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

 

[asura8]

Thanks a lot.
I'll try it and will post back.

Well now that I know that I ran it in elevated mode (note 1) it seems that my DOK is problematic - I cant format it only to exfat unless I'm using a 3'rd party utility.

(note 1) - http://www.sevenforums.com/1037016-post10.html

Downloaded the program, gave it a run through. I let it run into the option to "close" comes up after converting file system runs for a while, but no actual conversion happens. not sure if I'm using the program wrong in some form, or if it is just failing, though I suspect the latter since it seems to be just running the command prompt lines.

I think I would start over with removing all the data on the disk. I'll do so with the "clean all" command via diskpart. Look at this great tutorial, also from Brink - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html
Please note that if you have any information on volume e: you must backup it before performing the "clean all" command!.

BTW you wrote that this subject became relevant due to a game requiring an NTFS format external over a FAT32 format. How come? Do you want to copy it's installation image which size is larger than 4GB?

I can download the relevant file after the transfer is complete. However, I'd like to save my files, but lack a lot of space on my main drive 427GB used on the external vs 50GB free on the local. Will making a back-up of the external to save to the C drive as an archive back-up be compressed enough to save all the files after the external is wiped and converted?

 

[need4steer]

How many disks, internal & external, do you got?
What is the capacity of any of them, and how much free space on each?
What is the size of the data you want to backup?

 

[Brink]

Downloaded the program, gave it a run through. I let it run into the option to "close" comes up after converting file system runs for a while, but no actual conversion happens. not sure if I'm using the program wrong in some form, or if it is just failing, though I suspect the latter since it seems to be just running the command prompt lines.

I can download the relevant file after the transfer is complete. However, I'd like to save my files, but lack a lot of space on my main drive 427GB used on the external vs 50GB free on the local. Will making a back-up of the external to save to the C drive as an archive back-up be compressed enough to save all the files after the external is wiped and converted?

Asura,

You might see if you may be able to use a command prompt at boot to see if you may be able to convert the drive from FAT32 to NTFS instead using the tutorial. This way you will be doing it outside of Windows 7 in case something may be interfering with the conversion.

 

[SledgeDG]

Thank you for another great Tut, Brink
I just converted my external 1TB My Book to NTFS.
The whole process took ~ 4Minutes on a drive that was filled to ~2/3 capacity
To convert this drive, only 1.4GB space were necessary.
As an Info/reminder for fellow "converters"
With big drives like that there are periods in between where it looks like the process hangs (no change in the cmd window, no drive activity)
just leave it alone to do its job. If you interrupt the process you can pretty much assume you just created a nice paperweight

-DG

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome David. Thank you for posting back with your results.

 

[zubo]

Help needed converting FAT to NTFS

Guys

I've tried this a few times without any joy.

I use the elevated dos method, convert seems to scan the drive checking all is ok, then it seems to suggest that the volume is in use by another process (it isnt) and asks would I like to force a dismount - I say Y so that convert can get at the volume... but NO Convert cannot get exclusive access to the drive - do I want to schedule the conversion when I restart my pc.

I reply Y, and promptly power off after the message tells me this will happen automatically when I next power up.... and it NEVER happens.....

Anyone know why??? this is SOOOOOOOOO frustrating.....

george

 

[SledgeDG]

Hi george obviously something still is accessing the drive.
Try to reboot into Safe Mode so that those drivers that access said drive might not even be loaded and go from there.
Is it an external drive? if so, try to unplug it, reboot, plug it back in, open the elevated prompt and try it that way.
If that fails too, I would back up the drive somewhere and simply reformat it to NTFS either via Windows or through a 3rd party app like
BEST FREE Partition Manager Software for Windows supports all 32-bit & 64 bit Windows No-server OS.

