Guest Cookie Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 I decided to change to the NTFS file system. I've read a number of articles about this subject including how much better/how much worse the system is and recommendations that it should be done after a full format.I didn't want to mess about re-formatting and all that goes with it so used the following to convert without losing anything.I don't know if it is any better, it appears to be slightly faster, but if anyone wishes to have a go, XP and 2000 only evidently, here's how to do it.Go to Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command PromptAt the prompt type:-CONVERT C: /FS:NTFSAfter a while it may tell you there are programs running and do you want to continue. If it does choose NIt will then ask if you want to convert at the next re-boot Choose YSit back and wait. It can take quite a while according to how much you have on your hard drive.Finally, before I converted I had 37% free space on my HD, after I had 50%. There was obviously some file compression but it's all working fine so I'm happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince of Calcutta Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 yes it is that easy :) it's converting back to fat32 from ntfs that usually gives hell especially for inexperienced users. the easiest way for me is to choose the option during the installation of win xp to format your drive using FAT 32 . another way is to use a windows 98/me start up disk and choose the option to delete the non dos partition and then then format that partition using fat32. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cookie Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 I didn't partition the drive, just have the one.I can't see any reason for wanting to convert back to FAT32 but there are programs, at a cost, which would do so if necessary.If ever I need a new hard drive or have a catastrophic crash and have to re-format, I think I'll use NTFS from the start. :D Has anyone with the NTFS file system found any benefits or pitfalls? :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cookie Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 I didn't partition the drive, just have the one.I can't see any reason for wanting to convert back to FAT32 but there are programs, at a cost, which would do so if necessary.If ever I need a new hard drive or have a catastrophic crash and have to re-format, I think I'll use NTFS from the start. :D Has anyone with the NTFS file system found any benefits or pitfalls? :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter e Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Hi CookieI'd just spent ages typing up a post in reply to yours when the darned thing suddenly disappeared. Don't know what happened.Anyway, the gist of it was that NTFS is super for freeing up disc space; but when you copy a file compressed in NTFS to a removable disc does it automatically decompress so that it can then be used on a FAT system machine without any further ado?I could have done with NTFS on my old machine to free up disc space but now I've got bags of space on my new machine. Strange how when you get what you need, you no longer need it.RegardsPeter(hope that two postings don't now appear) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cookie Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 I'd just spent ages typing up a post in reply to yours when the darned thing suddenly disappeared. Don't know what happened.Anyway, the gist of it was that NTFS is super for freeing up disc space; but when you copy a file compressed in NTFS to a removable disc does it automatically decompress so that it can then be used on a FAT system machine without any further ado?Must have been a Gremlin, or Craig messing about again. :angry: Don't know about copying NTFS files to a removable disk. I'll have to save a few different types of file and see if my mate can load on to his FAT32.It'll be a few days before I visit but I'll get back when I know the answer.Unless of course someone here already knows the answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ellas Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 did you not read this cookie http://www.starsandmoon.net/forum/index.ph...t=ST&f=10&t=240 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cookie Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Yes, I read it but forgot. :angry: Everything went smoothly with my changeover, no problems at all. :D :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince of Calcutta Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 even if you format your hard disk with ntfs i think windows only let you format your floppy in fat and so it does work on systems using fat :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark2 Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 My iomega zip discs are readable from both ME fat32 and XP ntfs on laptop and desktop ;) I think they are formatted in Fat automatically without any other option (unless someone shoots me down in flames) :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LB Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 i think that when you copy a file from NTFS to any file system it copies it using the file system that you are copying to....the file size should stay the same, it is the cluster size that is different. For example, if a file is 15kb in length and the cluster size is 10kb then 2 clusters (20kb) will be used leaving 4kb of the 20 empty but shown as used. However if the cluster size is 4kb then only 4 clusters (16kb) will be used.Default cluster sizes on a drive of over 2gbNTFS = 4kb (but the cluster size increases on disks under 2gb)FAT32 = 16kb (once again, this varies depending on the size of the partition however, the 16kb applies to drives of over 16gb)Hope this shows why disk space is freed when changing file systems..........!!!!I believe that Hard drives can be formatted in NTFS, however floppies, zips and others can be formatted in FAT (File Allocation Table) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter e Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Well, now I know. Thanks for the input, all.Lived_BackwardsYour explanation makes perfect sense to me. Thank you.Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cookie Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Thanks for that Lived_Backwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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