change exfat to ntfs without losing data

* Microsoft has not released the official exFAT file system specification, and a restrictive license from Microsoft is required in order to make and distribute exFAT implementations. The disadvantages compared to FAT file systems include:

Go to Device Manager > expand out Disk Drives > Select your USB drive listed> Right-click and go to Properties > select Policies tab > choose Optimize for performance and select OK.Now you have enabled NTFS option. *device manager is a better option than installing other extra programs, but this is the way of enjoy ntfs file system option with data loss Inspired from Convert FAT32 to NTFS Without Formatting or Losing Data, some time ago, but bookmarked it. I've used this method and i never lost data, but still if you have important files on the drive it`s recommended to do a back-up first.ĭon't forget to use 'Safely Remove Hardware' option. > execute convert h: /fs:ntfs (h is again he letter of the drive), wait for the succesfull conversion message and then you can close the cmd propmt.īe aware that you will lose all data if you want to go back on FAT 32, cause this trick only works for fat 32 to ntfs conversion and not viceversa. > execute chkdsk h: /f (h is the letter of the drive you want to convert to ntfs.

> if you use Win Vista or 7 type cmd in the search bar and if you use Win XP, click on Run and then execute cmd > check the letter of the drive (H in most cases) Well, a few days ago a friend asked me how he could copy some files, larger than 4 gb on his external drive that has FAT32 file system, instead of giving it a full format.Before he used HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool 2.2.3 or did the operation from *device manager, but this time he was in a hurry and want it without losing any data.So here is the solution : There is a program that 'may' do what you want.

Change exfat to ntfs without losing data