How to Convert a Flash Drive from FAT to NTFS in Vista

When you purchase a flash drive in store, it is automatically formatted in FAT or FAT32 file format. FAT, and FAT32, utilize less space, but NTFS permits you to set safety and permissions on drive. NTFS also permits you to copy bigger files to drive. You have tried to reformat the drive to NTFS, without success. This is because flash drives needed to be optimized to accept NTFS format. Optimizing the drive is easy and after it's finished you can then format drive to any format you favor.

Instructions

Optimizing the Flash Drive

1. Step 1

Put drive into an open USB port. Permit the system to identify the drive and install drivers, if necessary.

2. Step 2

Click on Windows button on Start Bar, left click on Computer, right-click on your USB Drive and choose "Properties." Few USB Drives have partitions, so you may see two USB drives listed in PC. Right-click and choose "Properties" on both drives.

3. Step 3

Move properties windows thus they are side-by-side. If you only have one USB partition, you can skip this step.

4. Step 4

Click on Hardware tab the properties window and choose USB drive from the list of disk drives. On drives with two partitions the window list similar drive name two times. Choose any one drives in one window, and the other drive in the other window.

5. Step 5

Click the "Properties" button in every window and a new properties window must run. Click "Change Settings." Vista prompts to give permission to make modifications. Clicks continue and the new properties window will refresh. If you do not have a "Change Settings" button, skip this step.

6. Step 6

Click on "Policies" tab in new properties window, choose "Optimize for Performance" and click "OK." A new window must open displaying contents of USB drive. If you have partitions, both partitions should open.

7. Step 7

Close the open partition windows and tick "OK" on any open properties windows. Your flash drive is now optimized and ready to format.

Formatting the Flash Drive

Step 1

Click on Windows button on start bar, left tick on Computer, right-click on USB Drive and choose "Format." Some USB Drives have partitions so you may see two USB drives listed in PC. Right-click and choose "Format" on both drives.

Step 2

Choose "NTFS" in format screen and tick on "Quick Format."

Step 3

Click "Start" and allow the drive to format. Now drive is prepared for use.