"CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives."

I'm trying to convert an EXFAT drive to NTFS. The Windows program
CONVERT.EXE can't do it.

C:\Users\Tadeuszconvert e: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives.

C:\Users\Tadeusz

Is it possible to convert the drive using some other program, or must
I reformat the drive with NTFS?

lid wrote on 9/12/2014 10:14 AM:
EXFAT drive to NTFS

Have a look at this: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=373964
Seems like all my research points to "you can't". Other than removing
the data, format it, and put the data back. If it's your OS, that's a
tough one.

Might try Partition Wizard:
http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-...n-manager.html
It helped me move a lot of partitions around, and as a tool I like it.

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 10:40:20 -0400, Big Al wrote:

Might try Partition Wizard:
http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-...n-manager.html
It helped me move a lot of partitions around, and as a tool I like it.

Tried Partition Wizard. Doesn't feature conversion from exFAT to NTFS.

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 10:40:20 -0400, Big Al wrote:

wrote on 9/12/2014 10:14 AM:
EXFAT drive to NTFS

Have a look at this: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=373964
Seems like all my research points to "you can't". Other than removing
the data, format it, and put the data back. If it's your OS, that's a
tough one.

Looked at it. It talks about FAT32 to NTFS. I need exFAT to NTFS.

Any alternative to save / reformatting / reload?

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 17:43:36 +0100, lid wrote:

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 10:40:20 -0400, Big Al wrote:

wrote on 9/12/2014 10:14 AM:
EXFAT drive to NTFS

Have a look at this: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=373964
Seems like all my research points to "you can't". Other than removing
the data, format it, and put the data back. If it's your OS, that's a
tough one.

Looked at it. It talks about FAT32 to NTFS. I need exFAT to NTFS.

Any alternative to save / reformatting / reload?

I didn't see any info telling us the size the disk in question or how full
it is, or whether you have a spare disk to use as a temporary place for your
data. I'd just like to throw out that if you don't have an empty spare disk
handy, and your current disk has a reasonable amount of free space on it,
you can do a 'reformat in place' by shrinking the current exFAT partition,
making a new NTFS partition in the newly freed space, copying your data to
the NTFS partition, removing the exFAT partition, and extending your NTFS
partition to fill the drive. You may have to lather, rinse, repeat one or
more times, but it gets the job done without requiring a second drive.

--

Char Jackson

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:26:00 -0500, Char Jackson wrote:

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 17:43:36 +0100, lid wrote:

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 10:40:20 -0400, Big Al wrote:

wrote on 9/12/2014 10:14 AM:
EXFAT drive to NTFS

Have a look at this: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=373964
Seems like all my research points to "you can't". Other than removing
the data, format it, and put the data back. If it's your OS, that's a
tough one.

Looked at it. It talks about FAT32 to NTFS. I need exFAT to NTFS.

Any alternative to save / reformatting / reload?

I didn't see any info telling us the size the disk in question or how full
it is, or whether you have a spare disk to use as a temporary place for your
data. I'd just like to throw out that if you don't have an empty spare disk
handy, and your current disk has a reasonable amount of free space on it,
you can do a 'reformat in place' by shrinking the current exFAT partition,
making a new NTFS partition in the newly freed space, copying your data to
the NTFS partition, removing the exFAT partition, and extending your NTFS
partition to fill the drive. You may have to lather, rinse, repeat one or
more times, but it gets the job done without requiring a second drive.

I had to laugh at your simple solution :-)

OK, it's not that complicated, but it *is* a bit of work to carry out.
And, after all, I'm sometimes too easily amused...

Since it surely would work, it seems a good last resort.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

lid wrote:
I'm trying to convert an EXFAT drive to NTFS. The Windows program
CONVERT.EXE can't do it.

C:\Users\Tadeuszconvert e: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives.

C:\Users\Tadeusz

Is it possible to convert the drive using some other program, or must
I reformat the drive with NTFS?


Afiak, not possible.

Backup, format the exFAT drive as NTFS, copy from the backup to the
newly formatted NTFS drive.

--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps

John wrote:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:55:30 -0400, ". . .winston"
wrote:

lid wrote:
I'm trying to convert an EXFAT drive to NTFS. The Windows program
CONVERT.EXE can't do it.

C:\Users\Tadeuszconvert e: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives.

C:\Users\Tadeusz

Is it possible to convert the drive using some other program, or must
I reformat the drive with NTFS?


Afiak, not possible.

