Converting from FAT to NTFS

I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting movies
and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am running
Windows Media Center 2003

Can I

1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive, or do I run a risk of
file curruption, or worse if I do that.

OR

2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
then put them back?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Chaz

Xaos wrote:

> 2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
> then put them back?

Bingo!

>
> Thanks in advance for your assistance!
>
> Chaz

You're welcome.

Alias

Xaos <chazperx@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting
> movies and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am
> running Windows Media Center 2003
>
> Can I
>
> 1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive, or do I run a risk
> of file curruption, or worse if I do that.
>
> OR
>
> 2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion,
> and then put them back?
>
> Thanks in advance for your assistance!
>
> Chaz

Conversion shouldn't delete files, but it's always wise to do a backup
first.

It usually goes well and without hitches but *anything* is possible when
you do that kind of work and although small there is a risk of losing
your files. If you truly value your files you will not undertake a file
system conversion without a proper backup! Backup the files or move
them then you can format or convert the drive. If you decide to proceed
with a simple conversion read here:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm There is also an issue with the
Master File Table not being placed at an optimal position on a converted
disk, it will end up in the middle of the disk somewhere instead of
nearer to the beginning of the disk.

John

Xaos wrote:

> I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting movies
> and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am running
> Windows Media Center 2003
>
> Can I
>
> 1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive, or do I run a risk of
> file curruption, or worse if I do that.
>
> OR
>
> 2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
> then put them back?
>
> Thanks in advance for your assistance!
>
> Chaz

Xaos,

I have been looking at this product and find it very interesting. Have you
had any problems with this backup device?

Thanks
George

"Xaos" <chazperx@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:zBd9i.17$1T2.15@newsfe12.lga...
>I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting movies
>and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am running
>Windows Media Center 2003
>
> Can I
>
> 1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive, or do I run a risk of
> file curruption, or worse if I do that.
>
> OR
>
> 2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
> then put them back?
>
> Thanks in advance for your assistance!
>
> Chaz

On Tue, 05 Jun 2007 09:32:13 -0400, Xaos <chazperx@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting movies
>and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am running
>Windows Media Center 2003
>
>Can I
>
>1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive,


Yes.


>or do I run a risk of
>file curruption, or worse if I do that.


Although there is no particular reason to expect a problem, there is
*always* a risk that something could go wrong when you take such a big
step. Worst case, you can lose *everything*


>OR
>
>2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
>then put them back?


If it were me, I would simply do my regular backup before starting the
conversion.

By the way, to convert to NTFS, you use the CONVERT command. But first
read http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm because there's an issue
regarding cluster size that isn't obvious.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> On Tue, 05 Jun 2007 09:32:13 -0400, Xaos <chazperx@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting
>> movies and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am
>> running Windows Media Center 2003
>>
>> Can I
>>
>> 1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive,
>
>
> Yes.
>
>
>> or do I run a risk of
>> file curruption, or worse if I do that.
>
>
> Although there is no particular reason to expect a problem, there is
> *always* a risk that something could go wrong when you take such a big
> step. Worst case, you can lose *everything*
>
>
>> OR
>>
>> 2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion,
>> and then put them back?
>
>
> If it were me, I would simply do my regular backup before starting the
> conversion.
>

If it were me, I would start from scratch , reformat in NTFS. You could also
change partition layout if needed.

On Tue, 5 Jun 2007 17:42:07 +0100, "Keith" <keith@invalid.net> wrote:

>Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
>> On Tue, 05 Jun 2007 09:32:13 -0400, Xaos <chazperx@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting
>>> movies and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am
>>> running Windows Media Center 2003
>>>
>>> Can I
>>>
>>> 1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive,
>>
>>
>> Yes.
>>
>>
>>> or do I run a risk of
>>> file curruption, or worse if I do that.
>>
>>
>> Although there is no particular reason to expect a problem, there is
>> *always* a risk that something could go wrong when you take such a big
>> step. Worst case, you can lose *everything*
>>
>>
>>> OR
>>>
>>> 2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion,
>>> and then put them back?
>>
>>
>> If it were me, I would simply do my regular backup before starting the
>> conversion.
>>
>
>If it were me, I would start from scratch , reformat in NTFS. You could also
>change partition layout if needed.


Complete overkill. There's absolutely no reason to do that.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Xaos" wrote
>I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting movies
>and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am running
>Windows Media Center 2003
>
> Can I
>
> 1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive, or do I run a risk of
> file curruption, or worse if I do that.
>
> OR
>
> 2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
> then put them back?

You do currently have a backup of those files, right? All files that one
cannot afford to loose need to be backed up. Given a full backup, then go
ahead and do the conversion to ntfs. Normally it goes fine, but just in
case you do have that backup. Here is a link with info on doing the
conversion.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

"Keith" <keith@invalid.net> wrote
> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
>> Xaos wrote:
>>
>>> I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting
>>> movies and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am
>>> running Windows Media Center 2003
>>>
>>> Can I
>>>
>>> 1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive,
>>
>>
>> Yes.
>>
>>
>>> or do I run a risk of
>>> file curruption, or worse if I do that.
>>
>>
>> Although there is no particular reason to expect a problem, there is
>> *always* a risk that something could go wrong when you take such a big
>> step. Worst case, you can lose *everything*
>>
>>
>>> OR
>>>
>>> 2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion,
>>> and then put them back?
>>
>>
>> If it were me, I would simply do my regular backup before starting the
>> conversion.
>>
>
> If it were me, I would start from scratch , reformat in NTFS. You could
> also change partition layout if needed.


Why? Normally a conversion from FAT32 to NTFS goes fine, personally I've
never had a problem with it, and with an backup which should be always the
case, if something goes wrong you're the data is still protected.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]