Did I choose the wrong file system?

[jamie]

I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks

[rifleman]

"jamie" > wrote in message
...
> I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
> system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
> system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
> a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
> I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks

The main difference between FAT32 and NTFS is the security you can use. If
you're the sole user, then I shouldn't worry.

[Stu Davis]

And don't forget about file storage efficiency with NTFS vs FAT.
Significently better with NTFS.

Stu Davis

"rifleman" > wrote in message
...
> "jamie" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
> > system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
> > system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
> > a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
> > I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks
>
> The main difference between FAT32 and NTFS is the security you can use. If
> you're the sole user, then I shouldn't worry.
>
>

[Thorsten Matzner]

"jamie" > wrote:

>I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
>system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
>system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
>a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
>I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks

For some further details, see "Overview of FAT, HPFS, and NTFS File
Systems" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=100108).

--
(tm)

[Alex Johnson]

jamie wrote:
> I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
> system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
> system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
> a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
> I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks

For the most part, it does not matter which file system you use. There
will be some minute performance differences (shadowed by the slowness of
hard drives) and NTFS offers some features that FAT32 doesn't support
(but unless you are aware of them already and own XP Pro, you aren't
likely to need them). Finally, if you really feel you've gone the wrong
route, don't nuke your computer and reinstall. There is a utility to
convert FAT32 to NTFS. Use it instead.

Alex
--
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Don't read anything into them or you may be required to compensate me
for violation of copyright. (I do not speak for my employer.)

[Sharon F]

On Mon, 3 Nov 2003 08:21:05 -0800, jamie wrote:

> I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
> system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
> system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
> a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
> I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks

If you decide to try NTFS, you can convert the file system instead of
reinstalling. Note that this is a one way experiment. If you decide that
you like FAT32 more, you'll have to start over, using a Win98SE or WinME
boot disk to delete the (non-MSDOS) NTFS partition and then formatting
FAT32.

More info about the conversion process that includes additional advice
about how to accomplish the most efficient cluster size can be found here:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm

--
Sharon F
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User