FAT and NTFS Conversion - Limitations & Advantages

FAT - File Allocation Table

It’s an earlier version of file storage system. But still all USB Devices & External Hard Disk uses this system in default. But it has some limitations. You can only store data which has less than 4GB in a single file size. If it is more than that you have to only use NTFS System.

NTFS - New Technology File System

It’s an latest version of file storage system and allows any file size to store in the disk. It has many more advantages like savings in space and performance in speed etc., But you don’t use this system if you are using the device in TV’s and DVD Players. Because it will only work with Computer systems. So you can use this for External Hard Disk. This system can able to store up to 4EB (Exabytes) as a single file. It is equivalent to 4 billion gigabytes. So we don’t go that much.

                                                                         

Conversion from FAT32 to NTFS without any data loss.

Let your Drive name is “H”

1.       Go to start button, open RUN, type CMD and hit enter and it will open the command window.

2.       Now type following command chkdsk H: /f (H is the letter of the drive) it will check the disk error and if any found then it will fixes them automatically.

3.       After that type following command Convert H: /FS:NTFS and hit Enter. Where I is the letter of the drive to be converted

4.       Now this command will start the conversion process and after few minutes it will say that conversion is successful.

5.       Please be sure that you give Default in Allocation Unit size otherwise give 518bytes. Lesser in size will not waste your disk space while copying more number of small size files.

Conversion from NTFS to FAT32 without any data loss.

1.       You have to back up your data in your local disk.

2.       Then do format by changing NTFS to FAT32.

3.       No other methods available as of now