This article introduces how to convert partition from NTFS to FAT32, or FAT to NTFS without losing data.

As we know, before using a disk partition, you have to format it as NTFS or FAT32/16/12. When you formatting this drive, Windows write basic info to this partition and then manage files with NTFS or FAT file system. Actually, either FAT or NTFS means a way to read and writhe files from/to a disk partition. However, in our daily use, we cannot find out any differences, we can create, delete and paste files in both NTFS and FAT partitions.

How to find out a partition (drive) is NTFS or FAT?

Two ways:

1. Open "My Computer", right click a partition and select "Properties".

2. Right click "My Computer" > "Manage" > "Storage" > "Disk Management", you'll find out file system type of all disk drives.

Change/modify drive file system

In the beginning, Microsoft use FAT file system to manage a disk partition reading and writing files, but it cannot handle large files, so Microsoft invents NTFS file system (abb. for New Technology File System). Of course, it has many advantages, besides the ability to manage large files, NTFS has new features, such as files compression and encryption (EFS, encrypting file system), Quote, Volume Shadow Copy, etc.

Many people have used FAT partition and large amount of files are stored, to easier upgade and transfer partition from FAT to NTFS, keeping files intact, Microsoft provides a "convert" command in command prompt.

"convert d: /fs:ntfs" will convert drive D from FAT16/32 to NTFS without losing your data.

Problem of NTFS partition

Knowing ntfs is better than fat, many people format all storage device as NTFS, but there is a common problem: NTFS partitions cannot be detected, especially for USB disks, memory cards, PS (play station). Some third-party applications cannot support NTFS. In these conditions, you need to convert the ntfs partitions to fat32.

The problem is, Microsoft convert command cannot change ntfs drive to fat32 nondestructively. This is the reason why I write this article.

Convert ntfs to fat32 without losing data

With the professional partition file system converter, such as NTFS to FAT32 Editor, converting NTFS drive to FAT32 becomes much easier.

It provides two modules – "NTFS to FAT32" and "FAT32 to NTFS", I've tested, both FAT32 and FAT16 can be converted to NTFS. (Maybe "FAT to NTFS" is more accurate aha.)

Select the module and then a partition you want to convert, hit convert, done.

Learn more: www.ntfs-fat32.com