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Storage: NTFS or FAT32?
Re: NTFS or FAT32?
by skippyd333 - 11/19/04 8:29 PM In reply to: Re: NTFS or FAT32? by stupidfastYou can set permissions in xp with both formats.
Re: NTFS or FAT32?
by jpfenton - 11/19/04 11:26 AM In reply to: NTFS or FAT32? by joeenelFirst understand, Joeenel, that there is no “right answer” for your question; and your question is both very appropriate and very common. If you pressed me for a choice, and given your expressed use for the large drive, I’d suggest NTFS. Microsoft created NTFS as a more secure, more “robust” file system and you would think it would be a “no brainer” to make that choice; however, there are a number of important considerations:
1. Compatibility: Older Microsoft operating systems, Windows 95/98/ME, cannot read from or write to an NTFS volume. This is perhaps the most significant consideration. If you are sharing this system on a network, compatibility does not present a problem because a Windows XP system running the NTFS volume will control the actual physical access to the drive and other systems can connect via the “host” system. If you are trying to plug into a system running an older OS, you could not use the NTFS drive, as the system would not recognize the format. You are using XP Home, which does recognize the format, so you should have no problem using the drive between your own computers, regardless of the drive’s file format. The problem, however, would resurface if you were to include an older system in your environment.
2. Security: The “best” reason to use NTFS is security, as NTFS permits you to restrict file and folder access by using “Permissions.” XP Professional goes one step further by allowing you to encrypt data on the volume, but it is not available in XP Home. That’s perhaps one reason to recommend XP Pro over XP Home. FAT32, or any version of FAT, does not provide any security; the drive’s contents are “open” to anyone with access to a FAT drive.
3. Disk Errors: NTFS is designed to be much more stable than FAT in terms of recovery from disk errors, which FAT volumes are much more prone to encounter. NTFS journals disk transactions and XP can use that journal to repair file errors. NTFS also dynamically maps any bad clusters and reorganizes the file system to avoid these areas. Thus, in the longer-term view, NTFS is a superior format for data reliability and that’s something you want for your backup device.
4. Expansion: FAT volumes are “fixed” in partition size and if you wish to re-size the partitions to add space, FAT forces you to reformat the drive and re-load everything on it. NTFS is dynamically resizable through XP’s disk management tools.
5. Management: For very large drives, and your 120 GB drive qualifies for this consideration, NTFS is much more efficient than FAT32. Windows XP cannot create a FAT32 partition greater than 32GB; you would need to use the old Fdisk utility, booting up from a Windows 98/ME disk to use it. However, using XP’s Disk Management utility, you can create massive NTFS volumes up to 16 terabytes – which would be like having more than 135 drives like your 120 GB drive.
If this convinces you to use NTFS versus FAT32, then you will have to convert your drive to NTFS. Fortunately, XP makes that easy, too, through the command-line “Convert” utility. To accomplish this task:
1. If you have been using the new FAT32 drive, you should defragment the drive before converting it. Use the XP defragmenter found under All Programs, Accessories, and System Tools in the Start menu.
2. Open a command-line window from the Start menu.
3. First, create a FAT32 file to be a “placeholder” for NTFS’ Master File Table (MFT), which should be approximately equal to 12.5% of the drive’s space – in your case, 15 GB. However, FAT32 limits maximum file size, so create a 4gb file:
At the command prompt, type: (d: is your drive letter)
fsutil file createnew d:mftarea.txt 4000000000
note that the value is 4 GB with all nine zeros. NTFS will use this file to create the first MFT fragment. This “extra” preparatory step will help the XP system’s defragmenter more efficiently manage the NTFS space.
4. At the command prompt, type: (d: is your drive letter)
convert d: /fs:ntfs /cvtarea:mftarea.txt
Finally, because you plan to use this drive for backing up two systems, you might consider creating two or more partitions equal to or slightly greater than the volume size of the systems you plan to back up. That would permit you to perhaps better control the backup process and contain the files for each system within their own area. The alternative, of course, is simply to create two top-level folders inside of which you create each respective system’s backup files. You should do a bit of reading about partition management, dynamic disks and dynamic volumes, and system backup before deciding on the method best for you.
Pat Fenton, chair
Computer and Information Systems Dept
West Valley College, Saratoga, CA
Re: NTFS or FAT32?
by Gato_Veio - 11/19/04 11:41 AM In reply to: NTFS or FAT32? by joeenelhey man,
get the best a system can offer....just use all of them, Fat, Fat32 and NTFS....create different partitions win Partition Magic....set C:\ (system) as Fat 32, D:\ (swap file) as Fat (much faster) and E:\ (YOUR files)as NTFS. By doing this, you will have a much more reliable, stable and fast system. If something goes wrong and your C:\ renders unreacheable, just re-install it, your data is safe at E:\
Good luck !!
