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

 

[Pharaun]

Hello Pharaun, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm happy to hear that got it sorted. What were you able to do to resolve it?

Oh, so sorry for the delayed response. Was in my junk-mail for some reason. To point, what I had to do in order to solve my issue:

• Right click 'My Computer', click on 'Manage'

• Under the 'Storage' tab, select 'Disk Management'

• There I saw my external hard-drive (and internal ones)

• Selected the external, right clicked and (can't remember exactly what it said, but from there it's quite obvious what you have to do in order to activate/use it again).

• Before it starts the setup/installation of it, you can choose which type you want (FAT32 or NTFS)

And that was that, works perfectly, and finally have it set to NTFS rather than FAT32


Again, sorry for the delay, hope this might help someone with the same kind of problem.

Best regards,
Pharaun

 

[Brink]

Thank you Pharaun for posting back with your results and solution to initialize the disk.

 

[Gemini0906]

I can't do this
when i type convert d: /fs:ntfs the systems told me to " Enter current volume label for drive D:"
Plz help

 

[Brink]

Hello Gemini, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you doing this from a elevated command prompt (run as administrator) while logged into Windows 7?

Could you also post a screenshot of Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) showing your drive layout?

 

[Gemini0906]

Are you doing this from a elevated command prompt (run as administrator) while logged into Windows 7?

Yes , I did just like your tutorial

Could you also post a screenshot of Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) showing your drive layout?

You mean this

 

[Brink]

Sorry, I had meant a screenshot of Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc).

 

[Gemini0906]

Sorry, I had meant a screenshot of Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc).

Here . Sorry for being late , I can't reach my computer since my last post T_T

 

[Brink]

Ah I see. I have added step 3 to help you with this. It's just wanting you to enter the name of the drive as it is displayed in the Computer window to confirm that it's the correct drive to convert before doing so. In your case, you would enter SOFT and press enter for the d: drive letter. This must have been added in one the Windows update.

 

[Crispy27]

converting E drive

I bought a capture card for my xbox 360 and I want to capture video onto a dvd in my E drive but it says I need to convert it to NTFS to be able to use it fully or I only get 20 min of video recorded. When I did the command like you said all that came up was Cannot CONVERT volume on this device. What does this mean?

 

[Brink]

Hello Crispy, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but a DVD uses a different file system that cannot be converted to NTFS like that.

Are you able to have the captured video saved to a USB stick formated as NTFS instead, then transfer it over later to a DVD?

 

[greak]

hey guys i tried to convert my 1tera external from fat32 to ntfs I followed ur instructions but got an error heres a pic

 

[Brink]

Hello Greak, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It looks like you may have some corruption or a bad sector on the drive. In a elevated command prompt, run a chkdsk J: /F /R command. Afterwards see if you may be able to convert the drive.

If not, then you will need to backup what is on it that you do not want to lose, then will have to format the drive as NTFS instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[kak2a2]

Fast and simple ... thanks Brink : )

 

[Brink]

You're most weclome Abdulrahman.

 

[bhellim]

I've tried this and It works perfectly.Thank you

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Bhellim. Thank you.

 

[rameshgautam]

not working

hello sir after doing this all
its say
convert is not avaible for raw device can u help me plx

 

[Brink]

Hello Ramesh, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If it's a RAW drive, then it's a unformatted drive. You may need to right click on the disk in Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) (see example screenshot below) and click on Initialize first, then you will be able to just format the drive as NTFS as normal.



Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[rameshgautam]

hello sir
i have 128 gb kingston usb flash drive
how to conver to NTFS format
help me

 

[eldinv]

128GB USB are u sure?

Go to disk management and format to NTFS, back what you need first.