converting exFAT to NTFS

[Kyleonthemac]

Background: I had a 500GB WD external HDD it broke I got it recovered to a 1TB WD passport external HDD. My oringal 500GB was readable on both MAC OSX and (with my Bootcamp) Windows XP

I never checked the format but it was both readable and writable so I assume it was either FAT16 OR FAT32. However I knew nothing of Drive formats until my current problem.

The new 1TB HDD came NTFS and I formatted it to exFAT on my brothers new laptop which has windows 7 not realising this meant it would automatically want exFAT because that is what it runs on I assumes FAT was FAT and the Mac would then write as well as read which it didn't do as NTFS. Now I want to convert from exFAT to NTFS so it is again readable on OSX.

I know you can convert from FAT16/32 - NTFS without formatting the drive my question is can you do the same with exFAT I have alot of data so I don't want to mess up my drive. Please let me know if you think this is possible.

 

[Stridder44]

Background: I had a 500GB WD external HDD it broke I got it recovered to a 1TB WD passport external HDD. My oringal 500GB was readable on both MAC OSX and (with my Bootcamp) Windows XP

I never checked the format but it was both readable and writable so I assume it was either FAT16 OR FAT32. However I knew nothing of Drive formats until my current problem.

The new 1TB HDD came NTFS and I formatted it to exFAT on my brothers new laptop which has windows 7 not realising this meant it would automatically want exFAT because that is what it runs on I assumes FAT was FAT and the Mac would then write as well as read which it didn't do as NTFS. Now I want to convert from exFAT to NTFS so it is again readable on OSX.

I know you can convert from FAT16/32 - NTFS without formatting the drive my question is can you do the same with exFAT I have alot of data so I don't want to mess up my drive. Please let me know if you think this is possible.

If it was both readable and writeable in OS X and XP, then it was probably FAT32 (FAT16 hasn't been used by any "modern" OS in quite a while). NTFS would mean it was readable/writeable in Windows but only readable in OS X (assuming you didn't have something like NTFS-3G installed in OS X).

As for reformatting a drive while keeping all the data on it...I've seen it done before but I've never seen it work very well. If you can, in any way, it's best to just remove any/all data you want on the external drive and reformat it. Would you say you use your external drive in OS X or Windows more, or about equal?

 

[Kyleonthemac]

Yes I agree that it must have been FAT32 didn't want to assume though as i'm not an expert. I use it in both but more in OSX but I need it compatible as it straddles the BootCamp on my iMac and allows me to move files in between the two. I could avoid this if I could write to my Windows HD from the Mac desktop but I can only read and from the Windows side i can do neither.

I would rather clear everything off the hard drive onto another HDD but I can't as i have to much on the drive i've got about 800GB I just don't have the storage space to do so I did consider buying another drive just to format my current one and then selling the new one on as second hand but if I can convert this seems like a waste of time and money.

My reason for posting this thread was just to ask the question as no where else i've seen had addressed the conversion between exFAT and NTFS only FAT32 to NTFS and I wasn't sure the same rules would apply being that exFAT is the update and basically FAT64. I will have to weigh my options carefully but thank you very much for your reply.

 

[Stridder44]

Yes I agree that it must have been FAT32 didn't want to assume though as i'm not an expert. I use it in both but more in OSX but I need it compatible as it straddles the BootCamp on my iMac and allows me to move files in between the two. I could avoid this if I could write to my Windows HD from the Mac desktop but I can only read and from the Windows side i can do neither.

I would rather clear everything off the hard drive onto another HDD but I can't as i have to much on the drive i've got about 800GB I just don't have the storage space to do so I did consider buying another drive just to format my current one and then selling the new one on as second hand but if I can convert this seems like a waste of time and money.

My reason for posting this thread was just to ask the question as no where else i've seen had addressed the conversion between exFAT and NTFS only FAT32 to NTFS and I wasn't sure the same rules would apply being that exFAT is the update and basically FAT64. I will have to weigh my options carefully but thank you very much for your reply.

I know this might sound crazy, but you could probably buy a 1TB external drive from say Best Buy, use it, and then return it. Best Buy, while yes it is kind of expensive, does actually have an amazing return policy. Just make sure you keep everything as neat as possible (don't rip the box, keep all the manuals in place, don't open any CD packaging, etc.) and (of course) keep the receipt. Return it the next day. You don't even really need a reason, just say it wasn't what you needed after all or something, they won't care. I did this with a wireless adapter once. I needed it for like a night or so, so I went to Best Buy, bought it, used it that night, and took it back the next day.

 

[Kyleonthemac]

thank you so much that is a great idea and solves my problem without any risk of me losing anything I am currently looking online at the returns policies for my local electronics stores and will buy one tomorrow that has completely solved my problem. I never would have thought of that on my own my head was stuck completely in the world of hardware and software and a practical solution like that just hadn't occurred to me. Many thanks I appreciate it.

 

[Stridder44]

thank you so much that is a great idea and solves my problem without any risk of me losing anything I am currently looking online at the returns policies for my local electronics stores and will buy one tomorrow that has completely solved my problem. I never would have thought of that on my own my head was stuck completely in the world of hardware and software and a practical solution like that just hadn't occurred to me. Many thanks I appreciate it.

No worries 🙂 Let us know how it goes.