Convert FAT or FAT32 Volume to NTFS

How to Convert a FAT or FAT32 Volume to NTFS in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to convert a drive or partition volume with a FAT (FAT16) or FAT32 file system to a NTFS file system in Windows 7 without having to format the volume and lose your data on it.

   Note

Before you start to convert a FAT or FAT32 volume to NTFS, please consider the following limitations and requirements:

• UDF and CDfs file systems are only used with optical media and cannot be converted to NTFS.
• FAT12 is the only format used on floppy diskettes (as if these are used anymore ). This does not apply to a USB flash key though.
• The conversion to NTFS is a one-way process. After you convert a drive or a partition to NTFS, you cannot convert it back to FAT or to FAT32 unless you format it again as FAT or FAT32.
• The convert command requires that you have enough free space on the drive or on the partition that you want to convert to be able to convert it. If Convert.exe determines that there is not sufficient free space on the volume, it will not convert the volume.
• If the files are being used on the volume that you are trying to convert, then you will be prompted with:
  "Convert cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Convert may run if this volume is dismounted first. ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID. Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? <Y/N>"
  
  • Quit all the programs that are using the files on the drive, and then type Y at the command prompt to convert the drive to NTFS.
• If the drive or partition volume that you are trying to convert is in use, then you will be prompted with:
  "Convert cannot gain exclusive access to the drive letter drive, so it cannot convert it now. Would you like to schedule it to be converted the next time the system restarts? <Y/N>"
  
  • To resolve this issue, type Y at the command prompt. The volume or drive will be converted to NTFS the next time that you restart the computer.

   Warning

Although the chance of corruption or data loss during the conversion is minimal, it is recommended that you backup any data that you do not want to lose on the volume that you want to convert before you start the conversion to be extra safe.

The only way to convert a NTFS disk back to a FAT or FAT32 disk is to format the disk.

Before you begin, note that the FAT32 file system has size limitations. In this version of Windows, you cannot create a FAT32 partition greater than 32 GB (32728 MB). In addition, you cannot store a file larger than 4 GB on a FAT32 partition. For more information, see Comparing NTFS and FAT file systems.

Here's How:
1. To Use a Elevated Command Prompt in Windows
A) Open an elevated command prompt.

B) Go to step 3.
2. To Use a Command Prompt at Boot
A) Open a command prompt at boot.

B) In the command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

C) In the command prompt, type list volume and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This will let you see what the drive letter is for the drive that you want to connvert since it may not always be the same drive letter that it is in Windows.

D) After making note of the drive letter, type exit and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

E) Continue on to step 3 to convert the drive.
3. In the command prompt, type convert drive letter: /fs:ntfs and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute drive letter for the drive letter of the FAT or FAT32 drive or partition that you want to convert to NTFS. For example, I want to convert my USB flash key with the drive letter G: , so I would type convert g: /fs:ntfs and press enter.

4. If prompted to Enter current volume label for drive (drive letter) (ex: G: ), then enter the name (ex: NEW VOLUME) of this drive letter as it is displayed in the Computer window and press Enter. (see screenshots below)



5. When the conversion to NTFS is complete, you receive the Conversion complete message. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: This may take a while to convert depending on full and large the drive is. It may also seem like it has hung at points, but be patient and let it finish.

6. Close the command prompt.
NOTE: If you used a command prompt at boot, then also close the System Recovery Options window and restart the computer.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Extend a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
• How to Create a New Partition or Volume in Windows 7
• How to Delete a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
• How to Shrink a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
• How to Convert a MBR Disk to a GPT Disk
• How to Convert a GPT Disk to a MBR Disk
• How to Convert a Basic Disk to a Dynamic Disk
• How to Clean or Clean All a Disk with the Diskpart Command
• How to Quick Format a HDD or USB Drive
• How to Set Disk Quota Limits for Users in Windows 7 and Vista

 

[warrof]

The chkdsk worked fine. I'm now able to transfer 4gb files and create them on the drive, Thanks for all the help!!

 

[Brink]

That's great news Warrof. Thank you for posting back with your results.

 

[marex]

I have a problem with converting FAT32 to NTFS. I've also done Chkdsk and there were no problems. Please, help me!

