较旧的Windows操作系统严重依赖FAT32文件系统进行存储。该文件系统在开发时考虑了 32 位操作系统，将FAT32驱动器的最大存储容量限制为 2TB，文件大小限制在 2 到 4GB 之间（取决于您的操作系统）。然而， FAT32(FAT32)是一个旧的文件系统。
(NTFS)自Windows XP时代以来， (Windows XP)NTFS一直是Windows用户的默认文件系统，因此，如果您仍然坚持使用使用FAT32的驱动器，那么您将错过当前维护的NTFS提供的速度和技术进步。如果您想将Window驱动器从FAT32转换为NTFS，您需要执行以下操作。
使用 Windows PowerShell 将 FAT32 转换为 NTFS(Using Windows PowerShell To Convert FAT32 To NTFS)
在Windows上没有将(Windows)FAT32驱动器转换为NTFS的图形选项。但是，您可以使用Windows PowerShell将(Windows PowerShell)Windows驱动器从FAT32转换为NTFS，尽管这不适用于包含 Windows 安装的驱动器。
- 要打开PowerShell窗口，请右键单击开始(Start)菜单并按Windows PowerShell (Admin)。
- 在打开的PowerShell窗口中，键入convert E: /fs:ntfs，将E:替换为您的驱动器的正确驱动器号。
该过程将需要一些时间才能完成。一旦该过程完成，并且假设没有发生错误，您驱动器上的文件系统应该已经转换为NTFS，不需要额外的步骤。
如果确实发生错误，则可能表明您的驱动器存在问题，因此请务必在再次尝试该过程之前检查您的硬盘驱动器是否存在错误。(check your hard drive for errors)
使用 Windows 文件资源管理器将 FAT32 驱动器转换为 NTFS(Convert FAT32 Drives To NTFS Using Windows File Explorer)
虽然在不格式化的情况下将驱动器从FAT32转换为NTFS是首选选项，但您可能无法执行此操作。如果您的文件系统有错误，或者您只是想清除驱动器并重新调整用途，您可能会发现格式化它是更好的选择。
这意味着您当前的FAT32文件系统将与所有现有文件一起被删除，并替换为空的NTFS驱动器。您可以通过多种方式执行此操作，但最快的方法是使用Windows 文件资源管理器(Windows File Explorer)。
- 在 Windows 文件资源管理器中，使用左侧的导航窗格打开这台电脑部分。(This PC)您的驱动器将列在“设备和驱动器(Devices and drives )”部分下。
- 要格式化FAT32驱动器，请右键单击要转换的驱动器。从上下文菜单中，单击格式(Format)。
- 在“格式(Format)”窗口中，您可以设置名称、文件类型和格式类型。确保(Make)从文件系统(File system )下拉菜单中选择NTFS 。如果要命名驱动器，请在卷标(Volume label)框中设置一个新标签。您还可以通过启用快速格式化(Quick format)复选框来快速擦除驱动器。
- Windows 将要求您确认您确实要格式化驱动器，并警告您存在数据丢失风险。按OK确认。
格式化速度会有所不同，具体取决于驱动器的大小以及您是否选择使用快速格式化选项。一旦NTFS格式化过程完成，您就可以立即使用该驱动器了。
使用磁盘管理将 FAT32 驱动器转换为 NTFS(Convert FAT32 Drives To NTFS Using Disk Management)
您还可以使用Windows 磁盘管理(Windows Disk Management)工具格式化FAT32驱动器，将其转换为NTFS。与上述方法一样，这也会擦除您的数据，因此请务必先备份您的文件(backup your files)。
- 要打开磁盘管理(Disk Management)，请右键单击开始(Start)菜单，然后单击磁盘管理(Disk Management)选项。
- 在“磁盘管理(Disk Management)”窗口中，将列出您的驱动器和分区列表。要格式化驱动器分区，请右键单击磁盘列表（顶部）或卷列表（底部）中的条目，然后选择“格式化(Format)”选项。
- 在“格式化(Format )”窗口中，您可以选择卷标和文件系统。对于文件系统，选择NTFS。您可能还希望按下执行快速格式化(Perform a quick format)复选框以快速格式化您的驱动器，但如果您想安全地擦除它，请确保未选中此复选框。准备好后，按OK确认。
- 系统将要求您确认是否要格式化磁盘，在此过程中丢失所有保存的文件。单击(Click) “是”(Yes)继续。
此时将格式化驱动器。该过程完成后，您新格式化的驱动器将出现在Windows 文件资源管理器(Windows File Explorer)中供您使用。
使用第三方软件转换 FAT32 驱动器(Using Third-Party Software To Convert FAT32 Drives)
Windows包括各种用于将驱动器从(Windows)FAT32格式化或转换为NTFS的内置方法，但也有可用的第三方选项。
能够执行此任务的免费软件的一个示例是AOMEI Partition Assistant。虽然存在该软件的付费版本，但免费版本能够将FAT32驱动器转换为 NTFS，而无需格式化驱动器并丢失数据。
