NTFS Vs. FAT32 FILE SYSTEM

[anandk]

NTFS Vs. FAT32 FILE SYSTEM : some basic info

NTFS (NT File System) or FAT32 (File Allocation Table) File System are the two alternatives :

You Should Use FAT32 if :
-u want to install more than one operating system on your computer.
-ur hard drive is smaller than 32GB.

Go for NTFS if :
-u want enhanced file security.
-u need better disk compression.
-u r running only one operating system.
-ur hard drive is larger than 32GB

though the speed difference, for larger drives between the two is minimal, NTFS is the newer, more stable and more secure file system. if you format your hard drive in NTFS and password protect it, no one can access
the information on the drive without the correct password, even if they physically steal it. Thus NTFS is the prefered alternative.

[it_waaznt_me]

Good post. Also check this:
NTFS Vs FAT

[damnthenet]

Is there any other new file system than NTFS?
Is the file systems same for diff os?

[hemant_mathur]

What about the Winfs? Whats new in that and how does it compare with NTFS and FAT?

[Raiden Bee]

yes. You may find this link helpful

http://news.com.com/New+Windows+file...3-5844046.html

Apart from this there are the ext2 and ext3 fs on Linux and CDFS for CDs

[Ramakrishnan]

I had only NTFS drives with 80GB sata hard drive, but still I installed Linux along with Win XP pro. So requirement of Fat 32 for multiple os is not correct.

[triangle]

If you are also interested in WinFS structure I suppose you can find much useful info on it here http://www.ntfs.com/

[prankie]

Does changing file system to NTFS stops scandisk????
coz in my pc after the day i changed hdd's filesystem to NTFS, startup scandisc, which runs when improper shutdown is done, has stopped coming..

[Vishal Gupta]

Absolutely NO!!!
I hv Windows XP installed on NTFS partition and here scandisk runs w/o ne problem...

[ymhatre]

i hav fat 32 currently..
n have partition magic
will changing to NTFS Now using partition magic will effect or alter my systems performance...

i have no intension of formatting my HDD....

[Vishal Gupta]

U should not hv ne problems at all.
But u can also do it using convert command of DOS, no need of Partition magic or ne other 3rd party s/w...

[prankie]

Converts FAT volumes to NTFS.

here's the command

CONVERT volume /FS:NTFS [/V] [/CvtArea:filename] [/NoSecurity] [/X]

volume Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon),
mount point, or volume name.
/FS:NTFS Specifies that the volume is to be converted to NTFS.
/V Specifies that Convert should be run in verbose mode.
/CvtArea:filename
Specifies a contiguous file in the root directory to be
the place holder for NTFS system files.
/NoSecurity Specifies the converted files and directories security
settings to be accessible by everyone.
/X Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary.
All opened handles to the volume would then be invalid.

[webofunni]

I am using win XP with FAT32 file system . Now i wish to convert my file system into NTFS .IF there is any method to convert my file sm without formating and deleting the partition .

[mehulved]

Look at the post above. It has described what you need to do. Your data will be intact but still it's good to keep a backup in case of anything going wrong.

[Rollercoaster]

hey..
When we look at the properties of a file...
we see two sizes one is 'size' and the other is 'size on disk'... and the second one is always higher.. is this due to some kind of overhead or what

can anyone elaborate....

[anandk]

Size refers to the files actual byte count. Size on disk refers to the amount of cluster allocation the file is taking up.
detailed discussion here http://forums.aliensoup.com/showthread.php?t=6985

[keves2002]

hi,

How can i check which File system is used in my pc?, i mean FAT or NTFS,

-keves-

[keves2002]

-Sorry Double post -
-keves-

[abracadabra]

Originally Posted by keves2002

hi,

How can i check which File system is used in my pc?, i mean FAT or NTFS,

-keves-

open my computer and right click and open properties and youll come to know it

[keves2002]

Originally Posted by abracadabra

open my computer and right click and open properties and youll come to know it

i am using win 98, this time i didnt find it, can u please provide more help

-keves-

[kumarmohit]

Originally Posted by prankie

Does changing file system to NTFS stops scandisk????
coz in my pc after the day i changed hdd's filesystem to NTFS, startup scandisc, which runs when improper shutdown is done, has stopped coming..

See he scan disk does no sop bu need o use scandisk in NTFS is vesy low because NFS is journalised FS so its only he journal's inegri ha needs remain consistent instead of FAT32 where there is no journal and the integrity of enitre disc must be cared for... so scan disk runs but rarely in NTFS if you dont do a clean shutdown or reboot

[Darthvader]

open my computer>right click on any of ur partitions and it shud show u ur filsystem

[mehulved]

Originally Posted by keves2002

i am using win 98, this time i didnt find it, can u please provide more help

-keves-

Windows 98 doesn't support NTFS. So, you will have FAT.

[Darthvader]

Originally Posted by tech_your_future

Windows 98 doesn't support NTFS. So, you will have FAT.

There is no question of ntfs in win 98 since he was asking how to view wat fs his drives uses in 98.

[Manshahia]

Originally Posted by anandk

You Should Use FAT32 if :
-u want to install more than one operating system on your computer.
-ur hard drive is smaller than 32GB.

Go for NTFS if :
-u want enhanced file security.
-u need better disk compression.
-u r running only one operating system.
-ur hard drive is larger than 32GB

1. I always dual boot my system with Win Xp and Linux. Which is the best File System for me?
2. ALso i hav heard that there is no problem of fragmentation in NTFS. Is it True??
3. Wud i b able to run simple softwares on my NTFS system??
4. Any Speed Differential??

Originally Posted by hemant_mathur

What about the Winfs? Whats new in that and how does it compare with NTFS and FAT?

WinFS is dead. Microsoft threw it outside the window.

[mehulved]

Originally Posted by Manshahia

1. I always dual boot my system with Win Xp and Linux. Which is the best File System for me?

Atleast one FAT32 partition, though there's no such problem with writing on ntfs, in linux now. But, preferably your C:\ should be NTFS

Originally Posted by Manshahia

3. Wud i b able to run simple softwares on my NTFS system??

Why not?

[Arsenal_Gunners]

I have xp on ntfs with a 10 gb partition ready for vista.Will Vista work on this file system.

[Pathik]

yup vimal vista ll work on it.. It needs min 8gb ntfs partition

[Arsenal_Gunners]

^^will 10 gb do for ultimate.
off topic
I have an xp partition of 7 GB(thought that will be enough)
Is there any way to change the default location of my docs(or docs.and settings
completely) as I am really short on space on C: and cant even hibernate.