Creating NTFS filesystem without formatting the drive?

[Pratap Gad]

Hello to all,

I have Windows XP installed on my computer system, and it is infected with the Virus,So I decided to Fromat the Computer,I had started deleting the partition, but by mistakenly i deleted the filesystem. So all of the data is still there, but there is no filesystem to..tell the computer how to access it. And to MY KNOWLEDGE, i dont know of a way to access it, or to configure a filesystem again WITHOUT formatting... and so i am turning to anyone out there that may know anything, even if it is that i am screwed so i do not waste any more time trying to fix this..

I really appreciate any help...

[Shell]

ust go to the Command Prompt and execute the command:

C:\> CONVERT C: /fs:ntfs

Where C: is a name of the drive you want to convert.

After machine re-boot conversion process will start and you'll have your FAT32 converted to NTFS without of data loss.

It is, therefore, important to realign the partition before conversion, by moving all the data area up to a 4K boundary. (This will absorb odd sectors at the far end which otherwise would not get used). For this, I suggest BootIT NG. This is a shareware program, priced at US$30 but with a 30-day fully functional trial. You may well find it valuable also for its Disk Imaging and Partition Management capabilities.

[semento]

This might work.

1. Click the Start button.
   
2. Find "My Computer" and click the icon. (Location varies depending on which XP edition you are running. This example is in XP Professional).
   
3. Right click on "Local Disc C".
   
4. Click on Format. A drop down appears.
   
5. Select NTSF if it is present.

If that does not get you there, I apologize for not being able to offer a reliable alternate method without adding risk.

Best Regards,

[BenTen]

This is a one-way conversion. Once you've converted to NTFS, you can't go back to FAT or FAT32 unless you format the drive.

1. Open Command Prompt
   Start | All Programs | Accessories | Command Prompt
   OR
   Start | Run | type "cmd" without quotes | OK
   
   
2. Type "convert drive letter: /fs:ntfs" and press Enter. For example, type "convert C: /fs:ntfs" (without quotes) if you want to convert drive C.
   
3. If you're asked whether you want to dismount the drive, agree.

To find more information about convert.exe type "help convert" (without quotes) in Command Prompt and press Enter.