subject: Windows File System Conversion Fails While Using Sysprep [print this page] Windows File System Conversion Fails While Using Sysprep
Are you trying to convert your file system from FAT32 (File Allocation Table) to NTFS (New Technology File System) file system? You must create absolute backup of all your valuable database before you proceed for the conversion process. In case the process fails or gets interrupted, you may come across severe data loss situations. If there is no valid and updated backup in place, data recovery software becomes need of hour to get your mission-critical data recovered.
When you try converting a Windows hard drive partition from FAT32 to NTFS file system while cloning your hard drive using the Sysprep utility, the partition that is being converted has a null or blank volume label, conversion process can not complete successfully. There is either an error message is displayed, which is disappeared before you can access data from it or no error message for indicating that conversion process is unsuccessful, depending upon the way you use to convert the file system.
If you are using the Sysprep utility in conjunction with the altered Sysprep.inf file and then you use the below line to [unattend] section, the conversion process gets terminated:
"[UNATTEND]
FileSystem=ConvertNTFS"
Furthermore, [GUIRunOnce] section in Sysprep.inf file enables you to execute commands. If use are using the convert command, the conversion process gets terminated and it prompts you to provide a partition label. Failed conversion process leads to critical data loss situations and require data recovery through advanced third-party applications.
Root of the problem:
Use of ConvertNTFS parameter isn't supported during Mini-Setup phage, which is run after preparing a cloned system with System Preparation Utility, is booted up. ConvertNTFS parameter is just supported during the text mode setup that is never raised by System Preparation tool.
Resolution:
You can convert the partition successfully using CONVERT.EXE utility. You can incorporate the convert command in system preparation process.
In case you do not use the above method for converting the Windows hard drive partitions and the conversion process fails, you may lose your mission-critical data from the hard drive partitions. At this point of time, data recovery tools are required to extract lost data from Windows hard drive.
The data recovery tools are particularly designed to methodically scan entire hard drive and extract all lost, inaccessible, missing, or deleted data from it. They offer totally safe and easy recovery in all data loss situations.
Windows Data Recovery is the most powerful, yet easy to use utility to ensure absolute recovery of your lost Windows database. The software recovers data from NTFS5, NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, and FAT12 file system partitions. It is designed for Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, 2003, XP, and 2000.
