NTFS partitions have much more functionality and features compared to a FAT formatted hard drive. Some of the features that NTFS offers that FAT doesn’t include:
The ability to apply detailed security to files and folders.
File compression
File encryption
Larger more efficient hard drive partitions
More secure file sharing
More reliable than FAT
Ability to use dynamic disks for performance and fault tolerance
To convert a FAT partition to NTFS, perform the following steps:
This conversion is only possible in Windows 2000/XP/2003. Other Windows versions don't support NTFS.
Click Start, click Programs, and then click Command Prompt or Start, Run then type in cmd and click Ok.
At the command prompt, type CONVERT [driveletter]: /FS:NTFS where driveletter is the letter of the drive you are converting.
The computer will reboot and convert.exe will convert the partition to NTFS. Once you convert to NTFS you cannot go back to FAT without formatting the drive.
**It is highly recommended that you perform a full backup of your data on the drive that it is to be converted prior before converting just in case something goes wrong.**
Related Tips:
NTFS Permissions
NTFS Special Permissions
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