How to Convert File System without Data

Loss
A Brief Introduction to File System
Note: file system introduced here is related to computing rather than any other field.
--Source from
http://www.partitionwizard.com/convertpartition/convert-file-system-without-dat
a-loss.html
What Is File System
File system (it is also called file management system) is a storage mechanism which is in
charge of allocating space and rules how files are saved and retrieved on storage devices
which include hard disk, removable device, optical disk, and so on. After we save a file to
certain directory, information like starting cluster of the file, file size, creating time, and so
on will be recorded by file system. When we make some changes to this file, all recorded
information will be updated simultaneously. File system is generated when we are creating
partitions and can be modified via the Format command in Windows Explorer or Disk
Management utility. And we can also change it by using third party partitioning tools.
There are multiple types of file systems, including FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS for
devices under Windows OS, Ext2, Ext3, and Ext4 for devices under Linux, HFS/HFS+ for
storage media in Mac OS X, and ISO-9660, UDF (Universal Disc Format), and CDFS
(Compact Disc File System) for optical disc. If a partition is formatted without a file system
or the file system is damaged, all files saved in this partition will be inaccessible for
operating systems do not know where these files are saved. Well then, how is a file found
by OS? In this post we just focus on FAT32 and NTFS since they are most widely used.

How Is a File Located on FAT32 Partition and NTFS Partition?

First of all, lets have a look at the main structure of file system:

Picture
One
On FAT32 Partition
FAT32 file system mainly consists 2 parts, namely file allocation table (FAT) and root
director (shown in picture one). For sake of security, there is always a backup for FAT. The
FAT contains lots of entries for each cluster in the whole partition (every cluster has an
entry in FAT), and every entry shows information of itself as well as gives clue to the next
cluster a file takes up. Moreover, in the entry for last cluster of the file there is an end
signature to show the file is over. Root directory provides entries for all root files, and file
saved in a subdirectory has entry in its father directory. Each entry records the first cluster
of a file or folder. That is to say OS can locate the first cluster of a file or folder in root
directory, and then find the next cluster in FAT entry until all clusters occupied by this file
are found. Lets see an example:
Firstly, OS needs to find the starting cluster of the file from root directory (supposing it
starts from cluster 5), then go to cluster 5 to locate one part of the file, next move to the
entry of cluster 5 in FAT to find the next cluster the file occupies (cluster 8 for example),
then go to cluster 8 to find another part of the file, and next go back to FAT to find the entry
of cluster 8. At this time, if there is an end signature telling Windows this is the end of the
file, OS will stop locating after it finds the last part of file from cluster 8. Now the file is
located.
On NTFS Partition
To locate a file on NTFS partition, we should find the master file table (MFT) at first, whose
main structure is shown in picture one. It records information of all files on the NTFS
partition. Well then, what is MFT? After a NTFS partition is created, MFT as well as a MFT
mirror will be generated. Next, lets see the structure of MFT. It is made of multiple
metadata, including:
$MFT: records information of master file table itself and manages all file records.

$MFTMirr: the image of MFT

$LogFile: all operations that will influence the structure of NTFS partition will be recorded
to log file.
$Volume: records partition or volume information, including volume name, NTFS version,
volume state (whether the volume is damaged or not), and so on
$ROOT: saves indexes of all files and folders in root directory
$Bitmap: shows the use condition of every cluster
$BadClus: records the number of all bad clusters so as to prevent OS from allocating
them
Actually, there are many other metadata, such as $Boot, $Secure, $Extended metadata
directory, $Extend\$Reparse, $Extend\Quota, and so on, but they are not what we are
concerned since they are note related to locate a file.
Note: all these metadata are marked with $, which shows they are hidden. And every
metadata takes up 2 sectors namely 1K.
After the MFT is located, OS can find root directory which saves indexes of all files and
folders under root directory. If the file is saved in subdirectory, Windows can find its index
with the help of its father index. Every index saves its starting cluster number, file size
(how many clusters are occupied), and so on. Therefore, OS can find the correct file.
From the above introduction we know the importance of file system. However, since
different file systems have different advantages and disadvantages, we need to change
file system to fix some issues. Next, lets see some detailed reasons for system
converting.

Reasons for Converting File System between

FAT32 and NTFS
1.Support on Large File
As we know, FAT32 uses a 32-bit area to record file size in bytes, so a single file can only
be up to 2^32 (4 294 967 296) bytes, namely 4GB. Actually, the real number should be 4G
1byte, because we cannot have files of 0 length. Therefore, when we are going to save
a file whish is larger than 4G to a FAT32 partition or storage device, we may receive the
error file is too large for destination file system. To solve this problem, we can convert
FAT32 to NTFS since the maximum file size on a NTFS partition can be 16 10246 or
264 bytes, namely 16 EB. All these data come from Wikipedia.

2.Support on Extending Volume

Microsoft says to extend a basic volume, it must be raw or formatted with the NTFS file
system, which means we are unable to extend a FAT32 partition in Disk Management or
Diskpart (both are Windows built-in partitioning tools). Under this situation, converting
FAT32 to NTFS can fix the issue. Of course, there is also another solution to enlarging a
FAT32 partition, and it is to ask third party partitioning tool for help. For more details,
please see Extend Partition.

