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NTFS or Fat32 which is right?



 
 
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  #1  
Old December 8th 09, 03:01 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Patti Barden
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 57
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and click
"Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti


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  #2  
Old December 8th 09, 03:20 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
David B.[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,244
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

Neither is right, there are pros and cons to each. With NTFS you can have
file sizes larger than 4GB but the drive is not useable on a MAC and other
operating systems, FAT32 is supported on many different operating systems
but doesn't support file sizes greater than 4GB, the choice is yours.

--


--
"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and
click "Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti


  #3  
Old December 8th 09, 03:20 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
David B.[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,244
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

Neither is right, there are pros and cons to each. With NTFS you can have
file sizes larger than 4GB but the drive is not useable on a MAC and other
operating systems, FAT32 is supported on many different operating systems
but doesn't support file sizes greater than 4GB, the choice is yours.

--


--
"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and
click "Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti


  #4  
Old December 8th 09, 03:49 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Ken Blake, MVP
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,402
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

On Tue, 8 Dec 2009 14:01:06 -0000, "Patti Barden"
wrote:

Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.



That depends entirely on how you are going to use it. If it will only
be used in Windows XP, yes, NTFS is best. But if you might want to use
it on a computer running an operating system that is not NTFS-aware,
then FAT32 is necessary.


When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"



That's what it currently is.


yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and click
"Format" it says "File System NTFS".



That's what it will format it as, unless you change it there.


Which is right?



Both.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
  #5  
Old December 8th 09, 03:49 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Ken Blake, MVP
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,402
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

On Tue, 8 Dec 2009 14:01:06 -0000, "Patti Barden"
wrote:

Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.



That depends entirely on how you are going to use it. If it will only
be used in Windows XP, yes, NTFS is best. But if you might want to use
it on a computer running an operating system that is not NTFS-aware,
then FAT32 is necessary.


When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"



That's what it currently is.


yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and click
"Format" it says "File System NTFS".



That's what it will format it as, unless you change it there.


Which is right?



Both.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
  #6  
Old December 8th 09, 03:50 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Bert Hyman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 226
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

In "Patti Barden"
wrote:

Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB
in size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says
"File System: FAT32"


If I understand what you're saying here, that's telling you that the
drive is currently formatted as FAT32.

yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and
click "Format" it says "File System NTFS".


If that's the same display that I think it is, you're being told that if
you choose to format that drive right now, it will be formatted as NTFS.

If you haven't started using the drive yet and there's no data on it,
formatting it as NTFS would be a good idea.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN
  #7  
Old December 8th 09, 03:50 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Bert Hyman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 226
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

In "Patti Barden"
wrote:

Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB
in size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says
"File System: FAT32"


If I understand what you're saying here, that's telling you that the
drive is currently formatted as FAT32.

yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and
click "Format" it says "File System NTFS".


If that's the same display that I think it is, you're being told that if
you choose to format that drive right now, it will be formatted as NTFS.

If you haven't started using the drive yet and there's no data on it,
formatting it as NTFS would be a good idea.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN
  #8  
Old December 8th 09, 05:12 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
JS
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,475
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?


"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and
click "Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti


Most external USB drives come pre-formatted as exFAT
which is a newer version of FAT32.

FAT32 is limited in two ways:
1) Max Partition size is 32GB.
2) Max size of a single file is 4GB.

exFAT allows for the creations partitions larger that 32GB,
1TB in your case.

You can test if your drive is already formatted from the vendor
by simply copying a file from your internal to external drive. If you
have a file larger than 4GB your can try copying that also and see
if you receive any error/warning messages.

Now as to which is better (NTFS of FAT32) for your external
drive (assuming you do not have data already stored on the drive).
I would do the following:

1) Delete the existing factory formatted partition.
2) Create a 32GB FAT32 partition/logical drive and assign it a
volume name of: 'SHARED'. Anything you want to move from one
computer to the next can be stored on this partition/logical drive.
3) With the remaining free space, format as a single NTFS partition.
Now you have the best of both worlds.

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com


  #9  
Old December 8th 09, 05:12 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
JS
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,475
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?



"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and
click "Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti


Most external USB drives come pre-formatted as exFAT
which is a newer version of FAT32.

