FAT32 External HDD and big files... HELP!

[Hellfire]

So, apparently fat32 doesn't support files bigger than 4GB, which sucks, cause my external HDD is formatted in fat32. I wanted to change it to NTFS to support bigger files, using this command:

 

X:\> CONVERT X: /fs:ntfs

 

But can I be sure that it won't ruin any file or erase everything? Or is there a better way?

Thanks

[Jasper]

You can't just switch the drive without losing data on it, so no. You can't convert a FAT32 drive without reformatting it, because FAT32 uses an entirely different way of storing files than NTFS.

 

It's not just a name, you know.

[Ten10]

Scratched my post since I think you're referring to individual files. But can't you burn your files to disc/ upload to a web server so you can still convert the drive?

[Mr_Odwin]

You can't just switch the drive without losing data on it, so no. You can't convert a FAT32 drive without reformatting it, because FAT32 uses an entirely different way of storing files than NTFS.

 

It's not just a name, you know.

 

The command line that Hellfire gives should convert and preserve all files.

 

To reduce the chance of an error, defragment the drive beforehand.

[AshMat]

I'd still recommend backing up all those files in some way if you can anyway, just to be on the safe side.

[DCK]

Backup and format is the only way. See if you can use someone else's external HDD?

[Jasper]

The command line that Hellfire gives should convert and preserve all files.

 

To reduce the chance of an error, defragment the drive beforehand.

 

That's seems odd. There is a reason why there's a difference, so he'll at least will need to rewrite the data. If it just changes the tag on your hard disk from FAT32 to NTFS, than I don't see why there are different systems at all.

 

But yes, it's probably possible. Even though I can' write those commans anyway.

[Mr_Odwin]

Backup and format is the only way.

 

It really isn't.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881

 

That's seems odd. There is a reason why there's a difference, so he'll at least will need to rewrite the data. If it just changes the tag on your hard disk from FAT32 to NTFS, than I don't see why there are different systems at all.

 

But yes, it's probably possible. Even though I can' write those commans anyway.

 

The above article says that a certain amount of free space on the disk is needed so I guess convert.exe does it in pieces or something else clever.

[Hellfire]

Thanks for the help guys. If I can, I'll back up everything, but from what I'm seeing it's not necessary.

[Gizmo]

NO YOUR FAT 32!

 

/Unhelpful Hellfire style post <3

[McPhee]

You can't just switch the drive without losing data on it, so no. You can't convert a FAT32 drive without reformatting it, because FAT32 uses an entirely different way of storing files than NTFS.

 

It's not just a name, you know.

 

Windows can do it :p (sorry, couldn't resist. I had nothing constructive to add cause Odwin got here first...)

[Jasper]

Windows can do it :p (sorry, couldn't resist. I had nothing constructive to add cause Odwin got here first...)

 

So that makes it better? Tsss...

 

Apparantly, Windows can do it - but it still does it the same way, since it uses a real lot of space, wich to me means he switches to that space and then changes the other part.

 

Ah well. The admin did it again.

[Adrian DX]

I recently did this with my newly purchased 500 GB My Book

I used the line: CONVERT X: /FS:NTFS /V /X

Worked like a charm.. Though I DID miss one backup of a game afterwards. But of course, it was recoverable so no biggie.

 

If you do convert it like this. Run a CHKDSK afterwards to be sure. My HD acted real weird the day after, I had duplicates of folders and when I removed the contents in one of them, the other claimed the folder didn't exist and wouldn't remove itself.. All worked out fine after the CHKDSK though ^^,

[Hellfire]

Thank you very much for the help, didn't have time to do it yet though lol.

Also Gizmo, you made my day better :P