- 在傲梅分区助手(AOMEI Partition Assistant )主窗口中，您将看到已安装驱动器和单个驱动器分区的列表。要转换驱动器分区，请在底部的列表中选择它，然后按左侧菜单中的转换为 NTFS选项。(Convert to NTFS )
- 在“转换为 NTFS 分区(Convert to NTFS Partition)”选项框中，确保NTFS是下拉菜单中的选定选项，然后按“确定(OK)”确认。
- 选择转换选项后，您现在需要应用更改。按窗口左上角的应用按钮来执行此操作。(Apply)
- 在待处理的操作(Pending Operations)框中，您可以看到您希望软件执行的任务列表。确认(Confirm)正确的FAT32到NTFS驱动器转换设置已到位（例如，您正在转换正确的FAT32驱动器）。一旦您愿意继续，请按“继续(Proceed)”按钮。
- 系统会要求您确认是否要继续。按Yes确认并开始文件系统转换。
- 您可以按照屏幕上的进度条来监控转换。成功完成后，傲梅(AOMEI)会提醒您。
此过程完成后，您新转换的NTFS驱动器将可供您立即使用。
Windows 驱动器的替代文件系统(Alternative File Systems For Windows Drives)
FAT32可能是一个旧的文件系统，但这并不意味着它完全值得放弃。您可以将较旧的FAT32驱动器用作双引导系统的共享存储驱动器(shared storage drive for dual-boot systems)，但您可能会发现切换到NTFS或其他类型的文件系统（如EXT4等许多Linux发行版使用的文件系统）更容易。
如果您使用的是较旧的 PC，您可能更喜欢将FAT32 用于 USB 驱动器(use FAT32 for a USB drive)，但在大多数情况下，NTFS是USB和外部存储驱动器的(USB)最佳文件系统，即使FAT32被认为是最兼容的选项(most compatible option)。但是，如果您有Mac，您可能想尝试一下 exFAT，因为Windows和 macOS 都支持它。
How To Convert a Windows Drive From FAT32 To NTFS
Older Windows operating systems relied heavily on the FAT32 file system for storage. This filе system was developed with 32-bit operаting systems in mind, limiting the mаximum storage capаcity of FΑT32 drives to 2TB and file sizes to between 2 and 4GB (depending on your operating system). FAT32 is an old file system, however.
NTFS has been the default file system for Windows users since the Windows XP days, so if you’re still holding on to drives that use FAT32, you’re missing out on the speed and technical advances that the currently-maintained NTFS offers. If you want to convert a Window drive from FAT32 to NTFS, here’s what you’ll need to do.
Using Windows PowerShell To Convert FAT32 To NTFS
There isn’t a graphical option to convert FAT32 drives to NTFS on Windows. However, you can convert a Windows drive from FAT32 to NTFS using the Windows PowerShell, although this won’t work for the drive containing your Windows installation.
- To open a PowerShell window, right-click the Start menu and press Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- In the open PowerShell window, type convert E: /fs:ntfs, replacing E: with the correct drive letter for your drive.
The process will take a bit of time to complete. Once the process has completed, and assuming no errors have occurred, the file system on your drive should have converted to NTFS with no additional steps required.
