User's Manual

Tip: NTFS Compared with FAT
Hard disks can either use the NTFS file system, as set in current Windows versions as preference, or the old FAT
system as supported by the first Windows versions. Analysis of drives before defragmentation is substantially
faster on NTFS drives. For FAT systems, users must wait considerably longer and can take the popular coffee
break. This is just one of several reasons why the old FAT system should be converted to the modern NTFS sys-
tem.
The NTFS file system (NTFS = New Technology File System) is the file system from Windows NT and its suc-
cessors (e.g. Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista) right up to Windows 7. It offers an intelligently
devised access protection to file levels, allows flexible management of privileges, accommodates file sizes above
4 GB, offers automatic error correction of the file system and can utilize the storage space of today's standard
hard disk sizes in a considerably more efficient manner.
If your hard disks still use the FAT file system, you can carry out a very simple conversion.
Although conversion is considered very secure, you should make a backup of your saved data before
attempting this.
Click the Windows Start icon to open All Programs, go to Accessories and click Command Prompt. If you enter
CONVERT.EXE C:/FS:NTFS in the command line, conversion will start.
Replace C: with another drive letter to convert a different partition. If the system partition is changed, the com-
puter will need to be restarted. In this case, follow the instructions on your screen.
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