NTFS or Fat32 which is right?

[Patti Barden]

Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and click
"Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

That depends entirely on how you are going to use it. If it will only
be used in Windows XP, yes, NTFS is best. But if you might want to use
it on a computer running an operating system that is not NTFS-aware,
then FAT32 is necessary.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"

That's what it currently is.

yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and click
"Format" it says "File System NTFS".

That's what it will format it as, unless you change it there.

Which is right?

Both.

 

[Bert Hyman]

In "Patti Barden"

Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB
in size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says
"File System: FAT32"

If I understand what you're saying here, that's telling you that the
drive is currently formatted as FAT32.

yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and
click "Format" it says "File System NTFS".

If that's the same display that I think it is, you're being told that if
you choose to format that drive right now, it will be formatted as NTFS.

If you haven't started using the drive yet and there's no data on it,
formatting it as NTFS would be a good idea.

 

[JS]

Hi
I have purchased an External Hard Disk Drive, usb2 & main power, 1TB in
size.
The very limited instruction manual says it is best to run it in NTFS.

When I go to MyComputer, on the left column under "Details" it says "File
System: FAT32"
yet when I right click on the external hard disk drive letter (F) and
click "Format" it says "File System NTFS".

Which is right?
Patti

Most external USB drives come pre-formatted as exFAT
which is a newer version of FAT32.

FAT32 is limited in two ways:
1) Max Partition size is 32GB.
2) Max size of a single file is 4GB.

exFAT allows for the creations partitions larger that 32GB,
1TB in your case.

You can test if your drive is already formatted from the vendor
by simply copying a file from your internal to external drive. If you
have a file larger than 4GB your can try copying that also and see
if you receive any error/warning messages.

Now as to which is better (NTFS of FAT32) for your external
drive (assuming you do not have data already stored on the drive).
I would do the following:

1) Delete the existing factory formatted partition.
2) Create a 32GB FAT32 partition/logical drive and assign it a
volume name of: 'SHARED'. Anything you want to move from one
computer to the next can be stored on this partition/logical drive.
3) With the remaining free space, format as a single NTFS partition.
Now you have the best of both worlds.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Most external USB drives come pre-formatted as exFAT
which is a newer version of FAT32.

FAT32 is limited in two ways:
1) Max Partition size is 32GB.

Not true. WinXP, by design, cannot create/format a FAT32 partition
greater than 32GB, but that's a deliberate limitation of the OS, not the
file system.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

FAT32 is limited in two ways:
1) Max Partition size is 32GB.

Sorry, that's not correct. It's true that Windows XP can not create a
FAT32 partition greater than 32GB, but external utilities can, and
Windows XP can use such partitions just fine.

2) Max size of a single file is 4GB.

Correct.

 

[Tim Meddick]

There is a reason why removable drives are nearly always formatted FAT - because one
of the big advantages of a removable drive is that you can remove it!!

Having it kept formatted as FAT, you would be able to connect it to nearly any other
PC which would be able to identify and browse it's contents. It's compatibility with
other computers would be virtually universal.

This would include PCs with other operating systems like Win98 or LINUX-based and
MACs as well.

If you changed it's format to NTFS and did not set file and folder permissions to
include "Everyone" as read-only - then your removable drive would only be accessible
on your own machine (and possibly other NT-based OSs under 'Administrator')

Plus, if you need to gain access to your backup after your own PC has permanently
broken, then you may well find, again, you have problems "seeing" the drive when
connected to in another computer...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[JS]

Note in my reply: "2) Create a 32GB FAT32 partition/logical drive and assign
it a
volume name of: 'SHARED'. Anything you want to move from one
computer to the next can be stored on this partition/logical drive.
3) With the remaining free space, format as a single NTFS partition.
Now you have the best of both worlds."

Last time I checked XP could still create a 32GB FAT32 partition!

 

[Patti Barden]

Thanks David. What I am asking is which is giving me the right info - My
Computer under Details - it says "file system Fat32" or the Drive letter
assigned to the external hard disk which says it says "format system NTFS."

To me it is giving two different bits of info not asking me which one is
better.
I am a complete dunce on these things.
Patti

 

[Patti Barden]

OK Group,
I have read all the replies. I think I get it that the external hard drive
is formatted
in FAT32 and my desktop is formatted in NTFS (by the computer doctor).

So- since I bought the external hard disk to copy what is on the desk top
for a backup
and it has 71GB on Drive C (no separate partitions) will the external hard
drive
be recognized by another computer if I keep it in FAT32?

