Convert from FAT 32 to NTFS

[Charles W Davis]

I've spent the morning trying to make the conversion from
FAT 32 to NTFS.

Following instructions in "Microsoft Windows XP Inside
Out", I have created a new master file table using the
following command:
fsutil file creatnew c:\testfile.txt 3500000000
Where 3500000000 is under 12% of the partition size (39 GB
unpartitioned drive)
Then enter the following command:
convert c: /fs:ntfs /cvtarea:testfile.txt

Since the drive is in use, it can only convert on restart.
However, during restart, scan disk is run and then a
fleeting message appears that I believe says: Failed due
to some file must be contiguous. It comes and goes so fast
that I can't read the exact words.

[DuWayne Nickels]

The testfile.txt file needs to be contiguous. Defrag the drive and try the conversion again.

D Nickels

>>> Charles W > 04/29/03 01:46PM >>>
I've spent the morning trying to make the conversion from
FAT 32 to NTFS.

Following instructions in "Microsoft Windows XP Inside
Out", I have created a new master file table using the
following command:
fsutil file creatnew c:\testfile.txt 3500000000
Where 3500000000 is under 12% of the partition size (39 GB
unpartitioned drive)
Then enter the following command:
convert c: /fs:ntfs /cvtarea:testfile.txt

Since the drive is in use, it can only convert on restart.
However, during restart, scan disk is run and then a
fleeting message appears that I believe says: Failed due
to some file must be contiguous. It comes and goes so fast
that I can't read the exact words.

[Charles W Davis]

DuWayne,
Thanks for the response, but...
When I run the Defragmentation program it is a file that
can't be defragged. I have deleted the file, and started
over with the same items. Between time of entering the
commmand to create the file and the command to convert,
nothing is done.

>-----Original Message-----
>The testfile.txt file needs to be contiguous. Defrag the
drive and try the conversion again.
>
>D Nickels
>
>>>> Charles W > 04/29/03 01:46PM >>>
>I've spent the morning trying to make the conversion from
>FAT 32 to NTFS.
>
>Following instructions in "Microsoft Windows XP Inside
>Out", I have created a new master file table using the
>following command:
>fsutil file creatnew c:\testfile.txt 3500000000
>Where 3500000000 is under 12% of the partition size (39
GB
>unpartitioned drive)
>Then enter the following command:
>convert c: /fs:ntfs /cvtarea:testfile.txt
>
>Since the drive is in use, it can only convert on
restart.
>However, during restart, scan disk is run and then a
>fleeting message appears that I believe says: Failed due
>to some file must be contiguous. It comes and goes so
fast
>that I can't read the exact words.
>
>
>.
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

You, however, can safely convert the drive to NTFS whenever
desired. As always when performing any serious changes, back up any
important data before proceeding, just in case. A little advance
preparation is also strongly recommended, so you can avoid any
performance hits caused by the cluster size:

Converting FAT32 to NTFS in Windows
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm


Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
----
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Charles W Davis" > wrote in message
...
> I've spent the morning trying to make the conversion from
> FAT 32 to NTFS.
>
> Following instructions in "Microsoft Windows XP Inside
> Out", I have created a new master file table using the
> following command:
> fsutil file creatnew c:\testfile.txt 3500000000
> Where 3500000000 is under 12% of the partition size (39 GB
> unpartitioned drive)
> Then enter the following command:
> convert c: /fs:ntfs /cvtarea:testfile.txt
>
> Since the drive is in use, it can only convert on restart.
> However, during restart, scan disk is run and then a
> fleeting message appears that I believe says: Failed due
> to some file must be contiguous. It comes and goes so fast
> that I can't read the exact words.

[Sir_George]

Charles,

Visit the following site for information regarding the proper way to convert
from FAT 32 to NTFS;

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

--
Sir_George


"Charles W Davis" > wrote in message
...
> I've spent the morning trying to make the conversion from
> FAT 32 to NTFS.
>
> Following instructions in "Microsoft Windows XP Inside
> Out", I have created a new master file table using the
> following command:
> fsutil file creatnew c:\testfile.txt 3500000000
> Where 3500000000 is under 12% of the partition size (39 GB
> unpartitioned drive)
> Then enter the following command:
> convert c: /fs:ntfs /cvtarea:testfile.txt
>
> Since the drive is in use, it can only convert on restart.
> However, during restart, scan disk is run and then a
> fleeting message appears that I believe says: Failed due
> to some file must be contiguous. It comes and goes so fast
> that I can't read the exact words.

