32-bit File Allocation Table, often referred to as FAT32, is a pretty old file system, which has mostly been scrapped due to its limited functionality and security vulnerabilities. If you are still using this file system for your PC, then it is high time you switched to an advanced file system like NTFS. Apart from being far more secure than FAT32, NTFS also uses much smaller sized clusters, thereby wasting far less space due to formatting. Besides, in FAT, the size of any of your partitions cannot go beyond 32 GB, which is a real setback for the modern, high capacity hard disks.

In order to convert any of your partitions from FAT32 to NTFS, you must first log in to your PC with an account having administrative privilege. After that, you should defragment the partition that you wish to convert to NTFS file system. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open up My Computer, and right click on the partition that you wish to defragment.
2. Select Properties, and then in the window that pops up, click on the tab named Tools.
3. Click on the button named Defragment Now.
4. When the disk defragmenter of Windows® XP launches, click on the button named Defragment.
5. You will have to wait for the process to be over. It can take quite some time to complete, especially if you have a large partition.

Once the defragmentation process is complete, you can begin converting the drive partition. Click on “Start” button and choose “Run”. Then:

1. In the box named “Open”, type “Command”, or “cmd”, and hit the Enter key.
2. In the command prompt that opens, type K: /fs:ntfs (where K is the name of the partition, which you want to convert).
3. You will be asked for the drive letter, followed by two other questions. Answer all of the questions with Y in order to proceed.
4. The file system in the drive will be converted to NTFS, Which can take some time, especially if your partition is quite large in size.
5. Your hard disk may be busy showing constant disk activity for several minutes even after the conversion is over. Wait patiently and do not attempt to do anything till this activity stops.

Make sure about your choice of converting the file system. You cannot revert to FAT32 later on, even if you wish it. The drive will have to be formatted once more, and all data will be irrecoverably lost, since the file system is getting altered.