FAT32 or NTFS?

[agentkay]

Which is the better file system? I´m mainly thinking about performance numbers and less about features and security, or are both pretty even performance-wise? Also, can I convert an existing Windows 2000 partition (FAT32) into NTFS without damaging the data or partition? And finally, is there a program with which I can re-size a partition without loosing/damaging any data?

I assume the most secure way is formating/making a new partition(s) from ground up and installing everything again but I might try the shortcut IF the risks not not too high (and after a backup of course). :)

Thanks for any hints and info in advance!

[jAkUp]

NTFS all the way! If you have a bigger hard drive, NTFS is faster, Fat32 is faster for smaller HD sizes (typically why you see flash drives as FAT32 devices.) NTFS is way more reliable however.

And yes, you can convert FAT32 to NTFS, however, I think you would have to use a program like partition magic...

[saturnotaku]

FAT32 can only support drives up to 36(?) GB in size. NTFS can go up to several terabytes IIRC. NTFS also is faster in both performance and defragmentation (but it does fragment faster).

Windows has a utility that you can run from a command line within the OS that allows you to convert from FAT32 to NTFS but not the other way around. If you have the option to format the drive to NTFS before you install Windows, that's the best option.

[evilghost]

NTFS will fragment faster, however, NTFS is a journaling filesystem so sudden loss of power does not equate to data-loss (since disk writes are first written to a journal before the disk/MFT). Fat16/Fat32 is not a journaling FS. Journaling filesystems tend to be slower.

With Fat32, you have a ceiling file-size of 4GB, NTFS is only limited by the size of the total volume.

NTFS generally performs better than Fat32 on larger drives, while the converse is true for smaller drives.

You can convert a Fat32 volume to NTFS by using the command "convert.exe [drive] /FS:NTFS /X"

[agentkay]

Thanks guys! I gave it a try and its much better. :) The convert worked nicely, definitly worth it!

[rohit]

I dont like NTFS, coz it doesnt support older OS's like win98se.
I bought this new 250GB HDD last week, and had a tough time installing it.
I tried the traditional method of making partions through DOS, but the disk was detected as a 40GB disk.
got frustrated, and created partitions through winxp (by plugging in old 80GB HDD). got new drives.
Now since i didnt want NTFS, i entered DOS, Successfully formatted into FAT32, drives which also said 78GB on each drive. While installing Win98, i had a tough time, it gave error "the c: volume has an error, and needs to be fixed" kkept on fixing but no use.
i descided to format again, so i went in DOS and coudnt format or access to any of the drives.
I did the entire thing 3 times, then i gave up and formatted in NTFS, installed winxp.
But i regret my descision of getting this new HDD. i need win98se (i know its old and obselete), i but i need it as my 2nd OS. I dont like wmy win98se disk goin in the trash bin.

[retsam]

here is m$'s writeup on NTFS.... its a good read..

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkc_fil_tdrn.asp

[retsam]

I dont like NTFS, coz it doesnt support older OS's like win98se.
I bought this new 250GB HDD last week, and had a tough time installing it.
I tried the traditional method of making partions through DOS, but the disk was detected as a 40GB disk.
got frustrated, and created partitions through winxp (by plugging in old 80GB HDD). got new drives.
Now since i didnt want NTFS, i entered DOS, Successfully formatted into FAT32, drives which also said 78GB on each drive. While installing Win98, i had a tough time, it gave error "the c: volume has an error, and needs to be fixed" kkept on fixing but no use.
i descided to format again, so i went in DOS and coudnt format or access to any of the drives.
I did the entire thing 3 times, then i gave up and formatted in NTFS, installed winxp.
But i regret my descision of getting this new HDD. i need win98se (i know its old and obselete), i but i need it as my 2nd OS. I dont like wmy win98se disk goin in the trash bin.
__________________there are dos ntfs drivers that you can get to read and write ntfs volumes in win98.... here is the website...

http://wininternals.com/Products/AdministratorsPak/

[rohit]

OMG, i didnt know about this. Thanx a lot for the Info.
I'll try it out.

[retsam]

let me know how you make out with this ...

[gnutux]

funny, I have a hard-drive that is formatted to FAT32 (thru Linux's partition manager) to 80 GB. It is a data bridge so that Linux and Windows can read and write to it. Also, I did the same with my cousin's data drive which is 160GB, so I don't think 36 GB is the FAT32 limit.

Also, the good thing w/ FAT32 is that there's data-loss recovery, which means that it can recover data that is lost during the transfer.

xboxrulz

[retsam]

funny, I have a hard-drive that is formatted to FAT32 (thru Linux's partition manager) to 80 GB. It is a data bridge so that Linux and Windows can read and write to it. Also, I did the same with my cousin's data drive which is 160GB, so I don't think 36 GB is the FAT32 limit.