Am I confused about the word volume? If XP only handles volumes of 32GB
why does my desktop using XP work?
Sorry,
Patti

 

[Patti Barden]

Thank you Tim and all the others who answered my plea.
Formatting my external hard disk in NTFS has been puzzling me for exactly
the reason you site. The reason for purchasing the external hard disk was to
avoid losing all my data, emails, etc. in case of a complete computer
failure as had happened to me recently. Also, I had hoped to be able to put
this copy of my computer's hard disk on a new computer, should I need one.

So from what you say it would be more sensible to keep the external disk in
FAT32? -The instruction manual says "FAT32 is possible up to 2TB. In
Windows XP, you can format a FAT 32 volume up to 32GB only. Does not support
domains." However, I already have 71GB on my computer so it sounds like FAT
32 would not handle this size?

Note - I just read Ken Blake "Sorry, that's not correct. It's true that
Windows XP can not create a
FAT32 partition greater than 32GB, but external utilities can, and
Windows XP can use such partitions just fine."

Patti

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

OK Group,
I have read all the replies. I think I get it that the external hard drive
is formatted
in FAT32 and my desktop is formatted in NTFS (by the computer doctor).

So- since I bought the external hard disk to copy what is on the desk top
for a backup
and it has 71GB on Drive C (no separate partitions) will the external hard
drive
be recognized by another computer if I keep it in FAT32?


Yes.


Am I confused about the word volume? If XP only handles volumes of 32GB

No, that's not correct. It handles much larger volumes without a
problem. The restriction, for FAT32 volumes only, is that it can not
*create* a volume larger than 32GB.

why does my desktop using XP work?

See above.

 

[Tim Meddick]

Patti,
If you KNOW that the two reasons that you cite are going to be the ONLY
functions this drive will be needed for - then, you could format it as NTFS (saving
you from getting any third-party software)

All this would mean that you would not be able to take it to a friend's house and
share stuff on it - if their PC was running old Win98 (an increasingly rare
situation).

But you would be fine transferring files from any NT-based system (like XP) to
another - PROVIDING THAT : - straight AFTER formatting (while the drive is still
blank) right-click in explorer and select "Properties" > "Security" and give the
user "Everyone" "Full Control"

You may need to create the user "Everyone" by clicking on the "Add" button and
entering the user-name "Everyone" - then chackmark the box marked "Full Control".

Setting the security "permissions" in the "root" of an empty drive - ensures that all
sub-folders and files carry the same level of security.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Mike]

Most external USB drives come pre-formatted as exFAT
which is a newer version of FAT32.

Not true, I have recently purchase both a 1TB & a 1.5TB drive (both Seagate)
and they both came formatted in NTFS.
Regards Mike.

 

[Tim Meddick]

When you talk about the "security" of a removable drive, you are not considering it's
most valuable attribute - that it IS removable and therefore *could* be used to
transport files to other systems.

Once formatted NTFS, the drive loses it's near universal compatibility with other
hardware...

Consideration is the issue here. What will the drive be primarily used for?

If it will only be used as a backup drive for the system it is connected to - then -
by all means format to NTFS

However, if you have any thought of slipping the drive into your pocket to share all
those holiday snaps and videos with your colleagues at work or with your elderly
aunt - think again before changing from FAT32

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[JS]

Not true, I have recently purchase both a 1TB & a 1.5TB drive (both
Seagate) and they both came formatted in NTFS.
Regards Mike.

Mike, I said "Most" and not "All".

My 1TB external drive was original formatted FAT32.
I changed it to a combination of several NTFS partitions and one 32GB FAT32
partition.

Why multiple NTFS partition:
Well I use it to Image backup multiple computers,
so each PC has it's own dedicated partition to store the image files.

 

[Patti Barden]

Patti,
If you KNOW that the two reasons that you cite are going to be the
ONLY functions this drive will be needed for - then, you could format it
as NTFS (saving you from getting any third-party software)

All this would mean that you would not be able to take it to a friend's
house and share stuff on it - if their PC was running old Win98 (an
increasingly rare situation).

But you would be fine transferring files from any NT-based system (like
XP) to another - PROVIDING THAT : - straight AFTER formatting (while the
drive is still blank) right-click in explorer and select "Properties" >
"Security" and give the user "Everyone" "Full Control"

Tim, when you say "right-click on explorer" , where do you mean?

You may need to create the user "Everyone" by clicking on the "Add" button
and entering the user-name "Everyone" - then chackmark the box marked
"Full Control".

Setting the security "permissions" in the "root" of an empty drive -
ensures that all sub-folders and files carry the same level of security.

The two sentences above, over my head. I have never set up a admistrator
accourt or
user names. I have looked at Computer Management but still confused. I am
afraid of
locking myself out of external hard drive if I need it in case of current
computer disk
failure or use it on another computer.
Patti