[Charles W Davis]

I have been successful in the conversion, but I had to
eliminated the ignore the increase of performance that
might have been gained through the use of a contiguous
place holder for the master file table as described on
page 825 of "Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out" by Ed Bott
and Carl Siechert, Microsoft Press, Redmond, WA, 2001.
Someone didn't run a test case against the text in this
page.
>-----Original Message-----
>Greetings --
>
> You, however, can safely convert the drive to NTFS
whenever
>desired. As always when performing any serious changes,
back up any
>important data before proceeding, just in case. A little
advance
>preparation is also strongly recommended, so you can
avoid any
>performance hits caused by the cluster size:
>
>Converting FAT32 to NTFS in Windows
>http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm
>
>
>Bruce Chambers
>
>Help us help you:
>http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>----
>You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever
count on
>having both at once. -- RAH
>
>
>"Charles W Davis" > wrote in message
...
>> I've spent the morning trying to make the conversion
from
>> FAT 32 to NTFS.
>>
>> Following instructions in "Microsoft Windows XP Inside
>> Out", I have created a new master file table using the
>> following command:
>> fsutil file creatnew c:\testfile.txt 3500000000
>> Where 3500000000 is under 12% of the partition size (39
GB
>> unpartitioned drive)
>> Then enter the following command:
>> convert c: /fs:ntfs /cvtarea:testfile.txt
>>
>> Since the drive is in use, it can only convert on
restart.
>> However, during restart, scan disk is run and then a
>> fleeting message appears that I believe says: Failed due
>> to some file must be contiguous. It comes and goes so
fast
>> that I can't read the exact words.
>
>
>.
>

[Alex Nichol]

Charles W Davis wrote:

>Following instructions in "Microsoft Windows XP Inside
>Out", I have created a new master file table using the
>following command:
>fsutil file creatnew c:\testfile.txt 3500000000
>Where 3500000000 is under 12% of the partition size (39 GB
>unpartitioned drive)
>Then enter the following command:
>convert c: /fs:ntfs /cvtarea:testfile.txt
>
>Since the drive is in use, it can only convert on restart.
>However, during restart, scan disk is run and then a
>fleeting message appears that I believe says: Failed due
>to some file must be contiguous. It comes and goes so fast
>that I can't read the exact words.

The trouble will be that your testfile is badly fragmented. MFT wants a
cleanly contiguous area - much more than it needs it in a special
place, which is what the cvtarea idea is about. On the whole I do not
believe in that cvtarea switch. I regard it as better to ensure the
disk is defragmented (with a defragmenter that does something about
condensing free space) and then do it direct. But there is a risk of
getting 512 byte clusters if you do not tale precautions - see my page
www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows - File Systems)
Bournemouth, U.K.

[Greg Hayes/Raxco Software]

Charles,

In reality, trying to use the /cvtarea to try to create a contiguous $MFT is
an exercise in futility. The conversion really requires that a significant
piece of contiguous free space be available - which means that you are
dependent on the built-in defragmenter to try to create this contiguous
area. However, the built-in defragmenter running on FAT32 is quite limited.
As it can't defragment directories, they remain scattered all over the
place, making it quite difficult for the built-in defragmenter to
consolidate free space - and for the convert to work as "the book states".

Post-conversion, if you use a defragmenter that is capable of full
defragmenting the $MFT and placing it where Microsoft recommends, then there
really isn't an issue :)

- Greg/Raxco Software
Microsoft MVP - Windows Storage Management/File System

Disclaimer: I work for Raxco Software, the maker of PerfectDisk - a
commercial defrag utility, as a systems engineer in the support department.




"Charles W Davis" > wrote in message
...
> I have been successful in the conversion, but I had to
> eliminated the ignore the increase of performance that
> might have been gained through the use of a contiguous
> place holder for the master file table as described on
> page 825 of "Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out" by Ed Bott
> and Carl Siechert, Microsoft Press, Redmond, WA, 2001.
> Someone didn't run a test case against the text in this
> page.
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Greetings --
> >
> > You, however, can safely convert the drive to NTFS
> whenever
> >desired. As always when performing any serious changes,
> back up any
> >important data before proceeding, just in case. A little
> advance
> >preparation is also strongly recommended, so you can
> avoid any
> >performance hits caused by the cluster size:
> >
> >Converting FAT32 to NTFS in Windows
> >http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm
> >
> >
> >Bruce Chambers
> >
> >Help us help you:
> >http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> >http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> >----
> >You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever
> count on
> >having both at once. -- RAH
> >
> >
> >"Charles W Davis" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> I've spent the morning trying to make the conversion
> from
> >> FAT 32 to NTFS.
> >>
> >> Following instructions in "Microsoft Windows XP Inside
> >> Out", I have created a new master file table using the
> >> following command:
> >> fsutil file creatnew c:\testfile.txt 3500000000
> >> Where 3500000000 is under 12% of the partition size (39
> GB
> >> unpartitioned drive)
> >> Then enter the following command:
> >> convert c: /fs:ntfs /cvtarea:testfile.txt
> >>
> >> Since the drive is in use, it can only convert on
> restart.
> >> However, during restart, scan disk is run and then a
> >> fleeting message appears that I believe says: Failed due
> >> to some file must be contiguous. It comes and goes so
> fast
> >> that I can't read the exact words.
> >
> >
> >.
> >