Necessary to create a FAT32 partition?

[Guest]

I read from a forum that MS recommends having a FAT32 partition (size?) on
the harddisk. Is it true? Why?

I've just formatted my new hdd and created 2 NTFS partitions. One for boot
partition (60gig), the other for my personal files (20gig). How do I create a
FAT32 partition (if needed) on my already formatted and partitioned hdd?

 

[Terry]

On 11/22/2005 9:26 AM On a whim, tommi pounded out on the keyboard

I read from a forum that MS recommends having a FAT32 partition (size?) on
the harddisk. Is it true? Why?

I've just formatted my new hdd and created 2 NTFS partitions. One for boot
partition (60gig), the other for my personal files (20gig). How do I create a
FAT32 partition (if needed) on my already formatted and partitioned hdd?

You will need a 3rd party program like Partition Magic from Symantec
(formerly from Power Quest)

I don't see any reason to have a fat32 partition unless you add a boot
manager like Boot Magic (included with Partition Magic) which requires it.

--
Terry

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Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

 

[Don MI]

I read from a forum that MS recommends having a FAT32 partition (size?) on
the harddisk. Is it true? Why?

I've just formatted my new hdd and created 2 NTFS partitions. One for boot
partition (60gig), the other for my personal files (20gig). How do I
create a
FAT32 partition (if needed) on my already formatted and partitioned hdd?

To create any new partition on a hard drive you must have unallocated space
on that hard drive. Unallocated space is space not allocated to an existing
partition. In your case you must delete your existing partitions {and loose
all data on them};and create three new partitions. Or, use a third party
program, such as Partition Magic, to reduce the size of one your existing
partitions to create unallocated space for a new partition.

Expect in special cases there is no need to have a FAT32 partition. Without
knowing the context of the forum recommendation, I have no idea what the
recommendations is based on. BTW, all my internal and external hard drives
have only NTFS partitions.

Don

 

[Guest]

This is the link to the forum in question. 8th post in that thread.

http://forums.hardwarezone.com/showthread.php?t=1153479

Sorry more texts to be read...

 

[Nepatsfan]

First off, if that guy moved his page file to a different
partition on the same hard drive, he would probably see a
reduction, not an increase, in performance. Secondly, where he
got the idea that the page file should reside on a FAT32
partition is anybody's guess. Do yourself a favor and ignore
what he's suggesting.

If you're looking for info with regard to the page file, take a
look at this article:

Virtual Memory in Windows XP
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

The only reason that you would want to have a FAT32 partition
on your hard drive would be if you were dual booting with
Windows 98 or ME.

The only comment I'd add would be that I think you're going to
find that you've allocated too much disk space on your HD for
the operating system and not enough for your data files. I
would have set it up the exact opposite, 20 GB for XP +
applications and 60 GB for my files and folders. It's an easy
process to relocate the My Documents folder to a second
partition.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I read from a forum that MS recommends having a FAT32 partition (size?) on
the harddisk.

What forum? Make sure that you don't blindly accept any other computer
advice you read there.

Is it true?

No, it isn't true.

I've just formatted my new hdd and created 2 NTFS partitions. One for boot
partition (60gig), the other for my personal files (20gig). How do I create a
FAT32 partition (if needed) on my already formatted and partitioned hdd?

You don't, without a third party partitioning tool. But as there's no
need to create a FAT32 partition, the question becomes moot.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

This is the link to the forum in question. 8th post in that thread.

http://forums.hardwarezone.com/showthread.php?t=1153479

Too bad the poster didn't provide a link to that alleged Microsoft
article that allegedly advises the swap file be placed on a separate
FAT32 partition. It would have been good for a laugh, if nothing else.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Plato]

I read from a forum that MS recommends having a FAT32 partition (size?) on
the harddisk. Is it true? Why?

I've just formatted my new hdd and created 2 NTFS partitions. One for boot
partition (60gig), the other for my personal files (20gig). How do I create a
FAT32 partition (if needed) on my already formatted and partitioned hdd?

No need to change what you already setup.

 

[Jonny]

No. The only performance benefit would be the allocation unit size will be
larger with FAT32. This is great for large files, like the swapfile.
Sounds like I'm agreeing? Read on.

A simple rule I use for the swapfile, if moving, is the location any faster.
The only recognized location would be a separate hard drive on the first
partition of the that hard drive with no other file access used here. A
hard drive using a different bus system that handles simultaneous access
(ide doesn't) is even better on top of that. Example: scsi.

If moving the swapfile, leaving part of it on the Windows partition leaves
it to force fragmentation of both the swapfile there and files modified and
newly written there. Whether or not the swapfile itself improves
performance if divided between two locations remains to be seen. And, its
primary purpose for moving the swapfile is defused. But, last I heard, pigs
can't fly.

 

[Guest]

Hi Bruce ,

The poster made a reference to this article
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314482 which supposedly led him to his
decision...

His comment is the 12th post in the same thread.

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys! Greatly appreciate all your comments. )

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi Bruce ,

The poster made a reference to this article
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314482 which supposedly led him to his
decision...

His comment is the 12th post in the same thread.

The key phrase is "... on a different partition *and* on a different
hard drive..." Unless you have a separate hard drive that isn't to be
used for anything else, and especially if your applications don't even
use the page file extensively, I seriously doubt that you'll make any
significant performance gains.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH