Fat32 ->> NTFS

[Slimmage]

I'm contimplating buying an external hard drive for my laptop but the one I've been eyeing comes preformatted as Fat32. I've heard from many a source that NTFS is the preferred type, especially for backup and such. If that is the case could someone provide me with some sort of guide as to how I can go about reformatting the drive to NTFS? I'm a bit of a hardware technopeasant

 

Thanks

[NOFX]

i dunno dude. I have a 160 gig external drive that is formatted Fat32. I personally like it because linux will regonize it. I wouldnt worry about, but if you must, use parition magic, or just start a windows installation and format the drive and then stop this installation. that is what i would do.

[SupaFly]

http://www.ntfs.com/quest3.htm

 

You can convert the drive,

 

or re-format it....

 

(right-click) My Computer > Manage > Disk Management > (right-click) the external drive and select "Format" > Choose whether you want a "Quick Format" or "Enable File and Folder Compression".

 

or

 

if it is listed as a drive in My computer, start menu, or desktop icon, right click it, select format, select ntfs from the choices and format it.

 

 

try that...

[dwEEziL]

Yeah, it's easy to reformat. Just connect it and do as SupaFly said or open up Computer Management, Disk Management, and do it there.

 

For my Ext. HD, I left it Fat32 to make it more compatible with both Windows and Linux as well as OS X (buddy of mine uses that primarily).

[Guest zerodamage]

There is also a command to convert fat32 to ntfs without having to format. Just use windows help and do a Convert to ntfs type of search and you will find it.

[appalachian_fox]

Oh, what the heck.

 

Yeah, Supafly has teh greetest idear...Disk Management utility. Really easy.