Two ways to format a USB disk as NTFS

1. Change the USB file system to NTFS format

This is the easiest way to change the file format on a USB drive, especially if the file system exists. Using this method to transform a file system does not delete an existing file. The conversion process lasts a few minutes if the file size is larger or more numerous. If the drive is empty, the conversion process is faster because the computer temporarily moves the files to a different location.

Perform the following steps to convert the drive file format:

Connect the USB drive to the computer and assign it a drive letter

Click Start > Program > Accessories

In the Run command field enter: CONVERT F:/fs:ntfs (f is your USB drive letter).

If you receive an error message when you perform the 3rd step above, you can execute the command: CHKDSK U:/F, and then try to execute the conversion command again. Users can verify the converted file system in My Documents by looking at the drive's properties. Try copying a copy larger than 2GB file or changing the file properties to verify that the conversion process was executed successfully.

　　2. Format USB to NTFS file system

The format of a USB drive is much faster than the file format it is converted to, but the files on that drive are all lost. It is best to select this method when the USB drive is first purchased. However, some USB drives have some resources or tools in store when they are just purchased and should be protected when converting the format.

Perform the following steps to format

Connect the USB drive to the computer and assign it a drive letter

Click Start > Program > Accessories

In the Run command field enter: FORMAT u:/fs:ntfs (U is your USB letter)

If you receive the error message "There is no NTFS support on your USB drive," You can change the setting in drive management in the drive's properties. Under disk drives, change to "optimize for performance" on the Properties "policy" page of the USB drive.

You must be cautious in converting your USB drive file system. Before you begin the conversion, you should weigh the advantages of using the FAT32 format, back up important data, and consider compatibility issues with non-Windows operating systems.