FAT32 is limited in two ways:
1) Max Partition size is 32GB.
2) Max size of a single file is 4GB.

exFAT allows for the creations partitions larger that 32GB,
1TB in your case.

You can test if your drive is already formatted from the vendor
by simply copying a file from your internal to external drive. If you
have a file larger than 4GB your can try copying that also and see
if you receive any error/warning messages.

Now as to which is better (NTFS of FAT32) for your external
drive (assuming you do not have data already stored on the drive).
I would do the following:

1) Delete the existing factory formatted partition.
2) Create a 32GB FAT32 partition/logical drive and assign it a
volume name of: 'SHARED'. Anything you want to move from one
computer to the next can be stored on this partition/logical drive.
3) With the remaining free space, format as a single NTFS partition.
Now you have the best of both worlds.

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com


  #10  
Old December 8th 09, 05:51 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Bruce Chambers
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,208
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

JS wrote:
"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and
click "Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti


Most external USB drives come pre-formatted as exFAT
which is a newer version of FAT32.

FAT32 is limited in two ways:
1) Max Partition size is 32GB.



Not true. WinXP, by design, cannot create/format a FAT32 partition
greater than 32GB, but that's a deliberate limitation of the OS, not the
file system.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
  #11  
Old December 8th 09, 05:51 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Bruce Chambers
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,208
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

JS wrote:
"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and
click "Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti


Most external USB drives come pre-formatted as exFAT
which is a newer version of FAT32.

FAT32 is limited in two ways:
1) Max Partition size is 32GB.



Not true. WinXP, by design, cannot create/format a FAT32 partition
greater than 32GB, but that's a deliberate limitation of the OS, not the
file system.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
  #12  
Old December 8th 09, 05:55 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Ken Blake, MVP
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,402
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

On Tue, 8 Dec 2009 11:12:33 -0500, "JS" @ wrote:


FAT32 is limited in two ways:
1) Max Partition size is 32GB.



Sorry, that's not correct. It's true that Windows XP can not create a
FAT32 partition greater than 32GB, but external utilities can, and
Windows XP can use such partitions just fine.


2) Max size of a single file is 4GB.



Correct.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
  #13  
Old December 8th 09, 05:55 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Ken Blake, MVP
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,402
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

On Tue, 8 Dec 2009 11:12:33 -0500, "JS" @ wrote:


FAT32 is limited in two ways:
1) Max Partition size is 32GB.



Sorry, that's not correct. It's true that Windows XP can not create a
FAT32 partition greater than 32GB, but external utilities can, and
Windows XP can use such partitions just fine.


2) Max size of a single file is 4GB.



Correct.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
  #14  
Old December 8th 09, 07:58 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Tim Meddick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,995
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

There is a reason why removable drives are nearly always formatted FAT - because one
of the big advantages of a removable drive is that you can remove it!!

Having it kept formatted as FAT, you would be able to connect it to nearly any other
PC which would be able to identify and browse it's contents. It's compatibility with
other computers would be virtually universal.

This would include PCs with other operating systems like Win98 or LINUX-based and
MACs as well.

If you changed it's format to NTFS and did not set file and folder permissions to
include "Everyone" as read-only - then your removable drive would only be accessible
on your own machine (and possibly other NT-based OSs under 'Administrator')

Plus, if you need to gain access to your backup after your own PC has permanently
broken, then you may well find, again, you have problems "seeing" the drive when
connected to in another computer...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File System:
FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and click
"Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti


  #15  
Old December 8th 09, 07:58 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Tim Meddick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,995
Default NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

There is a reason why removable drives are nearly always formatted FAT - because one
of the big advantages of a removable drive is that you can remove it!!

Having it kept formatted as FAT, you would be able to connect it to nearly any other
PC which would be able to identify and browse it's contents. It's compatibility with
other computers would be virtually universal.

This would include PCs with other operating systems like Win98 or LINUX-based and
MACs as well.

If you changed it's format to NTFS and did not set file and folder permissions to
include "Everyone" as read-only - then your removable drive would only be accessible
on your own machine (and possibly other NT-based OSs under 'Administrator')

Plus, if you need to gain access to your backup after your own PC has permanently
broken, then you may well find, again, you have problems "seeing" the drive when
connected to in another computer...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File System:
FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and click
"Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti


 




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