Backup, format the exFAT drive as NTFS, copy from the backup to the
newly formatted NTFS drive.

Why?
Why not just copy the data to an NTFS drive and use it as the primary
while keeping the exfat as a backup? Far less work.
Drives are cheap.
J.

Copying is much different than converting an existing file system on a
given drive to another file system on the same drive (the op's question)
without moving/copying data. (i.e. convert one file system to another
with data intact).



--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 18:26:36 -0400, . . .winston wrote:

John wrote:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:55:30 -0400, ". . .winston"
wrote:

lid wrote:
I'm trying to convert an EXFAT drive to NTFS. The Windows program
CONVERT.EXE can't do it.

C:\Users\Tadeuszconvert e: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives.

C:\Users\Tadeusz

Is it possible to convert the drive using some other program, or must
I reformat the drive with NTFS?


Afiak, not possible.

Backup, format the exFAT drive as NTFS, copy from the backup to the
newly formatted NTFS drive.

Why?
Why not just copy the data to an NTFS drive and use it as the primary
while keeping the exfat as a backup? Far less work.
Drives are cheap.
J.

Copying is much different than converting an existing file system on a
given drive to another file system on the same drive (the op's question)
without moving/copying data. (i.e. convert one file system to another
with data intact).

I think John knows that, but recall that everyone who seems to know has
said that conversion is not possible in this instance.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

Gene E. Bloch wrote:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 18:26:36 -0400, . . .winston wrote:

John wrote:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:55:30 -0400, ". . .winston"
wrote:

lid wrote:
I'm trying to convert an EXFAT drive to NTFS. The Windows program
CONVERT.EXE can't do it.

C:\Users\Tadeuszconvert e: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives.

C:\Users\Tadeusz

Is it possible to convert the drive using some other program, or must
I reformat the drive with NTFS?


Afiak, not possible.

Backup, format the exFAT drive as NTFS, copy from the backup to the
newly formatted NTFS drive.

Why?
Why not just copy the data to an NTFS drive and use it as the primary
while keeping the exfat as a backup? Far less work.
Drives are cheap.
J.

Copying is much different than converting an existing file system on a
given drive to another file system on the same drive (the op's question)
without moving/copying data. (i.e. convert one file system to another
with data intact).

I think John knows that, but recall that everyone who seems to know has
said that conversion is not possible in this instance.

I gathered that but copying appears to have missed the op's intent of
converting since there was no mention of another drive availability thus
my original repsonse - backup, format the ExFat, copy back to the newly
formatted drive.

--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 20:51:30 -0400, . . .winston wrote:

Gene E. Bloch wrote:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 18:26:36 -0400, . . .winston wrote:

John wrote:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:55:30 -0400, ". . .winston"
wrote:

lid wrote:
I'm trying to convert an EXFAT drive to NTFS. The Windows program
CONVERT.EXE can't do it.

C:\Users\Tadeuszconvert e: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives.

C:\Users\Tadeusz

Is it possible to convert the drive using some other program, or must
I reformat the drive with NTFS?


Afiak, not possible.

Backup, format the exFAT drive as NTFS, copy from the backup to the
newly formatted NTFS drive.

Why?
Why not just copy the data to an NTFS drive and use it as the primary
while keeping the exfat as a backup? Far less work.
Drives are cheap.
J.

Copying is much different than converting an existing file system on a
given drive to another file system on the same drive (the op's question)
without moving/copying data. (i.e. convert one file system to another
with data intact).

I think John knows that, but recall that everyone who seems to know has
said that conversion is not possible in this instance.

I gathered that but copying appears to have missed the op's intent of
converting since there was no mention of another drive availability thus
my original repsonse - backup, format the ExFat, copy back to the newly
formatted drive.

Since we can't yet be sure about that (one way or the other), it's just
as well that 'we' have provided a number of suggestions. Now the OP can
chose what works best for him.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

John wrote:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 16:36:57 -0700, "Gene E. Bloch"
wrote:

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 18:26:36 -0400, . . .winston wrote:

John wrote:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:55:30 -0400, ". . .winston"
wrote:

lid wrote:
I'm trying to convert an EXFAT drive to NTFS. The Windows program
CONVERT.EXE can't do it.

C:\Users\Tadeuszconvert e: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives.

C:\Users\Tadeusz

Is it possible to convert the drive using some other program, or must
I reformat the drive with NTFS?


Afiak, not possible.

