[KB8097] Change your Virtual Disk to NTFS format in ESET Endpoint Encryption

Issue

ESET Endpoint Encryption (EEE) Client and EEE Server are separate products from ESET Full Disk Encryption (EFDE)

The article below applies only to the EEE Client or EEE Server and not EFDE.

Visit What's new in ESET Full Disk Encryption to view EFDE content.

Details

You can change the format of your Virtual Disk to New Technology File System (NTFS) to store individual files larger than 4GB. There are different methods to change the format of a Virtual Disk.

  • Conversion via command line – This process enables you to keep all your data inside the Virtual Disk by converting it to NTFS.
  • Format with Explorer – This process requires moving data out of the Virtual Disk or deleting the contents of the disk.

Solution

Convert via command line

Virtual Disk backup

ESET recommends users back up the contents of Virtual Disk before converting any data.

  1. Log in to the EEE Server.

  2. Create a new Virtual Disk. Move on to the next step if you already have a Virtual Disk that you would like to change to NTFS.

  3. In Virtual Disk Manager window, select your Virtual Disk and then click Mount.

Figure 1-1
  1. Take note of the drive letter (shown in the Mounted column) that has been assigned. In this example, the drive letter is D:. Click Close.
Figure 1-2
  1. Press Windows + R key on your keyboard to open the command line and type cmd. Click OK.
Figure 1-3
  1. Type convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs in the Command Line and press the Enter key on your keyboard. In this example, we are converting the D: drive to NTFS so we have entered convert D: /fs:ntfs.
Figure 1-4
  1. Type Y and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will convert the Virtual Disk to NTFS while retaining all data on the disk intact. 
Unmount and mount again to use the Virtual Disk

You need to unmount and then mount the Virtual Disk in the Virtual Disk Manager again to use the Virtual Disk. 

Figure 1-5

Format with Explorer

  1. Log in to the EEE Server.

  2. Create a new Virtual Disk. Move on to the next step if you already have a Virtual Disk that you would like to change to NTFS.

  3. In Virtual Disk Manager window, select your Virtual Disk and then click Mount.

Figure 2-1

  1. Press Windows  key on your keyboard, type This PC and then click This PC icon.

  2. Right-click your mounted drive icon and click Format.

Figure 2-2
  1. Expand the File system drop-down menu and select the NTFS (Default). Click Start.
Figure 2-3
Back up your data before formatting

Formatting will delete all data on your Virtual Disk. Ensure that you have backed up the data correctly before proceeding.

  1. If you have backed up your data to a secure location, click OK to confirm the deletion of all data on the disk. If you haven't backed up your data, click Cancel and complete your backup before proceeding.
Figure 2-4
  1. When the format is complete, click OK. Your Virtual Disk will now be in NTFS format and you can move your backed up data back on the Virtual Disk. 
Figure 2-5
This article applies to
Product
OS
Issue
Related articles
Using ESET Endpoint Encryption Virtual Disks
Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

Additional resources

User Guides

ESET Forum

YouTube videos

Support News Customer Advisories ESET Status Portal Contact ESET Technical Support

Existing customer?

Chat with ESET AI Advisor for support