NTFS converting woes...

I am not familiar with the programs you mentioned.

Here's the deal, if you use any backup image that is made by a sector by sector copying method, it will restore the drive to the same Format (cluster size included) so it wouldn't meet your needs. Most disk imaging softwares use that method. That why I suggested Xxclone since it copies data and not sectors.

If the Xxclone method is too confusing for you, get PM and it'll convert the cluster size with much less trouble (albeit not for free).

 

Thanks for the tips, surferdude. I didn't mean to come off so picky. My apologies.

I will give the Xxclone method an honest effort, but will probably end up using PM if the going gets too tough.

 

As far as cluster size goes, it's always been my understanding that the smaller the cluster size, the less disk space is wasted. I've used 4kb and compared it to a 512b and the 4kb took up more disk space. And, I haven't noticed any slow down going from 4kb to 512b; so I don't know what slow down you're talking about.

As far as defragmenting goes, I always use DeFraggler

Run Windows defrag and you'll see a picket fence of blue and white lines. Then run Defraggler. Go back to Windows defrag, analyze, and you'll see a solid block.

Also, have no fear with XXClone. Surferdude2 knows whereof he speaks. He turned me on to it and I feel it's the best of the free Cloning Utilities.