NTFS
by LANjackal - 11/19/04 2:27 PM In reply to: NTFS or FAT32? by joeenelGo NTFS, hands down. Unlike FAT32, NTFS can handle file sizes - and transfers - in excess of 4 GB and has many other advanced storage options that are impossible with NTFS. Just bear in mind that any NTFS formatted hard drive will be pretty much incompatible with any operating system other than Windows 2000 or higher.
Re: NTFS or FAT32?
by AJRussell - 11/19/04 3:25 PM In reply to: NTFS or FAT32? by joeenelThe answer to your question depends on how big the partitions are on your existing system that you intend to back up.
If there is only one drive letter, then you should partition the new drive about 20% larger than that drive.
This will allow for expansion with the existing computer's drive capacity as you use it and back up the system in the future. The partition the rest of the drive as you see fit. Then, you can decide which file format to use on the new partitions, either FAT32, NTFS, or Linux (just a plug for alternative OSs on a dual boot).
If there is more that one partition on your existing system, then you will need to create similar sized partitions on the new drive. Then, you will be able to back up the partitions to the new drive, and repartition the balance of the drive into whatever sizes that you would like. I found NOrton Ghost very capable to back up to specific partitions and maintain file integrity.
The one caveat is that if your existing hard drive is partitioned as FAT32, you will need to partition the new drive partitions the same. NTFS will try to change your existing system's file format if it is not NTFS. This could render your system unusable, and require a new installation of the OS and its associated applications.
Re: NTFS or FAT32?
by zee72 - 11/19/04 11:33 PM In reply to: NTFS or FAT32? by joeenelSure, you can leave it as FAT32 as it is compatiable with all major versions for windows (98/ME/NT/2000/XP). Since NTFS is more secure but compatiable only with Windows NT/2000/XP.
However you can have some NTFS and some FAT32 drives, for this purpose you can use PowerQuest Partition Magic Software. Its a user friendly and easy-to-use tool.
Re: NTFS or FAT32?
by vicky_agnihoitri - 11/20/04 1:05 AM In reply to: NTFS or FAT32? by joeenelyou dont need to convert NTFS.it is surely possible to partition it and have some NTFS and some FAT32
Re: NTFS or FAT32?
by daav - 11/20/04 10:56 AM In reply to: Re: NTFS or FAT32? by vicky_agnihoitriHi All, The FAT32 or NTFS can be related to the size of your C:\ Drive. If it is 'under 32GB's', just leave it as FAT32. Your WinDoze 98/98SE/ME Software O/S's, 'Will Not' FDISK anything ("Accurately"), over 32GB's, so you might as well leave it as FAT32, for your Win XP/Home-Pro.
It'a a different story, if you have a '3rd Party Partitioner'. I like and have 'Partition Commander v8.0'..., (I had Partition Magic), but prefer this more, after using them both!
Now, if you have a HDD, (any size), and you are running Win XP/H or P, and 'do not' have any 'Partitioning Software', and want to turn it into an NTFS Drive, (but do not want to Reformat your H/D)..., then use the Win XP's "Built-in" Converter!
Say you just wanted to make your C:\ Drive into a NTFS Drive, (from the FAT32, that it is now), even if you have 10 to 20GB's of Data on it. Do the following:
Go to 'Start'(Taskbar) > 'Run' > Type: cmd and hit Enter. At the DOS window 'Prompt' > Type:
CONVERT C:/FS:NTFS ...and hit enter. (Follow the Prompts), like, it might just tell you that it 'Can't Convert', because 'Something else is using that Drive', (C:\). Do you want to Continue? (Y/N). Tell WinBlows 'Y'! Then it will 'tell you' that it has to Dismount the Drive first, and will 'Convert' on your next 'Restart'. Restart?, (Y/N)..., Tell it 'Y'! When it reboots..., B4 your 'Screen appears', it will do a 'ChkDsk', and then it will convert your C:\ Drive! It took about 3 or 4 Mins to do one of my '40GB WD HDD'. When your 'Desktop' comes back on, 'VOILA'..., and then there was "NTFS!"
Personally, I like NTFS better than FAT32, (I'm an 'Ol DOS v3.0 Guy, *Started with*, and thus a DieHard FAT32 'Fan'). It took me a long time, but 'Now', it has finally convinced me!
daav =)
Re: NTFS or FAT32?
by joeenel - 11/20/04 12:36 PM In reply to: Re: NTFS or FAT32? by daavThanks to all who responded. What a great forum and such a vast amount of knowledge. I ended up going with NTFS, backed up both machines prior to installing SP2, installed SP2 and everything is AOK. Thanks again to all. joeenel
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