Tool and Tips
How to Convert FAT Disks to NTFS This article describes how to convert FAT disks to NTFS. See the Terms sidebar for definitions of FAT, FAT32 and NTFS. Before you decide which file system to use, you should understand the benefits and limitations of each of them. Changing a volume's existing file system can be time–consuming, so choose the file system that best suits your long–term needs. If you decide to use a different file system, you must back up your data and then reformat the volume using the new file system. However, you can convert a FAT or FAT32 volume to an NTFS volume without formatting the volume, though it is still a good idea to back up your data before you convert. Note Some older programs may not run on an NTFS volume, so you should research the current requirements for your software before converting. Choosing Between NTFS, FAT, and FAT32 You can choose between three file systems for disk partitions on a computer running Windows XP: NTFS, F...