Is it alright to convert HDD from NTFS to FAT32?

Hi guys I have a sony LED tv and love watching movies on it, but when I connect my seagate HDD it is not able to recognize it, probably because it is NTFS, so I want to convert it to FAT32, please can you tell me is it safe to convert my HDD to FAT32?
Will my tv read it?
Will it function the way it functions now?
Can I convert it without having to lose my data or formatting it?

Please guide me on this and how to convert?

there is a technical limitation on FAT32 that a file cannot be more than 4GB, so if you have a 10 gig 1080p file then you wont be able to store it in FAT32 drive . And IIRC you cannot convert NTFS to FAT32 without formating.

RCuber said:
there is a technical limitation on FAT32 that a file cannot be more than 4GB. and IIRC you cannot convert NTFS to FAT32 without formating.

Huh? Really then incase I convert the HDD, okay even after format then what will happen when I transfer FIFA 13 setup file of 6.5 GB? Will it not accept it?

sam9953 said:
Huh? Really then incase I convert the HDD, okay even after format then what will happen when I transfer FIFA 13 setup file of 6.5 GB? Will it not accept it?

First try a pendrive with NTFS & Fat32 format and see which one TV reads properly and then risk your data on HDD.

gameranand said:
First try a pendrive with NTFS & Fat32 format and see which one TV reads properly and then risk your data on HDD.

I believe all pen drives are by default with FAT32, right? and my TV reads all my pen drives wonderfully.

sam9953 said:
I believe all pen drives are by default with FAT32, right? and my TV reads all my pen drives wonderfully.

Then watch movie from pendrive.

I mean why do you want to connect the HDD to TV. First of all if its a external portable HDD (2.5") then there is no guarantee that it will get the required power from TV and if you have 3.5" external HDD then it should work.

sam9953 said:
Huh? Really then incase I convert the HDD, okay even after format then what will happen when I transfer FIFA 13 setup file of 6.5 GB? Will it not accept it?

No. It won't. And specifically, for that 4GB file size limitation, NTFS came into picture.

gameranand said:
Then watch movie from pendrive. I mean why do you want to connect the HDD to TV. First of all if its a external portable HDD (2.5") then there is no guarantee that it will get the required power from TV and if you have 3.5" external HDD then it should work.

Power is.not the problem, no external power is needed for.my.hdd, plus how do i convert?

A

sam9953 said:
Power is.not the problem, no external power is needed for.my.hdd, plus how do i convert?

You did not get what gameranand said, your hdd does not require power because PCs provide the required amount of power to the external by USB, in your case TV is not able to provide the required power.
If your hd requires external power then it might work.

BTW, When you will try to copy a file larger than 4 GB, you will get an error like cannot copy. And while converting all your data will be lost, so you need to backup it different place.

And did you partitioned your hdd?

sam9953 said:
Power is.not the problem, no external power is needed for.my.hdd, plus how do i convert?

Well thats the problem. Your HDD gets the power from the USB port so its not sure if your TV would provide that power to HDD or not. As for changing you just have to format it using FAT32 file-system available in Format options.

sam9953 said:
Power is.not the problem, no external power is needed for.my.hdd, plus how do i convert?

During format, change format from FAT32 to NTFS in the "Format Menu"..

Its always recommended to backup data first before doing partition conversion (coz u never know when crysis will happen)
also,NTFS is far better than Fat32 (like an upgrade).

Which Sony Model u own?
read the manual if its written that HDD are supported (2.5") then only go ahead with conversion process.

Oh okay nw i get what you are trying to say, and no i have not partitioned my hdd, that's because i dont know about it. Can you please tell me more about it

Zangetsu said:
Which Sony Model u own?

I need this first

Zangetsu said:
I need this first

Mate I am using a Sony Ex420, 32 inch. I am about to do the conversion after taking a backup, incase I don't like it and it does not work then I will change back to NTFS,
But guys I don't know about this hdd partitioning. Please tell me.

sam9953 said:
But guys I don't know about this hdd partitioning. Please tell me.

I suppose this TV supports HDD playback.
and u don't have to worry about HDD partition..its splitting of HDD drives (e.g: C,D,E etc)

make a backup of the external HDD

Right click My Computer - > Manage - > Select Disk Management under Storage.

Here you can remove the NTFS partition and recreate it using FAT32.

W

current sony tv models(like yours) don't support ntfs & mkv files.

