Change the format of a disk

[ScottSwing]

I'm looking for a tool that can change a disk from Mac to NTFS to FAT32 and back without reformatting.
I know I used something a long time ago that could do this, but I don't remember the name.

 

[PCTC2]

You're going to need to reformat. Changing the whole filesystem type IS reformatting.

 

[ScottSwing]

I specifically do not want to erase all my files.

 

[TheStu]

I know that there is a way in Windows to convert a disk from FAT32 to NTFS non-destructively, but converting from HFS+ to something else... I don't know.

 

[pcgeek11]

I specifically do not want to erase all my files.

1. Copy all your files to a new location.
2. Reformat disk to desired file system.
3. Copy files back to reformatted disk.

Magic.

If you don't want to loose data and you try to convert it without a copy somewhere safe then you would be doing a stupid thing. If you have a copy somewhere else you might as well just reformat.

See?

 

[ScottSwing]

I know that there is a way in Windows to convert a disk from FAT32 to NTFS non-destructively, but converting from HFS+ to something else... I don't know.

How do I do that?

 

[ScottSwing]

1. Copy all your files to a new location.
2. Reformat disk to desired file system.
3. Copy files back to reformatted disk.

Magic.

If you don't want to loose data and you try to convert it without a copy somewhere safe then you would be doing a stupid thing. If you have a copy somewhere else you might as well just reformat.

See?

I don't have a spare disk that's able to hold all my files and I want to do this repeatedly, in one step if possible.

 

[pcgeek11]

I don't have a spare disk that's able to hold all my files and I want to do this repeatedly, in one step if possible.

Well I hope it works out and you find a way. But I must warn you that doing so will eventually blow up in your face then you will be trying to recover destroyed files...

I advise you to get one.

 

[Nothinman]

I'm looking for a tool that can change a disk from Mac to NTFS to FAT32 and back without reformatting.
I know I used something a long time ago that could do this, but I don't remember the name.

Partition Magic used to do some in-place conversions but they were always iffy as hell and usually ended badly in one form or another. And I doubt you'll find anything that even attempts to convert to/from HFS.

 

[Emulex]

windows has it down. it just keeps down&upsizing a partition until its all ntfs.

*nix isn't this l33t.

thank god external drives are cheap

 

[PCTC2]

Partition Magic used to do some in-place conversions but they were always iffy as hell and usually ended badly in one form or another. And I doubt you'll find anything that even attempts to convert to/from HFS.

I would never risk data in file system transitions. If you want to change file systems, for any amount of data integrity, buy a second disk.

 

[doh123]

Maybe you need to reevaluate what your doing and if you really need to do this.

I cannot think of any reason you'd need to do what your saying you need to do.

 

[TheStu]

Why do you need to change the file system in the first place? Using MacFUSE/NTFS3G on OS X and MacDrive or HFSExplorer on Windows you can read/write to HFS+/NTFS.

 

[Emulex]

you can read/write to which version of HFS+? Which version of NTFS?

Most implementations are dated and do not comply with the latest attributes which can lead to issues down the road. NTFS perms are a BEOTCH when they get lost in translation. esp if you are a big microsoft shop with AD/GPO/etc.

ntfs has many versions - you damn well best be competent in the version you are using or mess time.

I'm sure HFS has gotten more complex as the days have gone by too.

 

[ScottSwing]

I'll probably have to use three partitions for the disk, which I'd really hate to do.

 

[TheStu]

you can read/write to which version of HFS+? Which version of NTFS?

Most implementations are dated and do not comply with the latest attributes which can lead to issues down the road. NTFS perms are a BEOTCH when they get lost in translation. esp if you are a big microsoft shop with AD/GPO/etc.

ntfs has many versions - you damn well best be competent in the version you are using or mess time.

I'm sure HFS has gotten more complex as the days have gone by too.

The latest ones?

I have ParagonNTFS installed instead of MacFUSE, but they are the same thing essentially and I can read/write to NTFS drives created by Windows 7. And I have MacDrive 8 installed in Windows 7, and it can read/write to drives created by OS X 10.5 Leopard (It also works with drives made by 10.6 Snow Leopard).