NTFS: NTFS is the Windows NT file system. Unlike FAT, NTFS does not use an allocation table but stores information about any file directly with the file. Other operating systems, including Windows 95, and many applications, such as ScanDisk, cannot read NTFS partitions. However, NTFS files or folders that are shared on a network can be accessed by other operating systems. Advantages of NTFS over FAT include faster access to files, more efficient information storage (for example, through a smaller cluster size), better data recovery, integrated file compression, larger disk partitions, and better file security. NTFS is preferred for Windows NT Server because of its better security and fault tolerance features. NTFS partitions also remain relatively unfragmented for long periods of time.
If you have existing FAT Partitions, you can use the command-line Convert utility to convert them to NTFS. This process is much less destructive than reformatting the partition because it does not destroy the files on the partition. If you convert the boot partition, the conversion will actually take place when you reboot the system. Remember that you cannot convert the active partition on a RISC-based system, because the boot partition on these must be FAT.
The syntax of the Convert utility is as follows:
convert <drive:> /fs:ntfs
Conversion is a one-way process. If you need to convert an NTFS volume to FAT, you must reformat the partition, or delete and recreate it; however, either process will destroy he contents of the partition. To preserve your data, back it up to another drive first. (If you need to re-create the active partition, you must run Windows NT Setup again.)