Backup, format the exFAT drive as NTFS, copy from the backup to the
newly formatted NTFS drive.

Why?
Why not just copy the data to an NTFS drive and use it as the primary
while keeping the exfat as a backup? Far less work.
Drives are cheap.
J.

Copying is much different than converting an existing file system on a
given drive to another file system on the same drive (the op's question)
without moving/copying data. (i.e. convert one file system to another
with data intact).

I think John knows that, but recall that everyone who seems to know has
said that conversion is not possible in this instance.

Not only does John know that but John also can't understand why
Winston brought it up as it is irrelevant. I know what the OP asked, I
was only offering him an alternative route to NTFS which involved less
work than the routes many others have suggested and would have given
him a backup of his exfat volume.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convert_%28command%29
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb490885.aspx
Neither of those mention exfat.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/214579 has this little warning:

quote
NOTE: Although the chance of corruption or data loss during the
conversion from FAT to NTFS is minimal, it is best to perform a full
backup of the data on the drive that it is to be converted prior to
executing the convert command. It is also recommended to verify the
integrity of the backup before proceeding, as well as to run RDISK and
update the emergency repair disk (ERD).
/quote

If you are going to do a recommended back up anyway ...


Just to ram home the point, here's a message from someone who is not
me:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answer...sing-data.html
he seems to think "convert exfat ntfs" isn't possible. He's in good
company. No one things it can be done. Format, yes, convert, no.
Of course, I knew all of this.

I knew trying to be helpful was a mistake.

J.



Since were in the third person response - I don't think ...winston
specifically said it was irrelevant. Giving the op of the benefit of
the doubt (since it was not mentioned) that no other drive was available
thus the only immediate route without more hardware would be to backup,
format exFAT media as NTFS, then copy from backup.

The op received a lot of helpful advice on what could be done from a
variety of respondents including John and ...winston - though in 3 of
the op's follow up replies not a single mention of the availability of
another drive or consideration of purchasing another drive.


--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:14:59 +0100, lid wrote:

I'm trying to convert an EXFAT drive to NTFS. The Windows program
CONVERT.EXE can't do it.

C:\Users\Tadeuszconvert e: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives.

C:\Users\Tadeusz

Is it possible to convert the drive using some other program, or must
I reformat the drive with NTFS?

It just occurred to me that you haven't specified what sort of drive
this is.

John's suggestion[1] is very simple and very easy, but I think he's
assuming, as I did, that you're talking about a thumb drive of a few GB,
not, say, a 2TB hard drive...

The former are cheap, the latter not so much, unless you're wealthy.

[1] Message-ID:

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:47:38 -0700, "Gene E. Bloch"
wrote:

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:14:59 +0100, lid wrote:

I'm trying to convert an EXFAT drive to NTFS. The Windows program
CONVERT.EXE can't do it.

C:\Users\Tadeuszconvert e: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives.

C:\Users\Tadeusz

Is it possible to convert the drive using some other program, or must
I reformat the drive with NTFS?

It just occurred to me that you haven't specified what sort of drive
this is.

John's suggestion[1] is very simple and very easy, but I think he's
assuming, as I did, that you're talking about a thumb drive of a few GB,
not, say, a 2TB hard drive...

The former are cheap, the latter not so much, unless you're wealthy.

[1] Message-ID:

The drive is 128 GB, SDXC card. It's designed to handle overflow from
my internal 128 GB SSD. Particularly cygwin installation files.

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 23:12:58 +0100, lid wrote:

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:47:38 -0700, "Gene E. Bloch"
wrote:

On Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:14:59 +0100, lid wrote:

I'm trying to convert an EXFAT drive to NTFS. The Windows program
CONVERT.EXE can't do it.

C:\Users\Tadeuszconvert e: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
CONVERT is not available for EXFAT drives.

C:\Users\Tadeusz

Is it possible to convert the drive using some other program, or must
I reformat the drive with NTFS?

It just occurred to me that you haven't specified what sort of drive
this is.

John's suggestion[1] is very simple and very easy, but I think he's
assuming, as I did, that you're talking about a thumb drive of a few GB,
not, say, a 2TB hard drive...

The former are cheap, the latter not so much, unless you're wealthy.

[1] Message-ID:

The drive is 128 GB, SDXC card. It's designed to handle overflow from
my internal 128 GB SSD. Particularly cygwin installation files.

OK, then not so cheap...

At Amazon I see $55 and up, so comparable to a 1 GB hard drive.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)