Convert Hard Drive from FAT32 to NTFS to Run Windows Faster

This post is part of the 17 Tips Series on How to Make Windows Run Faster.

The File System, in which Windows stores your files on the hard disk is a crucial factor in determining the time taken to retrieve it. And it goes without saying that it is important to select the correct file system for making windows run faster.

Windows uses two file systems to manage files on your hard disks. FAT32 and NTFS.
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FAT32 vs NTFS

What is NTFS File System

NTFS (New Technology File System) is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Vista. NTFS has several improvements over FAT32 such as improved support for metadata and the use of advanced data structures to improve performance, reliability, and disk space utilization, plus additional extensions such as security access control lists etc. A boot disk to boot NTFS drive is called an NTFS Boot Disk.

What is FAT File system

The File Allocation Table (FAT) file system is an older file system that relies on an allocation table to keep track of files and folders on a volume

Because of the various features, NTFS is a superior way to organize files as compared to the FAT32, and it definitely makes your windows run faster to convert FAT to NTFS. There are several reasons why to change a FAT file system to NTFS. You can easily search for them on Google.

How to Speed up Windows by Converting Hard Drive from FAT32 to NTFS

Converting FAT32 to NTFS is quick and easy. A few simple steps and your NTFS conversion is complete to make windows faster. Let’s see how to do that.

Click Start > Run.

Type diskmgmt.msc > OK. This will give information about various disks installed installed on your PC. See which disk you want to convert from FAT32 to NTFS.

Again Click Start > Run.

Type cmd > OK to open the command prompt.

Type convert c: /fs:ntfs so as to convert drive c: to NTFS.

Repeat the same command for other drives.

See also the other 16 tips to How to Make Windows Run Faster.

45 Comments For This Post

les Says:
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 am

You fail to say whether or not any data would be destroyed. Also – it is not quite that simple – the hard drive needs to be unmounted before converting.

Rick @ windows forum Says:
July 4th, 2008 at 8:16 am

I believe les is correct, but as I expected when I purchased my new laptop with windows vista, the hard drive was already set to NTFS. Saved me a little time anyway. On a side note, I like that you don’t have to click Start>Run anymore with vista.

Manish Kapoor Says:
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:36 am

If you’re talking strictly about speed, FAT32 is the faster filesystem having lower overhead from being a much simpler filesystem.

We use NTFS for a number of reasons. Security, efficiency of storage, and fault protection. NTFS supports file permissions both in a traditional Unix style and also Access Control Lists (ACLs), which can work to help contain viruses and other unwanted pests. NTFS is also considerably more efficient about using the storage capacity of the hard drive to that of FAT32. NTFS also has some journaling features which help prevent data loss when things such as a sudden power loss occurs.

Tertius Says:
October 27th, 2008 at 7:45 am

Just one thing that I would advise when doing this, don’t have passwords on your accounts (well, if you have to then you have to).

If windows gets busted, you can’t recover encrypted files. I’ve ran into that wall a couple of times.

jr Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:30 am

I followed the instructions carefully to convert FAT32 to NTFS but everytime I press the enter button to convert or continue to the next drive it always says: ” invalid parameter: so ” it is very annoying what should I do in order to consumate the conversion? Please advise. Thank you.

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