# Embarassing computer problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-computer-problem/121754 "2002-07-31T21:10:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-computer-problem/121754/41 "2002-08-06T21:27:05Z")
You can do it, **Crusoe**. Enter Disk Management and right click the drive you want to change over. Once there, click on Format and it will allow you to reformat it NTFS. If I remember right, it’ll let you change from FAT to NTFS quite easily, but doesn’t like it the other way around. In terms of the other hijack, thanks **Quar** for the more expanded explanation. That makes a bit more sense. I have a couple more questions down that line, especially regarding Windows 2000 and DOS, but I’d like to double check what I’m thinking and at least narrow down the question I think I still have. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-computer-problem/121754/42 "2002-08-07T07:30:33Z")
Thanks everyone. The **convert.exe** utility converted from FAT to NTFS in no time and with no fuss (and most importantly, no missing files). I haven’t seen any performance gains yet, but I’m sure they’ll be there eventually. The XP help files claim you cannot convert from NTFS to FAT at all unless you wipe and reformat the drive. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-computer-problem/121754/43 "2002-08-07T07:50:03Z")
Speaker, go to the DOS command prompt, go to your KaZaA shared file directory, and try to delete it that way. I’ve had files I didn’t want ‘stick’ when KaZaA’s crashed while using/finishing downloading them. That fixed it for me. ---
**Author:** ![douglips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@douglips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/douglips)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-computer-problem/121754/44 "2002-08-07T07:54:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > **CnoteChris, starting the computer in DOS mode and opening a DOS window are two _very_ different things. At any rate, you can always start the computer in DOS mode from a floppy.** If you are using XP or Win2k, you may have an NTFS disk, which is non-trivial to access from DOS. This might make deleting the file no easier. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-computer-problem/121754/45 "2002-08-08T09:29:37Z")
[About creating a boot disk in XP.](http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-12-06.htm#2) Interesting ---
**Author:** ![Marcus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Marcus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-computer-problem/121754/46 "2002-08-08T11:16:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by quar \* > \*\* > Yep. You can convert your existing FAT32 filesystem over to NTFS as well. Adds in some speed, stability, and security while overcoming some of FAT32’s limitations. > \*\* …and removes compatibility with other operating systems that you may dual boot, such as Win9x, WinME, Linux, \*BSD, and so on. If this isn’t a problem for you, then fire away! ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-computer-problem/121754/47 "2002-08-12T02:16:59Z")
Okay. I logged in in Safe Mode, and deleted it. It said "This program name is too long to move, would you like to delete it permanently? I said yes. Problem solved. My luck isn’t that good. I got it again, this time downloading music _sighs_, I again logged into safe mode, but this time it wouldn’t let me delete it, giving me the message “Cannot delete BRITNE~1.GIF: File not Found.” ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-computer-problem/121754/48 "2002-08-12T19:41:09Z")
Has the well of knowledge run dry? _worried_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-computer-problem/121754.md?page=2)