Fat32 vs NTFS for file size

[Woodchuck]

I'm this has been asked many times before but I can't find an answer. I
noticed file size is limited to 4gig when HD is formatted to FAT32. What is
the file size limit for NFTS? And can a drive with data be converted... and
how? The reason I ask is I have drive "D" reserved for video editing
projects and the 4gig limit is only good for about 17 minutes of video
capture.

Thanks

 

[Groove]

Woodchuck said this...

I'm this has been asked many times before but I can't find an answer. I
noticed file size is limited to 4gig when HD is formatted to FAT32. What
is the file size limit for NFTS?

Off the top of my head, I believe the limit on NTFS is 2 Terabytes.
That should keep you going for a while.

 

[Groove]

Woodchuck said this...

And can a drive with data be converted... and
how?

http://www.ntfs.com/quest3.htm

however, I believe under certain circumstances there can be performance
issues after conversion. I'm not certain about the specifics here so I
would suggest you get further advice before proceeding.

 

[George A Hamilton]

I'm this has been asked many times before but I can't find an answer.
I

noticed file size is limited to 4gig when HD is formatted to FAT32. What is
the file size limit for NFTS? And can a drive with data be converted... and
how? The reason I ask is I have drive "D" reserved for video editing
projects and the 4gig limit is only good for about 17 minutes of video
capture.

Thanks

It is possible to have a partition up to (I think!) 32 GB with FAT32.
The 4GB limit may apply to FAT16. Partition Magic can convert a
partition from FAT to NTFS.

 

[Ralph Wade Phillips]

Howdy!

It is possible to have a partition up to (I think!) 32 GB with FAT32.

Think again. I've got 120G FAT32 partitions on machines out there
(special cases).

Now, 2K's and XP's disk management limits to 32GB, true. But that's
not a partition limit ...

The 4GB limit is a FILE SIZE limit, not a PARTITION SIZE limit.

The 4GB limit may apply to FAT16. Partition Magic can convert a
partition from FAT to NTFS.

4GB is hard to do on a 2GB partition ...

Albeit FAT16 under NT class OSes can be 4GB.

You can also convert from FAT32 to NTFS using the supplied CONVERT
utility, that's with XP.

RwP

 

[Ralph Wade Phillips]

Howdy!

Woodchuck said this...


http://www.ntfs.com/quest3.htm

however, I believe under certain circumstances there can be performance
issues after conversion. I'm not certain about the specifics here so I
would suggest you get further advice before proceeding.

There can be.

For your info, and for the OP, here's the skinny ...

If a partition is not cylinder aligned (that is, if it doesn't start
on sector 1 of head 0 of the cylinder), then the CONVERT utility uses 512
byte allocation units. If it IS cylinder aligned, then it uses 4K
allocation units.

The cure is to make sure the partition is cylinder aligned first.

So - how to do this?

What I do is to run BootItNG ( from http://www.bootitng.com ) in
stand-alone mode (not installing to the hard disk), and let it align the
partition(s).

It's 34.95USD but with a 30 day free trial.

RwP

 

[Groove]

Ralph Wade Phillips said this...

For your info, and for the OP, here's the skinny ...

which is now read, inwardly (mostly) digested, filed and much appreciated.
My thanks RWP.

 

[Ralph Wade Phillips]

Howdy!

Ralph Wade Phillips said this...


which is now read, inwardly (mostly) digested, filed and much appreciated.
My thanks RWP.

NP. Glad to help increase the signal and reduce the noise in this
tired old world! <B-)

RwP

 

[Tony Roe]

Howdy!



Think again. I've got 120G FAT32 partitions on machines out there
(special cases).

Now, 2K's and XP's disk management limits to 32GB, true. But that's
not a partition limit ...

Quite right - larger partitions are OK for a fixed HDD under Win98, but best to
stick to 32GB for other 2k/XP or for removable HDDs or strange things will
probably happen.

Tony (remove the "_" to reply by email)

 

[John E. Carty]

Quite right - larger partitions are OK for a fixed HDD under Win98, but best to
stick to 32GB for other 2k/XP or for removable HDDs or strange things will
probably happen.

If you call a wasteful cluster size strange, then yes. Other then that I've
never seen anything 'strange' from using larger partitions as FAT32 under XP