Convert to NTFS being a pain

uknugget · 05-21-2006, 09:24 PM

Hi all,

I've got an unusual problem converting one of my drives to NTFS.

My system drive, C:, uses win32 file system, but since I am downloading files larger than 4Gb (Yes I know, who would have thought it a few years ago!

), I got myself a 20Gb firewire drive and connected it all up.

It works fine when it is formatted to win32 file system - partition sized to 19Gb, but when I tried to format it to NTFS using the Disk Management utility, it gave me an error message from the Logical Disk Manager: "The format failed to complete successfully". I tried various different ways to format to NTFS to no avail..... UNTIL.....

I booted to the win2k Recovery Console, used diskpart to make a new partition and format to successfully into NTFS. I could goto the drive (g:), copy files into it, etc. So it was obviously working fine.....HOWEVER.....

When I started win2k and tried to access the new drive from windows, it would not let me! It kept asking me to format g: ln the Disk Management utility, drive g: is listed as healthy, but has apparently has no file system. Further tinkering only gives me a terse message:
"The volume does not contain a recognized file system.
Please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted."

So, it appears that my NTFS drive is ONLY accessible from the Windows 2000 Recovery Console.... What gives? - MS support knowledge base was useless as usual in providing answers.

I'd be very grateful for a reply...All the best

Chevy · 05-27-2006, 12:25 AM

Have you tried formatting it Fat32, then using the convert utility?

convert x: /fs:NTFS

where x: is the actual drive letter .....

05-21-2006, 09:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
uknugget Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4 OS: win2k pro	Convert to NTFS being a pain Hi all, I've got an unusual problem converting one of my drives to NTFS. My system drive, C:, uses win32 file system, but since I am downloading files larger than 4Gb (Yes I know, who would have thought it a few years ago! ), I got myself a 20Gb firewire drive and connected it all up. It works fine when it is formatted to win32 file system - partition sized to 19Gb, but when I tried to format it to NTFS using the Disk Management utility, it gave me an error message from the Logical Disk Manager: "The format failed to complete successfully". I tried various different ways to format to NTFS to no avail..... UNTIL..... I booted to the win2k Recovery Console, used diskpart to make a new partition and format to successfully into NTFS. I could goto the drive (g:), copy files into it, etc. So it was obviously working fine.....HOWEVER..... When I started win2k and tried to access the new drive from windows, it would not let me! It kept asking me to format g: ln the Disk Management utility, drive g: is listed as healthy, but has apparently has no file system. Further tinkering only gives me a terse message: "The volume does not contain a recognized file system. Please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted." So, it appears that my NTFS drive is ONLY accessible from the Windows 2000 Recovery Console.... What gives? - MS support knowledge base was useless as usual in providing answers. I'd be very grateful for a reply...All the best

05-27-2006, 12:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chevy Retired Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Notlob Posts: 5,452 OS: Vista Ultimate My System	Have you tried formatting it Fat32, then using the convert utility? convert x: /fs:NTFS where x: is the actual drive letter .....