Also, the good thing w/ FAT32 is that there's data-loss recovery, which means that it can recover data that is lost during the transfer.

xboxrulz
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkc_fil_tdrn.asp

Maximum Sizes on FAT32 Volumes
A FAT32 volume must have a minimum of 65,527 clusters. Windows XP Professional can format FAT32 volumes up to 32 GB, but it can mount larger FAT32 volumes created by other operating systems. Table 13.6 lists FAT32 size limits
wow even m$ says you need *nux to install fat32 with larger volumes

[supra]

Well this maybe a little late but this is my 2 cents.

Fat32
Pros:
-Doesnt take up alot of space disk space (good for small disks like flash/memeory sticks & floppy disks etc.)
-Can be read by almost all operating systems.

Cons:
-Limited to small harddisks
-No Security (cant set user rights)

NTFS
Pros:
-Not limited to small harddisks
-Has security feature (can set user rights)
-Faster

Cons:
-Takes up a bit of disk space
-Can't be read by all operating systems

[j0j081]

I am using NTFS on a GPT (not MBR) disk and it's working great.

[gnutux]

actually Supra, FAT32 takes more space than NTFS. It's because how the filesystem has been written into the disc drive. If I have a file that is supposingly 8 MB, will be about 10-12 MB on FAT32 on the disc. On NTFS, it would be from 5-8MB depends if you have compressed the partition or not.

[Starscream]

FAT32 can only support drives up to 36(?) GB in size.

That's wrong, MS has enforced a fake limit in 2k and XP.

I'm sitting here with a 250 gig hard drive formatted fat 32 done with good ole FDISK and Format in DOS.

The reason this drive is fat 32 is because I need to be able to access it in DOS.

[retsam]

That's wrong, MS has enforced a fake limit in 2k and XP.yep, they wanted to promote NTFS...thats why to put into place...

[rohit]

That's wrong, MS has enforced a fake limit in 2k and XP.

I'm sitting here with a 250 gig hard drive formatted fat 32 done with good ole FDISK and Format in DOS.

The reason this drive is fat 32 is because I need to be able to access it in DOS.
OMFG, how did you do it. I wasted 16 hours (did the same things 3 times). and gave up on this stupid 250GB HDD sata Segate disk. I hate FDISK after that. I googled, but got negative results.
PLZ temme how did you do it. plz.

Retsam, i didnt read the entire thing (yesterday) on that link.
From the SW, i can jus create a DOS environment in NT systems. Its somewhat of what i want to do. i need to put win98se on this system. how will NTFSDOS Professional hwlp me???
Another thing, if a make a drive FAT32, and install win98se in it, will i b able acess other ntfs drives on it? (i know its not possible, but with help of a program or sumthin?)


EDIT: Will/does Vista support FAT32?

[rohit]

Sorry double post!!

[agentkay]

Back in the day when I installed Windows 2000 Pro on my 80GB HD, I decided to use FAT32, because I was using Win98se on another HD in the same system, and I wanted to be able to use the "big" HD with both OS´s. Anyway, I managed to format the 80GB drive without any problem with its full size and IIRC, I used an updated fdisk from the Win98se system, it included some fix that removed a previous size limit for FAT32 partitions.

Anyway, now that I´m using only NTFS on both drives, I am wondering how much sense does it make to get rid of the 8.3 file system support, which is suppose to further increase performance of the drives and (NTFS) file system itself? I assume old DOS applications wouldn´t work anymore for sure, but how about all the games and programs that have still most of their files in the 8.3, wouldn´t the system be able to deal with those files or even recognice them? That would truely suck and not be worth it (in my case). Did anyone ever try this performance mod?

Thanks again for all the help and responses. I appreaciate every post. :)

[rohit]

I used the updated fdisk. But it has a limitation of 137GB/127GB.
I faced numerous problems.. that day.

[Starscream]

I used the updated fdisk. But it has a limitation of 137GB/127GB.
I faced numerous problems.. that day.

Fdisk and format don't display the info for drives that big properly. BUT they both work fine with them, it's covered in the ms knowledge base. If you just make the one partition and format it you'll have no issues at all.

[rohit]

I know abou that.
I made 3 partitions through DOS.
i entered DOS, Successfully formatted into FAT32, 3 drives which also said 78GB on each drive. While installing Win98, i had a tough time, it gave error "the c: volume has an error, and needs to be fixed" kkept on fixing but no use.
i descided to format again, so i went in DOS and coudnt format or access to any of the drives.. yes i couldnt access the drives, it kept giving "Abort, Retry, Fail"
I did the entire thing 3 times, then i gave up

[Starscream]

Well if for whatever reason you're not having any success with fdisk and format just go get partition magic it works nicely.

It doesn't cost much and it's easily available otherwise if you don't want to buy it.

[rohit]

i never tried/heard of partition magic. ill give it a try later.