If an error does occur, it may indicate a problem with your drive, so be sure to check your hard drive for errors before trying the process again.
Convert FAT32 Drives To NTFS Using Windows File Explorer
While converting your drive from FAT32 to NTFS without formatting it is the preferred option, you may not be able to do this. If your file system has errors, or you simply want to clear the drive and repurpose it, you may find formatting it is the better option.
This means that your current FAT32 file system will be erased, along with all existing files, and replaced with an empty NTFS drive. You can do this in a few ways, but the quickest method is to use Windows File Explorer.
- In Windows File Explorer, open the This PC section using the navigation pane on the left. Your drives will be listed under the Devices and drives section.
- To format a FAT32 drive, right-click the drive you wish to convert. From the context menu, click Format.
- In the Format window, you can set the name, file type, and type of formatting. Make sure to select NTFS from the File system drop-down menu. If you want to name your drive, set a new label in the Volume label box. You can also quickly wipe your drive by enabling the Quick format checkbox.
- Once you’re ready to begin formatting, press the Start button.
- Windows will ask for confirmation that you actually want to format the drive, warning you of the data loss risk. Press OK to confirm.
The formatting speed will vary, depending on the size of the drive and whether you selected to use the quick format option. Once the NTFS formatting process has completed, you’ll be free to use the drive immediately.
Convert FAT32 Drives To NTFS Using Disk Management
You can also use the Windows Disk Management tool to format a FAT32 drive, converting it to NTFS. Like the method above, this will also wipe your data, so be sure to backup your files first.
- To open Disk Management, right-click the Start menu and click the Disk Management option.
- In the Disk Management window, a list of your drives and partitions will be listed. To format a drive partition, right-click on an entry in either the disk list (at the top) or volume list (at the bottom) and select the Format option.
- In the Format window, you can select a volume label and file system. For the file system, select NTFS. You may also wish to press the Perform a quick format checkbox to quickly format your drive, but if you want to securely wipe it, make sure that this checkbox is left unchecked instead. Once you’re ready, press OK to confirm.
- You’ll be asked for confirmation that you do want to format the disk, losing any saved files in the process. Click Yes to proceed.
The drive will be formatted at this point. Once the process is complete, your newly formatted drive will appear in Windows File Explorer for you to use.
Using Third-Party Software To Convert FAT32 Drives
Windows includes various built-in methods for formatting or converting drives from FAT32 to NTFS, but there are also third-party options available.
One example of free software capable of performing this task is AOMEI Partition Assistant. While a paid version of this software exists, the free version is able to convert FAT32 drives to NTFS without formatting the drives and losing your data.
- In the AOMEI Partition Assistant main window, you’ll see a list of your installed drives and individual drive partitions. To convert a drive partition, select it in the list at the bottom, then press the Convert to NTFS option in the left-hand menu.
- In the Convert to NTFS Partition options box, make sure that NTFS is the selected option in the drop-down menu, then press OK to confirm.
- With your conversion options selected, you’ll now need to apply the changes. Press the Apply button in the top-left corner of the window to do this.
- In the Pending Operations box, you can see a list of tasks you want the software to perform. Confirm that the correct FAT32 to NTFS drive conversion settings are in place (for instance, that you’re converting the correct FAT32 drive). Once you’re happy to proceed, press the Proceed button.
- You’ll be asked for confirmation that you do want to proceed. Press Yes to confirm and begin the file system conversion.
- You can follow the on-screen progress bar to monitor the conversion. Once it has completed successfully, AOMEI will alert you.
Your newly-converted NTFS drive will be ready for you to use immediately once this process has completed.
Alternative File Systems For Windows Drives
FAT32 may be an old file system, but that doesn’t mean it’s entirely worth abandoning. You could use an older FAT32 drive as a shared storage drive for dual-boot systems, but you’ll probably find it easier to switch to NTFS or another type of file system like EXT4, the file system used by many Linux distributions.
You might prefer to use FAT32 for a USB drive if you’re working on older PCs, but for the most part, NTFS is the best file system for USB and external storage drives, even if FAT32 is considered the most compatible option. If you have a Mac, however, you may want to give exFAT a try, as both Windows and macOS support it.
