Need Help Partitioning a FAT32 drive in windows XP

[Leeua]

Hey guys. I have two hd in my comp. A NTFS one and a FAT32 one. I have lots of data on my Fat32 one that I would to keep. Is there a way for me to convert the drive to NTFS without losing any data? By the way, I am booting from the NTFS drive so the FAT32 one is just for data storage. Thanks guys.

[Yodums]

Indeed there is you can try using Partition Magic.

[Jon]

Go to Start-->Run and type in CONVERT D: /FS:NTFS

This is assuming the FAT32 is in fact your D:. Otherwise change the D: to whatever the drive letter actually is.

The CONVERT utility is built into all NT-based operating systems to convert FAT and FAT32 partitions to NTFS without data loss. In fact, if you have no files open or being used on that drive at the time you execute the command, you won't even have to reboot.

There is no data loss when doing this either...it simply is just a converter.

[Leeua]

thanks jon. Im trusting you on this one!!! WEll, tell you guys how it goes. Im going to do it right now. Wish me luck.

[Leeua]

thanks man! It works and that was pretty fast too. hmm, fast, didnt hog resources, didnt have to reboot, no data loss. Windows Xp is pretty good!! thanks again Jon. appreciated everybodys help.

[Jon]

No problem. That utility has been been built into all the NT-based OSes back to NT 4.0 (maybe 3.51 too, I don't remember). Used it hundreds of times without ever a problem.

I'll agree it is fast too.

[Yodums]

I knew there was a command didn't know what. But thought it was in DOS too anyways.. Thats a nifty trick.. ITs stored in my brain now! :p

[Speed_Freak]

Hey Jon, can I only have one HD it has two partitions (C and D) and they are both in FAT32. Can I sitll convert from FAT to NTFS? and if so, which partition should I convert first or do I have to delete them? C is all my apps, important docs and what-not while D just holds all my games. Thanks ahead of time...

[Leeua]

I think you should be able to format them individually exclusive of each other. Cause, to windows, it is just two seperate hd. I guess since you have important docs on one hd, you should do that one first. Because NTFS is supposedly more secure or whatever and the clusters i think are smaller too. So, hope that answers any questions.