Backup from NTFS to Fat32

  • Thread starter Thread starter HowdyDoody
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HowdyDoody

I am running home version of xp, and have bought an external drive. My computer has NTFS file system, and the exterior
drive is formatted Fat32. My question, can nI backup from NTFS to Fat32 and restore as well, with the integrity of
whatever I back up, or must I reformat the exterior drive to NTFS.

Thanks in advance.

MikeF
 
you can back up files on a drive formatted in NTFS to a drive formatted in
FAT32 and restore to original drive
peter
HowdyDoody said:
I am running home version of xp, and have bought an external drive. My
Click to expand...
computer has NTFS file system, and the exterior
drive is formatted Fat32. My question, can nI backup from NTFS to Fat32
Click to expand...
and restore as well, with the integrity of
 
But you will loose certain rights and permissions only
made for NTFS. If you're not fussed about it, FAT32 is
fine.
 
HowdyDoody said:
I am running home version of xp, and have bought an external drive. My
Click to expand...
computer has NTFS file system, and the exterior
drive is formatted Fat32. My question, can nI backup from NTFS to Fat32
Click to expand...
and restore as well, with the integrity of
whatever I back up, or must I reformat the exterior drive to NTFS.
Click to expand...

Yep. Do it often, the same way, myself.
 
Craqon said:
But you will loose certain rights and permissions only
made for NTFS. If you're not fussed about it, FAT32 is
fine.
Click to expand...

Depends how he chose to backup. I lose nothing the way I do it, C drive NTFS
and D drive FAT32.
 
it works but there are practical problems.
1. files are limited to 4gb thus some backup programs stop or hang. others
ask for another file name to span.
2. the amount of space per file is less in ntfs.
HowdyDoody said:
I am running home version of xp, and have bought an external drive. My
Click to expand...
computer has NTFS file system, and the exterior
drive is formatted Fat32. My question, can nI backup from NTFS to Fat32
Click to expand...
and restore as well, with the integrity of
 
HowdyDoody said:
I am running home version of xp, and have bought an external drive. My computer has NTFS file system, and the exterior
drive is formatted Fat32. My question, can nI backup from NTFS to Fat32 and restore as well, with the integrity of
whatever I back up, or must I reformat the exterior drive to NTFS.

Thanks in advance.

MikeF
Click to expand...

You can, but unless you need to use this external drive in another OS
(Win9x, Linux etc), then stick with NTFS, it's a far more robust file
systems. External drives can be disconnected ad-hoc, and this could
totally trash a FAT filesystem, but a NTFS filesystem has journelling,
and therefore massivly reduces chances of losing everything on the drive .
 
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