Windows 2000 Administration in a Nutshell

Name

convert

Synopsis

Converts FAT and FAT32 volumes to NTFS.

Syntax

convert volume /fs:ntfs [/v] [/nametable:filename]

Options

volume

Specifies the volume to convert. A drive letter with colon, a volume mount point, or a volume name can identify this volume.

/fs:ntfs

Converts the volume to NTFS (required).

/v

Verbose.

/nametable: filename

Creates a temporary table of the filenames that need to be changed when converting to NTFS. (Use this if you have strange filenames that prevent conversion from completing properly.)

Examples

Convert F: drive from FAT32 to NTFS:

                     convert F: /fs:ntfs
The type of the file system is FAT32.
Enter current volume label for drive F: F32
Determining disk space required for file system conversion...
Total disk space:                614400 KB
Free space on volume:            613160 KB
Space required for conversion:     6083 KB
Converting file system
Conversion complete

Note that for safety purposes you have to enter the volume label of the volume you want to convert. If you typed the convert command and then opened Windows Explorer or My Computer to determine the necessary volume label, be sure to close that tool before entering the label or you might get this:

                     convert f: /fs:ntfs
The type of the file system is FAT32.
Enter current volume label for drive F: F32
Convert cannot gain exclusive access to the F: drive,
so it cannot convert it now.  Would you like to
schedule it to be converted the next time the
system restarts (Y/N)?

Notes

• The current drive cannot be converted.

• If a drive is almost ...