-DG

 

[zubo]

thanks for the quick reply.... and happy christmas to you too... i'm loving the avatar!!!

you know... I posted that message and followed the destructions.....

instead of rebooting the pc as I usually do, I switched it all off.

yep, you guessed, took 10 minutes... but was I glad it was doing the job...

moral of the story..... shut it all down and start over...

george

 

[SledgeDG]

Right..that's why I say Never give up...never surrender
Just sometimes you have to work your way around like shooting someone through the eye in the knee as we say over here.
I'm glad it worked
Happy Christmas to you too

-DG

 

[Darian199]

what is wrong, it does everything as supposed, untill it has finished to convert that, it just says F: name of the harddrive) was not converted to NTFS.

 

[Brink]

Hello Darian, and welcome to Seven Forums.

That error just means that the F: drive is in use and cannot be converted while in use. This could be caused if you had something running from or being saved to the F: drive for example.

You should be able to use step 2 to convert the drive using a command prompt at boot instead since it will not be in use at boot since Windows is not running at boot.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Timewarpone]

No problem using the elevated command prompt shortcut. This is what I got in the command prompt: "C:\windows\system32\>convert d:/fs:ntfs"
The type of the file system is FAT32
Enter the correct volume label for drive D: 319992332288
An incorrect volume label was entered for this drive
(The same message with commas)

My problem is the volume label. I right click on the drive letter and then on properties. It says capacity 319,992,332,288 bytes and 298GB. I entered the number with and without commas and I get an error message both times that I entered the wrong Volume label for this drive. I even tripled checked that I entered the correct drive letter. This is a 300GB backup SATA hard drive. My main drive is NTFS file system. I am the administrator. What happened is that I needed to do a fresh/clean Windows install due to a bad virus. I formatted the main drive but I left my backup drive alone but still connected to the motherboard. When I was done with the fresh install I noticed that I now have 2 hard drives with 2 different file systems in Windows 7 (32bit). The main drive is NTFS and the backup FAT32, What am I doing wrong?

 

[Brink]

Hello Timewarpone,

You just missed having a space between d: and /fs:ntfs in the command

 

[SledgeDG]

Enter the correct volume label for drive D: 319992332288

@Timewarpone: you entered the drive capacity instead of the label

When you open the command prompt give it the command
Dir
first, scroll all the way up to the top and look, what it says under VOLUME that's your label


In your method, the label would be here:


It's just to make sure that you have picked the drive you wanted to change

-DG

 

[Timewarpone]

Thanks For Your Help. Dummy me thought Volume Label meant how many bytes there were on the drive. After I entered the name of the drive it converted with no problems. The total conversion took about a minute and I never lost any files.

Why the back up drive went from NTFS to FAT32 after the fresh install of Windows will probably remain a deep dark secret for centuries to come.

 

[SledgeDG]

That's got to be one of windows hidden secrets/unsolved mysterys LOL
Glad you got it sorted out
Thanks for the feedback

-DG

 

[gokou46]

Hay guys im new to the forums. I wanted to convert my external HDD its a Morespace 1TB i have it almost filled up i'm scared that if i convert it that my files might get lost some how. Also it asked me to Enter current volume label for drive e:. What does that mean also would that mess my hardrive up and make me loose everything. What are my chance of loosing everything if i change fat32 to ntfs on my hardrive thanks for your help in advance.

 

[SledgeDG]

Hi goku46 and welcome to SF.
Usually a convert from FAT to NTFS goes painless without any loss of data but you know...stuff can happen (like a power outage right while you're converting...or a dog rips out the USB or power cable of the external drive...or grams trips over it...so it is never wrong to have a backup somewhere.
As for the volume label just look 3 posts above yours (#93) I explained it there.
If you still have questions don't hesitate to ask

-DG

 

[gokou46]

Hay guys i was able to convert my 1tb morespace hdd with no problem at all it took 5 min and it was finshed thanks for aall the help.

 

[SledgeDG]

Like I said it's usually a painless process as long as you don't interrupt it...but I'm a strong believer in Murphy's law (from experience

Glad it worked out for you
Thanks for the feedback
-DG