, CHKDSK /F G:

 

[Space_Chief]

http://download.cnet.com/EaseUS-Par...4-10863346.html?tag=mncol;pop&cdlPid=10982635

Converts FAT32 to NTFS
Converts NTFS to FAT32 (never mind free version does not do NTFS to FAT32)

no data loss, and apparently free..

Paid utilities such as Acronis Disk Director also do this.

 

[AthenianOwl]

http://download.cnet.com/EaseUS-Par...4-10863346.html?tag=mncol;pop&cdlPid=10982635

Converts FAT32 to NTFS
Converts NTFS to FAT32 (never mind free version does not do FAT32 to NTFS)

no data loss, and apparently free..

Paid utilities such as Acronis Disk Director also do this.

Thanks but I don't feel as comfortable as Moyes at OT with 3rd-app parties messing with my Windows installation

I'm still waiting for my external HDD to be completed repaired

 

[Space_Chief]

Thanks but I don't feel as comfortable as Moyes at OT with 3rd-app parties messing with my Windows installation

I'm still waiting for my external HDD to be completed repaired

Sure. Back in the day when I primarily worked on Windows, Acronis Disk Director and PowerQuest (now Norton) Partion Magic always worked for me. I never had a problem under 98, ME and XP.

 

[Chevron]

Thanks but I don't feel as comfortable as Moyes at OT with 3rd-app parties messing with my Windows installation

I'm still waiting for my external HDD to be completed repaired

Well at least now you've learned your lesson. Do it right first time instead of looking for a quick fix.

 

[AthenianOwl]

Well at least now you've learned your lesson. Do it right first time instead of looking for a quick fix.

Well, I have successfully converted my 3 yo external hard drive to NTFS. All the "stuff" on it are intact.