Converting File Systems

If a FAT or FAT32 partition were created, it can be converted to NTFS and maintain its content. Any other type of conversion requires the data to be backed up and the partition to be re-formed. The convert command can be used to perform the file system conversion. The following example shows a conversion from FAT32 to NTFS. Notice you have to enter the volume label for the volume.

C:\Users\Administrator>convert i: /fs:ntfs
The type of the file system is FAT32.
Enter current volume label for drive I: TEST2
Volume TEST2 created 5/17/2007 3:52 PM
Volume Serial Number is D435-A9D2
Windows is verifying files and folders...
File and folder verification is complete.
Windows has checked the file system and found no problems.

  242,606,336 bytes total disk space.
	104,096 bytes in 2 hidden files.
  142,600,192 bytes available on disk.

	 2,048 bytes in each allocation unit.
	69,632 total allocation units on disk.
	69,629 allocation units available on disk.

Determining disk space required for file system conversion...
Total disk space: 		243360 KB
Free space on volume: 		139258 KB
Space required for conversion: 	2394 KB
Converting file system
Conversion complete

Disk Defragmentation

One of the advantages of NTFS is that it has a map of free space on the volume. This enables new files to be written contiguously where possible, avoiding fragmentation. However, defragmentation is still necessary, and Microsoft made Disk Defragmenter part of its Windows 2000 product line. Available from Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter, it gives a view of the volumes on the computer. When executed, a check is initially performed on the file system. Also, advice is given on the state of the file system and what action should be performed.

If you choose to perform a defragmentation, the list of volumes is shown. Select the volumes to be defragmented. Additionally, you can select to Run on a Schedule (Recommended) by checking the box. Decide when, how often, and on which volumes to perform the defragmentation.

A command-line interface for defrag.exe is available. This is useful for scripting execution of the disk defragmentation and more customized scheduling of the execution. The -a switch performs analysis only and gives details of the fragmentation state, as shown here:

C:\Windows\system32>defrag c: -a
Windows Disk Defragmenter
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corp.
Analysis report for volume C:

    Volume size 		= 78.12 GB
    Free space 			= 65.16 GB
    Largest free space extent 	= 39.06 GB
    Percent file fragmentation 	= 2 %

Note: On NTFS volumes, file fragments larger than 64MB are
not included in the fragmentation statistics.
You do not need to defragment this volume.

-w performs a full defragmentation, and the -r switch performs a fast defragmentation (only defragmenting files smaller than 64MB). Full help can be seen with the -? switch. The paging file is not defragmented with the free utility. Purchase a third-party defragmentation utility if you want to defragment the paging file. However, the paging file usually doesn't fragment too much if you reboot regularly because the page file is shrunk to its original size at each reboot.