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

 

[Scotlank]

so I tried changing my hard drive to NTFS after for some reason it was made to FAT32 after a power outage.
I've received this following message after attempting a convert.
"F: cannot be converted because it contains files or directories with reserved NTFS names in the root directory. There can be no files or directories named $Mft, $MftMirr, $LogFile, $Volume, $AttrDef, $BitMap, $Boot, $BadClus, $Secure, $UpCase, $Extend or $Quota in the root directory."
What do I do? I am so desperate! I need my thousands of files off this drive! I have a 1TB WD My Book external USB 2.0 hard drive

 

[Brink]

Hello Scotlank, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you are able to access the drive, then I would recommend that you backup anything that you do not want to lose on the drive first. It looks like the only way you may be able to have it as NTFS is to format the drive as NTFS instead, then copy the files back. Sorry.

 

[Scotlank]

Do you recommend any recovery programs that are free?

 

[Brink]

You could manually copy and paste the files you wanted backed up to another location (ex: another partition), since formatting and doing a clean install would require reinstalling all programs and drivers.

 

[Scotlank]

how can I move the files though if they are inaccessible?

 

[Brink]

Oh, I didn't realize that you didn't have any access to it at all.

You might see if you may be able to use the free program Recuva to recover any files off of the HDD.

 

[x1morethanux]

Hi Brink,

after I followed your instructions for using the command prompt I was received a:

the second NTFS boot sector is unwriteable.
the conversion failed.
F: was not converted to NTFS

Am I out of luck or is this fixable?

 

[Brink]

Hello 1morethanu, and welcome to Seven Forums.

What type of drive (ex: USB flash drive, internal HDD, etc..) are you trying to convert? Is the drive encrypted or has any write protection enabled on it.

If USB, then you may only be able to format it as NTFS instead of convert it to NTFS.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[x1morethanux]

I have a USB flash drive. I don't think the drive is encrypted or has any write protection. Is there a way to check?

also i've tried formatting the drive through disk management, and also just through right clicking the drive from my computer and formatting through there, but both times i get a did not format successfully.

I'm not sure if this information is relevant here, but so far I've been able to format/convert my flash drive from fat32, to exfat, to raw.

thanks for your help.

 

[Brink]

It sounds like you may have a corrupted disk space on it. Try running a Clean All command on the USB flash drive, then see if you may be able to format it as NTFS afterwards.

 

[x1morethanux]

Hmm so I did the clean all command, tried formatting again, still didn't work. Then I tried converting it again from the command prompt and i received a:

Date error <cyclic redundancy check>.
Unable to notify other components that this volume has changed.

 

[Brink]

That does not sound good. You may have a bum USB flash drive. Does it work properly formatted as FAT32?

 

[x1morethanux]

Yea that's the weird thing..it works perfectly fine under the fat32 format. However, my only reason for buying the flash drive was to use it as an additional hard drive for my xbox. Turns out the xbox doesn't recognize fat32 formatted flash drives. Haha I give up.

But yea thank you very much Brink for taking the time to answer my questions and doing everything you could to help me out.

 

[Brink]

What's the size, model, and brand of your USB stick?

This way we can see if others are seeing the same thing with that particular one.

 

[x1morethanux]

unfortunately it appears to be brandless (I bought it off of ebay, should've known better =\ )

 

[Brink]

While you have it plugged in, you might check in Device Manager under "Disk drives" to see if it may list the brand and model for you there.

 

[x1morethanux]

Hmm..under disk drives it just says USB2.0 Flash Disk USB Device

 

[hubris]

Hi, i always use Smartdisk from Verbatim. works on all my sticks.

more accurate as to which brand it is.

Verbatim | USB Flash Drive, Recordable DVDs, Rewritable CD - Storage Media, Recordable Media

i then format to ntfs ( if needed )with Acronis DD.

cheers.

 

[Pharaun]

Hi. I think I messed up, bigtime.

I tried to convert my 1TB external Hard drive by following the steps mentioned, it said "failed, hard drive not clean" - So I found the other steps you've posted, which would clean it.

It succeeded, and it said it was clean, however, a problem arose. External hard drive disappeared, and I can't find it, tried running it from run.exe, unplugged it from computer and power supply. Still nothing.

At a loss, as I kinda want my external hdd FAT32 turned into ntfs, so I can use the 1TB I've paid for.

Whatever you can to help me get the external hard drive 'back' from wherever it went, and so it's changed into ntfs will be greatly appreciated.

Thank in advance,
Pharaun

*edited in*

I found solution myself, after a while =) - Sorry for bothering.

 

[Brink]

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?