Recomend XP Prof FAT32 to NTFS w/o reformat?

**neophase** · 02-11-2005, 05:53 PM

currently running windows XP Proffesional with 128mb pc100 ram... will be getting an additional 256mb asap.

My parents don't like to reformat, it changes everything and yes I've done it a million times and it's a sinsh, but I don't want to lose comp access for several months.... there's no 2 ways about it, this aint my computer so don't try to tell me to reformat when it is the wisest decision indefinitely.

So my Hard Drive is Fat32 yes, can I upg to NTFS file system without reformatting? any cons or disadvantages, tell me about em.

p3 450mhz, dell dimension xps t450, SE440bx-3 Mobo (I can't upg CPU, I don't think), this machine is junk cause if I put in pc133 RAM, it'll only run @ pc100 speed I believe.

so I can't wait to get ddr533, sata, raid, usb2.0, pcixpress and either 64bit cpu or 800fsb yeah yeah.... Im in school and need a vehicle for work first, but I must admit that the trades sector is a lot more worthwhile than the damn retail business yo, finally learnt that after 3 years, and no better a time than to start here and now in British Columbia, where we got the best building code on the globe

so yeah, that's my story.

**Obfuscate** · 02-11-2005, 11:38 PM

you can not "upgrade" to NTFS. Its a file system type that you choose when you install windows on your computer. In order to change your system to NTFS you would have to reformat. Personally I have used both FAT32 and NTFS and I really cant tell much of a difference.

**Silver Ice** · 02-12-2005, 02:23 AM

u can back up ur stuff first using ghost then change to ntfs drive using partition magic. but nope u cant upgrade to ntfs

yes ntfs is better. u can encrypt files on ntfs and deny people access to them.

**Aemaeth** · 02-12-2005, 02:28 AM

NTFS is better sinner, It lessens the size of files quite a bit.

**Obfuscate** · 02-12-2005, 02:45 AM

I dont really care much about file size as I do performance. Performance wise I cant tell the difference.

There are free 128bit encryption programs you can download and even some that are slightly better that you can pay for.

Also in pro you can already lock down a computer and deny access to files without it being NTFS. Its the only plus to pro really that it has far better security features.