NTFS Vs Fat32 1

[Wisegi]

HI...

I'm trying to install a new hd and a clean install of XP. I do have an old drive that is Fat32 that after the new install of XP I want to set up as a slave and then transfer files but ...

Once removed I booted using an xp disk to bring me right into the installation ( couldn't complete it cause I couldn't find my activation code) but when I was going through it and it gave me the options for the different file system it only allowed me to choose NTFS or NTFS Quick....... I still want to be able to slave my old drive so I can transfer all the old files... if I do ntfs will I be able to do that..? If not ... how can I get Fat32 as an option?

Thx again

 

[SESaskDFC]

Howdy:

You can do it.. an NTFS drive will read an FAT32 drive, but a drive formatted FAT can't see an NTFS drive..

Murray

 

[Wisegi]

Cool...

that's extactly the info I was looking for...

THX!

 

[wolluf]

Murray/Wisegi - its the operating system, not the filestore its installed on that determines whether filestore can be accessed or not.

So, XP, whether installed on fat, fat32 or ntfs can read/write any fat, fat32 or ntfs filestore on the local drives.

 

[SYAR2003]

W98/ME read/write only FAT16/32
NT4 read/write FAT16/NTFS4
NT5(W2K/XP) read/write FAT16/32 NTFS4/NTFS5

XP can handle all M$ (earlier) filesystems down from it's release .

 

[onebigdog]

I have been thinking about converting my 80 gig harddrive to NTFS (I have Win2k pro). What are the advantages/disadvantages to switching to NTFS. My son says that he will not switch because you can't use DOS or DOS operations like Ghost, ScanDisk (I know there are better disk programs), boot to DOS...especially if trying to troubleshoot, starting a command prompt in a DOS box in Windows, etc.
Is he right in not making the switch and advising me the same?
OBD

 

[SYAR2003]

My opinion (some differences):

FAT32
Single user of PC ,small disks/partitions FAT32 ( home pc's )
Multiboot scenarios with w98/Me
(xp partition visible)

NTFS
Multiple users large disk NTFS (security on folder/file level)


FAT32 is faster on small disks ,NTFS is faster on large disks.


Get more details at

http://www.ntfs.com/ntfs_vs_fat.htm

SYAR

 

[Kocky]

I only see advantages of NTFS.
First of all you can get more mb's on your harddisk because the compression method is more efficient.
And second you don't have the 2GB avi-file limit you do have on a FAT32 partition. So when you capture video on a FAT32 partition the avi-file can not be larger than 2GB.
On a NTFS partion there is also a limit but it is very large. I believe above 1000GB but correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[cdogg]

The file size limit for video files depends somewhat on the application you're using. On a FAT32 partition, you can have any kind of file up to 4GB in size. However, Adobe Premiere 5.x can only handly up to a 2GB AVI. But on the other hand, Adobe Premiere 6.x can handle all 4GB.

There's a few nice little charts here:

http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/100d2.htm

With NTFS, the file size is only limited by the volume (partition) size. Since the max volume size in NTFS is 2 Terabytes (2000GB), then the max file size must also be the same.


~cdogg
[tab]"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab][tab]- A. Einstein

 

[TekTippy4U]

Gentlemen/Ladies;
For knowledge sake....is this statement true..?
My son says that he will not switch because you can't use DOS or DOS operations like Ghost, ScanDisk (I know there are better disk programs), boot to DOS...especially if trying to troubleshoot, starting a command prompt in a DOS box in Windows, etc
I have a need to know, cause I already have to TS my pops new Dell Dimension

TT4U

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions....I try very hard to impart correct info at all times.

 

[cdogg]

TT4U:

Well, not necessarily. They're right in saying that a regular Win98 boot disk is not going to give you access to the NTFS partition. Therefore, the built-in utilities like Scandisk are not going to work from the command prompt. But you can still boot to DOS using a Win98 disk, even though it won't help you much.

However in the brighter side of things, applications like Norton's Ghost allow you to make bootable disks to access NTFS partitions. A lot of apps designed for XP and NTFS have other ways to troubleshoot through boot disks or command prompts instead of relying on DOS.

And finally, there are 3rd-party apps out there (both freeware and shareware) that you can download to help you out. Some can even be added to aid your Win98 boot disk and allow it to see NTFS partitions.

The bottom line is that everyone is moving forward, and there's no need to feel like you're losing control by going with NTFS. It is pretty much the opposite. It's nice to leave DOS around on an old PC for testing, but it's quickly becoming a relic of the past.


~cdogg
[tab]"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab][tab]- A. Einstein

 

[TekTippy4U]

Thanx cdogg;
I appreciate the input and clarification.....



TT4U

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions....I try very hard to impart correct info at all times.

 

[cdogg]

No prob!

 

[Snickle]

The one item I didn't see mentioned/may have missed is that WinXP can't create FAT32 partitions larger than 32GB, even though it will work just fine on them. I have WinXP Pro on a 40GB FAT32 drive and WinXP HE on a 40GB FAT32 drive. Both were fdisk'd with a Win98SE boot disk.

If dual-booting Win98 with Win2000 or WinXP and you want both Operating systems to see all the partitions, they'll have to be FAT32 since Win9x/ME can't see NTFS.