Converting NTFS to FAT

[JoLLyRoGer]

Is there a shareware converstion utility that will convert NTFS back to FAT32 while still preserving the partition and data?

 

[sharkeeper]

Converting (reverting) to FAT from NTFS isn't possible without losing the contents of the volume.

Cheers!

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

OK, What about just reconverting, to h*ll with the data, just keeping the partition.

 

[Budman]

If you dont care about the data then use Fdisk,delete non dos partition then create a new dos partition,then format & you're done.

 

[lo6ic]

just stick a windows 98 cd in the drive and boot from it into msdos mode, then use format. you don't have to use fdisk and create partitions all over the place. it will ask you to convert the drive to fat32, just say yes and you're set. also, you can back up files from a ntfs hard drive onto a fat32 or fat hard drive without problems, so if you've got a spare hard drive sitting around, stick it in, back your sh*t up, then format. (i can't believe this forum is censored..god)

 

[Budman]

lo6ic,

you NEED to delete the non dos partition (ntfs) before you can format.

 

[lo6ic]

formatting from the win98 removes the ntfs and sets up the disk to use fat..

 

[celeritas]

I've had no problem converting NTFS -> FAT using Partition Magic 6. The only thing I lost was security attributes for files/folders.

 

[NOX]

<< I've had no problem converting NTFS -> FAT using Partition Magic 6. The only thing I lost was security attributes for files/folders. >>

Did you convert your C: (boot) drive?

 

[Budman]

<< formatting from the win98 removes the ntfs and sets up the disk to use fat.. >>



That's assuming he wants to run Win98,he might just want to convert to fat32 &amp; reinstall Win2k.

 

[lo6ic]

i didn't say install win98, i said boot with win98 (a msdos boot disk would work, too..) and use format. he can reinstall win2k after it's back to fat32..

 

[Noriaki]

no no! Don't delete the data.

I've converted NTFS/FAT32 both ways at least 6 times without losing any data.

Get partition magic 6, it will convert NTFS -> FAT32 no problem. Like celeritas said, you lose folder security because that is a filesystem feature that FAT32 doesn't support, but you don't lose data.



<< Did you convert your C: (boot) drive? >>

Yes. I used the DOS version.
The Win9x version can make changes to your boot drives as well, it just shuts down windows, applies the changes and restarts the GUI.
I'm not sure what the WinNT version would do though, I've never used it.

 

[NOX]

<< I'm not sure what the WinNT version would do though, I've never used it. >>

What I was told was if you convert the C: drive (your boot drive) back to FAT from NTFS using partition magic, you can no longer boot from that drive. This is assuming you are using Win2k.

In Win2k I've converted back to FAT a number of times but never the C: so I wouldn't know about that. I also don't have PM so I have never tried.

 

[celeritas]

NOX: Yes, with no problems that I can tell. Maybe I just got lucky.

Edit BTW, I did it by creating PM6 NTFS boot disks. I ran the program &amp; converted my HD via floppy; I didn't try to do it from a copy of PM6 that was installed on the HD itself. I don't recommend that...

 

[NOX]

<< Yes, with no problems that I can tell. Maybe I just got lucky. >>

Not luck, it just means it's possible. Cool.

 

[Noriaki]

I have a Custom DOS7.1 (win98se Command.com) bootdisk, and I have PQMagic Pro 6.0 on a 2nd floppy. I used that to convert all of my partitions from NTFS to FAT32 including my C: and I can still boot off of it fine...

I've never bothered to use the WinNT version of PQMagic becuase I always have to DOS version handy, and there is no Linux version, so at some point I have to use the DOS one anyways....

but it didn't cause my NTFS partition to be unbootable...maybe you just need to make sure it's still set active after you convert it?