fat32 -> ntfs conversion question

[ledzepp98]

right now i'm running win2k professional with fat32 with no problems (i know, if it ain't broke, don't fix it 🙂), but i keep hearing how ntfs is so much better... i have a few questions:

1) what is the easiest way to convert from fat32 to ntfs?

2) is there a boot disk freely available that will let me boot to dos since a win98 boot disk wouldn't work anymore (to access files that it)

3) if i make a ghost backup of the drive before the conversion (as i always do before a major change), would i have any problems restoring the backup to the newly converted ntfs partition?
i have ghost version 6.5.0.131 and i usually make a drive --> image backup (as opposed to a partition --> image backup, would that make a difference?) and save it to a backup hard drive.

thanks...

 

[ween]

>> 1) what is the easiest way to convert from fat32 to ntfs?

bring up a command prompt. type in "convert /?" and you'll see the available switches you can use

>> 2) is there a boot disk freely available that will let me boot to dos since a win98 boot disk wouldn't work anymore (to access files that it)

there is one, but I can't recall what it is. sorry.

>> 3) if i make a ghost backup of the drive before the conversion (as i always do before a major change), would i have any problems restoring the backup to the newly converted ntfs partition?
i have ghost version 6.5.0.131 and i usually make a drive --> image backup (as opposed to a partition --> image backup, would that make a difference?) and save it to a backup hard drive.

if you image your FAT32 partition, convert to NTFS, then decide you don't like NTFS, you can drop that image over top the NTFS drive and it will go back to FAT32. but NTFS is your buddy, so you'll probably want to stick with it.

good luck.

 

[AndyHui]

Please read the FAQs:

FAT32 vs NTFS

How do I convert from FAT32 to NTFS?

 

[ledzepp98]

i did read the FAQs and they were informative. i guess i was really looking for any personal experiences/recommendations, and answers to questions 2 and 3 are a must before i convert, and they're not covered in the faq. there was a mention of ntfs compatible dos boot disks, but the two links were for software costing $49 and $299, not what i'm looking to spend (basically, nothing).

 

[zxcvb]

Partition magic can convert both ways.