PC Hacks

Hack #45. Convert FAT to NTFS

Use NT/2000/XP/2003's CONVERT program to change a FAT partition to NTFS.

CONVERT is a command-line program with one simple function: to change a FAT partition to NTFS. Normally CONVERT applies user and system security settings to all of the files in the partition, but the command-line option /NoSecurity leaves the access rights to all files open to everyone, as if the partition were an unsecured FAT partition.

To use CONVERT to make your C: drive NTFS:

1. Click Start, then Run. Type in CMD or open a Command Prompt window.

2. At the command prompt type:

                     convert c:\ /fs:ntfs

3. If the partition has a volume label, you will be prompted to type it in.

4. Press Y to proceed. If this partition is also the system root, you will see a message telling you the partition will be converted at the next reboot.

5. Close all open programs and restart your PC. Convert will run CHKDSK to verify the contents of the partition and then begin the conversion. After conversion the system will restart with the new partition.

Hacking the Hack

Converting an NTFS partition to FAT-16 or FAT-32 is not something Microsoft ever intended and does not support with FDISK, FORMAT, or Disk Management tools. Rarely do you need to gain access to files in an NTFS partition from a FAT-16 or FAT-32 OS, but it happens. To convert to FAT from NTFS, you need to use a third-party utility like Symantec's PartitionMagic or V-Com's Partition Commander. Since NTFS partitions are normally secured by the operating ...