3.Save Disk Space (Relationship Between File System and Cluster Size)
Cluster is the smallest storage unit Windows uses to save and manage data. One cluster
can only hold content of one file no matter how small the file is, but a file can be saved to
multiple clusters. Generally, the larger cluster size, the more space will be wasted. Lets
see an example. The cluster size is 16K, and we want to save a 10K file to this cluster.
Since one cluster can only save content of one file, the remaining 6K space will be wasted.
Well then, whats the relationship between file system and cluster size?
Here we take Windows 7 for example. Partitions with capacity under 260MB will be
allocated with 2K cluster; partitions between 20MB and 8GB will be formatted with 4K
cluster; partitions larger than 8GB but smaller than 16GB will be allocated with 8K cluster.
However, if we create a NTFS partition with the same size, cluster size will be much
smaller. Lets see the following comparison:

Partition size

Cluster size of FAT32

partition

Cluster size of NTFS partition

Smaller than 260MB

2K

4K

260MB 8GB

4K

4K

8GB 16GB

8K

4K

16GB 32GB

16K

4K

Larger than 32GB

32K

4K

Therefore, by using NTFS is good for disk space management. And users who are using
FAT32 partition or device can convert the file system to NTFS so as to increase space use
ratio.

4.For Data Security

On a NTFS partition, we are allowed to set access permission for shared resources,
folders, and files. To be specific, we can rule who (group or user) can visit these files as
well as control access level. However, if you save files on a FAT32 partition, all people

who can access your computer are able to read and write your data. Therefore, it is very
necessary to convert FAT32 to NTFS if you want to protect private or confidential
information saved in FAT32

5.For Compatibility
Many users have met the situation where a hard disk or storage device cannot be
recognized by a PS 3, Xbox or some music players. That is largely because the first
partition of the hard disk or device is formatted with NTFS rather than FAT. Just as its
name implies, NTFS is a file system using new technology so that some machines and old
versions of Windows OS like Windows 9X and Windows me do not support it. However,
FAT32 is with great compatibility. For example, FAT32 partition is supported in both Mac
OS X and Linux; it is also recognized by PS 3 and Xbox. Under these situations,
converting NTFS to FAT32 is a quite good choice.
Well then, how can we change file system between FAT32 and NTFS? Next, we will
introduce 4 ways, and all operations are made in Windows 7.

4 Ways to Convert File System on Windows

Platform
1.Convert File System in Windows Explorer
Firstly, we need to open Windows Explorer and right click the partition which will be
operated:

Then, choose Format command to get the window below:

Now choose a needed file system and click Start button. After that the change will be
made by default.

2.Change File System between FAT32 and NTFS in Disk Management Utility
First of all, open disk management console to get its main interface shown below:

Then, right click the partition whose file system is unsatisfying and choose Format
command from the popup menu.

Next, choose a desired file system for this partition and click OK button. After these
operations, Disk Management will perform changes automatically.
From introduction above we can see both solutions are employing Format command to
realize conversion, but formatting will erase all data saved. And to format a drive is
recommended only when we are planning to create new partitions. For more details of this
command, please see Format Partition. Next, we will introduce the remaining 2 ways
which can help change file system without data loss.
3.Convert File System in Command Prompt
Launch Command Prompt by taking these operations: click Start menu, type Command
Prompt in Search programs and files box, right click the found program, and run it as
administrator to get the window below:

Then, type convert drive letter: /fs:needed file system. For example, if we want to
change partition E to NTFS, we need to type convert E: /fs:ntfs and press on Enter key. At
last, type exit to quit from Command Prompt.

Note: Command Prompt can help convert FAT32 partition to NTFS without any data loss,
but it does not support modifying NTFS to FAT32 since NTFS is largely encouraged by
Microsoft, I think. However, the following solution is capable of changing NTFS to FAT, and
vice versa.

4.Change File System between FAT32 and NTFS by Using Partitioning Tool
Actually, apart from Windows built-in programs (Disk Management utility, Command
Prompt, and Format command in Windows Explorer), there are third party partitioning
apps to help us complete the change. Here, we take MiniTool Partition Wizard for example.
It is a disk partitioning tool running on Windows platform. Its convert file system feature
can help change a NTFS partition to FAT32 partition or convert FAT32 to NTFS without
bringing any data loss. For users who are running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows
7, Windows 8, or Windows 10, we suggest using the free edition. Detailed steps are as
follows:
Step 1: launch the partitioning tool to get its main interface below:

Step 2: select the partition whose file system needs converting and choose a needed
function from the left side. If the selected partition is formatted with NTFS, the function
Convert FAT to NTFS will appear. If the target partition is formatted with NTFS, we can
see the function Convert NTFS to FAT. Here, we take changing FAT32 partition to NTFS

partition for example. After choosing the specific function we can see the window below:

Step 3: now MiniTool Partition Wizard shows current file system is FAT32 and new file
system is NTFS. At this time, we need to click Start button at the bottom, and then all
operations will be performed automatically. Once the program shows Conversion
complete, our work is done. For detailed steps to convert NTFS partition to FAT32
partition, please see Convert NTFS to FAT.
After seeing the above 4 solutions we can find changing file system by using third party
disk partitioning tool is the best choice. When you are troubled by some problems, for
instance a USB drive cannot be recognized by PS 3, change the first partition of the drive
to FAT32 format. Or if you want to experience wonderful features configured in NTFS,
convert FAT to TNFS.