Zangetsu said:
I suppose this TV supports HDD playback.
and u don't have to worry about HDD partition..its splitting of HDD drives (e.g: C,D,E etc)

make a backup of the external HDD

Right click My Computer - > Manage - > Select Disk Management under Storage.

Here you can remove the NTFS partition and recreate it using FAT32.

When I click "format" I get an option to convert to "exFAT" is that the option to select? Will that make my HDD , FAT32?

And ya whitestar you are right, my TV does not support both.

First convert your pendrive in NTFS format and see if your TV is able to read it. If it reads, only then format. Else dont get into all these hassale.

saswat23 said:
First convert your pendrive in NTFS format and see if your TV is able to read it. If it reads, only then format. Else dont get into all these hassale.

It does, can you please answer my question.

Dont you have the option of 'FAT32'. If not then exFAT should do.
But first backup your contents and then test.

Read this once:
*www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2801/exfat_versus_fat32_versus_ntfs/

and this:
*geekdrop.com/content/exfat-vs-fat32

sam9953 said:
It does, can you please answer my question.

If NTFS format runs fine with your TV then what's the need of formatting your HDD to FAT32?

saswat23 said:
Dont you have the option of 'FAT32'. If not then exFAT should do.
But first backup your contents and then test.

Read this once:
exFAT Versus FAT32 Versus NTFS | a Tech-Recipes Tutorial

and this:
*geekdrop.com/content/exfat-vs-fat32

If NTFS format runs fine with your TV then what's the need of formatting your HDD to FAT32?

No NO No, when I said it does I meant that pen drives which are in FAT32 format they work well, thats the whole point converting my HDD to FAT32.

Okay and btw I did do the conversion and my TV now reads it.

So thank you all guys. Thanks people.

Is it able to play HD videos larger than 4GB smoothly? I mean a single video file greater than 4GB.

I have Sony Bravia EX520. Bravia TVs DO NOT read NTFS formatted Flash/HD drives.

You will need to format the drive to FAT32/exFAT.
If you have movies greater than 4GB size, it wont be copied to the drive.
If you have movies other than MP4/AVI format Bravia wont play it.

sam9953 said:
Power is.not the problem, no external power is needed for.my.hdd, plus how do i convert?

It is a potential problem. Whereas PC USB ports can source the power/current needed for portable HDDs continuously for extended periods of time, there may be a problem, when the TV USB tries to provide current to continuously run the HDD for long periods time. if it is not powerful enough, either the USB section could go kaput or your HDD could go kaput.

Generally speaking, USB sections on TVs are less powerful compared to PC USB. the power needed to run an HDD is quite large compared to tha running a flash drive. in the long run, it could heat up and go kaput. so its better to use a FAT32/exFAT flash drive than a portable HDD with a TV.

FYI, i use a 8GB Transcend pen drive.

anirbandd said:
I have Sony Bravia EX520. Bravia TVs DO NOT read NTFS formatted Flash/HD drives.

You will need to format the drive to FAT32/exFAT.
If you have movies greater than 4GB size, it wont be copied to the drive.
If you have movies other than MP4/AVI format Bravia wont play it.

It is a potential problem. Whereas PC USB ports can source the power/current needed for portable HDDs continuously for extended periods of time, there may be a problem, when the TV USB tries to provide current to continuously run the HDD for long periods time. if it is not powerful enough, either the USB section could go kaput or your HDD could go kaput.

Generally speaking, USB sections on TVs are less powerful compared to PC USB. the power needed to run an HDD is quite large compared to tha running a flash drive. in the long run, it could heat up and go kaput. so its better to use a FAT32/exFAT flash drive than a portable HDD with a TV.

FYI, i use a 8GB Transcend pen drive.

Really? Are you sure about the power thing? I do not want to risk my hdd then.

Yes.

Actually, the threat will be more to you TV than HDD.

HDD are made to run for long times. on the other hand, USB section of TVs are not rated for supplying the amount of current for extended times and may get heated up, and eventually fry.

L

If you have multiple partition then you may format a single partition & convert that into NTFS partition & when you connect your HDD to TV then might be your TV read that partition. At least try this remedy once, might be your problem is solved.

sam9953 said:
Okay and btw I did do the conversion and my TV now reads it.

So thank you all guys. Thanks people.

OP's problem solved

Zangetsu said:
OP's problem solved

Yeah zangetsu is right.
Keeping what anirband said in my I did the conversion and even though it worked successfully, I hve decided to.go back to NTFS. Thanks for all the help.