 

[Brink]

Hello Marex, and welcome to Seven Forums.

There appears to be some sort of issue with the HDD. I would recommend to copy anything that you do not want to lose from it to another location temporarily, then format the HDD as NTFS without doing a "quick format", then copy the data back to the HDD.

 

[ejordan]

I am trying to convert my Toshiba 2tb external drive from fat32 to ntfs, but this is what it shows:

Converting file system
Insufficient Memory
Error converting file 01-DRA~1.ORI.
[repeat the last line but for different files]
The file may be damaged or there may be insufficient disk space.

which seems self explanitory, except I've got 8GB of memory, and have only used 750GB of the 2TB drive. Help!

 

[K1255]

Sorry if I am bumping this topic but when I tried doing this it said convert was not available for exfat formats.

I have a PNY 128gb usb stick that I am trying to format to fat32 so it can play on my WD media player. Any help would be greatly appreciated =)

 

[Brink]

Hello k1255, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yeah, this tutorial is only for converting FAT or FAT32 to NTFS.

The problem in your situation is that FAT32 only supports drives up to 32 GB in size. Since you have a 128 GB USB flash drive, you would need to either leave it formatted with exFAT or NTFS instead.

NTFS.com. NTFS vs FAT vs exFAT

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[lovehasnoend213]

Convert FAT32 To NTFS

Please am trying to format my FAT32 to NTFS using the procedure of CMD running as admin with command "convert f: /fs:ntfs" but when it gets to giving my flash space which is enough cause it's 16GB and no data inside.
After the information it said
"The first NTFS boot sector is unwriteable.
All NTFS boot sectors are unwriteable. Cannot contune"

Please what does this mean and what do i do to solve this problem because I've spent 4hours exploring everything on this page. Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello lovehasnoend213, and welcome to Seven Forums.

That error message indicates that this is a bootable flash drive, and the boot sector is write protected.

Since this is a USB flash drive, it would be best to format it using FAT32 instead.

 

[Windymiller]

I had trouble making a password reset disk on a FAT32 USB stick. Should I convert it to NTFS first. Does reformatting do this for me or do I need to specify I want NTFS when I reformat.Hope this is not the wrong thread but spent some time trying to find out.
I use Windows 7 Home Premium.

 

[Brink]

Hello Windy,

Usually you would want a USB flash drive to be FAT32, but it doesn't matter for a password reset disk. The main thing is to make sure that you have your BIOS set to enable USB devices at boot (usually is by default) so it will be able to detect the password reset disk while connected at boot if you should ever need to use it.

 

[Mooper]

2TB external drive refuses to format to NTFS

Hello,
I got a 2TB external hard drive and it came formatted as exFAT, so I downloaded EaseUS and it couldn't format it directly to NTFS as I hoped it would, so I formatted it as FAT32. Now the drive won't format to NTFS no matter what I try.

I have no problem formatting the drive or anything, I would just like to be able to download games and such onto it and have them work.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Brink]

Hello Mooper, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you try to format the external disk in Disk Management, do you have the option to select NTFS?

If yes, do you get any error messages when trying to format with NTFS?

:ar: Format Disk or Drive in Windows 10 | Tutorials

 

[Mooper]

Yes, I got this
Screenshot - 4392d7dadc71506aaa74bf53582caac2 - Gyazo

 

[Brink]

It sounds like there may be some sort of issue with the drive.

You might scan the drive with the recommended tool (ex: SeaTools or Windows Data Lifeguard Diagnostics) from the manufacturer to check its health.

 

[Mooper]

It's by Flameer, and they don't have a recommended scan tool that I can find.

I've also tried to format the drive and scan it and all with command prompt and Advanced System Repair Pro with no avail.

 

[Brink]

That's ok. You can still use "SeaTools for Windows" to scan the drive with to see if it will pass the health test or not.

 

[Mooper]

SeaTools for Windows doesn't recognize the drive as a supported drive. The only one that shows up on the main screen is my main hard drive.

 

[Brink]

I hate to say it, but it looks like the drive may be dead.

 

[Mooper]

I can still copy files to it, but I can't download stuff like games onto it. There is no way to help it?