In Windows 7, you can convert FAT32 partitions to NTFS. File system conversion is the process of converting one file system to another without the loss of data. If you format a drive as another file system, as opposed to converting that drive, all the data on that drive will be lost.

Converting a FAT disk to NTFS

When you divide a hard drive into multiple volumes, you can format each independently of the other. (A volume is any partition or logical drive that has its own drive letter and icon in My Computer.) NTFS is the preferred file system for Windows 7 because of its better performance and stronger security. There's no reason to use one of the FAT file systems unless you have multiple operating systems installed and can choose one or the other at startup. For example, if you can boot to Windows 7 and Linux, the Linux operating system will not be able to access files on a local NTFS volume.

You can convert a FAT or FAT32 file system to NTFS, but it's not possible to go in the other direction. That is, you can always upgrade to NTFS, but you cannot downgrade. Be sure to close all open documents and program windows prior to starting the conversion. To convert a FAT or FAT32 volume to NTFS, use the following syntax with the command console convert command:

CONVERT volume /FS:NTFS [/V]

volume Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume name /FS:NTFS Specifies that the volume should be converted to NTFS /V Specifies that Convert should be run in Verbose mode

To enter the command:

1. Close all open documents and program windows.
2. Click the Start button and choose All Programs ? Accessories ? Command Prompt.
3. Type the command using the syntax shown. For example, to convert hard disk drive D: from FAT or FAT32 to NTFS, type convert d: /fs:ntfs.
4. Press Enter, and follow the instructions on the screen.

If you're converting your system drive (C:), you'll need to restart the computer to start the conversion. Don't use the computer during the conversion process.

Stopping a Conversion

If you choose to convert a partition from FAT32 to NTFS, and the conversion has not yet taken place, you can cancel the conversion by editing the Registry with the regedit command. The key that needs to be edited is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\ CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager. The BootExecute value should be changed from autoconv \DosDevices\x: / FS:NTFS to autocheck autochk*.

Converting an NTFS file system to FAT

Here are the steps:

• Back up the data on the partition
• Reformat the partition with FAT or FAT32
• Restore the data originally backed up from the NTFS partition

Read more about the convert command at:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Convert-a-hard-disk-or-partition-to-NTFS-format.