Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Fat 32 to NTFS

Jan 7, 2005 11:18AM PST

I'm attempting a conversion from FAT 32 to NTFS on an XP Pro machine. Dell 8350, 1G RAM, 40G HD, XP1. After I open my command prompt and enter the string "convert C: /FS:NTFS". The first thing I get is a message that, my "Type of file is fat 32". Next line asks me to "Enter current volume label for drive C:". Can anyone tell me what the current volume label is? I see no reference to this line on any conversion instruction. Am I going about this correctly? Thanks for the advice.

Brady

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Double Post
Jan 7, 2005 11:41AM PST

Sorry about that! Different question though. Thanks...

- Collapse -
Here is how from Microsoft
Jan 7, 2005 12:24PM PST
- Collapse -
fat32 vs ntfs
Jan 8, 2005 1:10AM PST

Thanks for your help but I have been to just about every site MS has. It seems that they all mention how to do this and how to do that, but none of them tell me how to actually do it. I need to know the exact steps necessary to find my C drive volume label. Every instruction either sends me to another instruction (which doesn't work) or a string that is followed by an error message. I've tried everything but the right thing. Can anyone explain the steps I need to find this elusive label? Thanks alot!

Signed, Lost in MS land

- Collapse -
(NT) (NT) Start, Run, LABEL press enter... Change it if you want
Jan 8, 2005 2:14AM PST
- Collapse -
Bob, why do
Jan 8, 2005 2:54AM PST

you always make things seem so easy? Don't say "because it is" either! The world is a better place because of you and all the Moderators on this message board. You can't believe how confusing/difficult it was to find the information you solved with one word. Mine to you is, "Incredible"! Thanks.

Brady

- Collapse -
Thanks...
Jan 8, 2005 3:23AM PST

Some take me as being too terse, but when faced with today's deluge of information sometimes it's best to use as few words as possible to supply the answer.

And other times, I only offer a fishing lesson...

Best of continued luck!

Bob

- Collapse -
Still with problem
Jan 8, 2005 8:16AM PST

Hi Bob,
Your recommendation got me further than I had prior, but. Let me show you what I'm presented with:

>C:\Documents and Settings\Brady>
>C:\Documents and Settings\Brady>Label
Volume in drive C: has no label
Volume Serial Number is XXXX-XXXX
Volume label <11 characters, ENTER for none>?

Delete current volume label (Y/N)

Regardless of my response (Y/N) I am returned to the opening string. I can't seem to get this to proceed through the process, no matter how hard I try. I wish I could send this notebook to you or at least provide you screen shot of it. I've used upper and lower case letters as indicated during my attempts. Do you have any other recommendations? I'm about ready to leave this as a FAT 32 system! Thanks for your help.

Brady

- Collapse -
When convert asks for the label, just press enter for...
Jan 8, 2005 9:13AM PST

For this case, just press enter since there is no label.

Bob

- Collapse -
Okay! Next question...
Jan 8, 2005 10:58AM PST

I finally got my C: drive over to NTFS with more trouble than it should've been. (My thanks to you for finally figuring it out.) One thing is certain, on these machines, nothing is certain. Now, Acer took it upon themselves to partition my HD. I have a C: partition and a D:. I'm unable to get my CMD Prompt to start @ a D: partition, therefore I can't switch file systems. Any suggestions?

Thx, Brady

- Collapse -
I'd never bother since...
Jan 8, 2005 12:32PM PST

I can type D: at the C: prompt to change drives.

Bob

- Collapse -
Thanks!
Jan 8, 2005 11:48PM PST

Have you ever been published? If not, you need to seriously consider it.

- Collapse -
FAT32 to NTFS
May 15, 2005 11:12AM PDT

Thank all of you who asked and answered questions about converting FAT32 to NTFS. I just installed an external HD that has FAT32 format. I am running Win XP SP2 in an NTFS format. I suspect that I will have to convert my new HD to NTFS in order to make a back-up copy of my C Drive. I now have a pretty good idea how to do it. Gene S