What is the difference between FAT32 and NTFS file systems for your hard drive? Is one preferable?
484692
FATxx is an old file system that is simple, well-documented, readable from a large number of OSs, and supported by a wide range of tools.\n\nNTFS is a newer file system that is feature-rich, proprietary, undocumented at the raw bytes level, and subject to change - even within Service Packs of the same OS version.  \n\n\nNTFS may be faster...\n   - smaller RAM footprint as avoids large FAT held in RAM\n   - indexed design more efficient for many files per directory\n   - small file data embedded in dir level, avoids seek to data chain\n   - above factors make fragmentation less onerous than for FATxx\n   - 4k cluster size matches processor's natural paging size\n...or slower...\n   - extra overhead of security checks, compression, encryption\n   - small clusters may fragment data cluster chains\n\nNTFS may be safer...\n   - transaction rollback cleanly undoes interrupted operations\n   - file-level permissions can protect data against malware etc.\n   - automatically "fixes" failing clusters on the fly (controversial)\n...or more at risk...\n   - no interactive file system checker (a la Scandisk) for NTFS\n   - no maintenance OS for NTFS\n   - malware can drill right through NTFS protection, e.g. Witty\n   - transaction rollback does not preserve user data\n   - transaction rollback does not help other causes of corruption\n   - more limited range of maintenance tools\n   - automatically "fixes" failing clusters on the fly (controversial)\n\nNTFS may be more space-efficient...\n   - smaller cluster size than FAT32 above 8G\n   - may include data of small files within the directory level\n   - NTFS's bitmap structure is smaller than FAT32's dual FAT\n   - sparse files and compression can reduce data space usage\n...or less so...\n   - NTFS has large MFT structure\n   - larger per-file directory metadata space\n\n\nYou are obliged to use FATxx if you need access from DOS mode or Win9x, e.g. in a dual-boot scenario.\n\nYou are obliged to use NTFS if you need support for files over 4G in size, hard drives over 137G in size, and/or you need to implement some of NT's security management that devolves down to NTFS.
273260
It's not really a problem, this is often done when you want to have a machine dual boot, lets say... windows xp, and windows 98. Xp uses ntfs, and 98 uses Fat32.
822499
There is no need for the external drive to be NTFS....NTFS recognises FAT32. You can back up from a computer which has a NTFS hard drive onto a FAT32 external hard drive (in an enclosure). The NTFS will see the FAT 32 Drive & you can drag & drop both ways.\nA Computer using FAT32 cannot recognise /backup to a NTFS external drive but NTFS can recognise & backup onto a FAT32 aswell as a NTFS external drive.\nThis is why you are having difficulty finding an NTFS external drive because FAT32 (unlike NTFS) is compatible for computers using either NTFS or FAT32 & is the best one to get.
123559
from the command prompt\n\nconvert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs\n\ne.g.:  convert c: /fs:ntfs
344028
FAT, or File Allocation Table, is a file system used by Windows. FAT32 is a 32 bit variation of FAT.\n\n'File Allocation Table (FAT) is a patented[1] file system developed by Microsoft for MS-DOS and is the primary file system for consumer versions of Microsoft Windows up to and including Windows Me.\n\nThe FAT file system is considered relatively uncomplicated, and is consequently supported by virtually all existing operating systems for personal computers. This ubiquity makes it an ideal format for floppy disks and solid-state memory cards, and a convenient way of sharing data between disparate operating systems installed on the same computer (a multiboot environment).\n\nThe most common implementations have a serious drawback in that when files are deleted and new files written to the media, their fragments tend to become scattered over the entire media making reading and writing a slow process. De-fragmentation is one solution to this, but is often a lengthy process in itself and has to be repeated regularly to keep the FAT file system clean.'
289888
FAT (FAT16 and FAT32) and NTFS are two methods for storing data on a hard drive. \n\nThe hard drive has to either be formatted using one or the other, or can be converted from one to the other (usually FAT to NTFS) using a system tool. \n\nWHAT IS FAT?\n\nFAT is basically the same file system that has been used on PCs since the early DOS days, with a number of modifications made to allow it to work with larger hard drives. \n\nWHAT IS NTFS?\n\nNTFS was originally developed to work in Windows NT, to support large hard drives from the get-go (up to 16 billion gigabytes per volume!) and to guard against the kinds of errors that routinely wreck FAT volumes. NTFS allows you to use larger drives, secure directories and files against unauthorized users, has better data-protection technologies, and doesn't succumb to errors or fragmentation as easily as FAT/FAT32. \n\nWhat I Recommend...\n\nNTFS is a better choice overall at this point and most computers running Windows are running a version of Windows that can handle it (i.e. Windows NT or 2000 or XP or 2003). \n\nIf you're using one of the above OS, the best bet is to format or convert all drives in your system to NTFS. \n\nNTFS has slightly better management of free space to keep fragmentation from becoming as pronounced too soon. \n\n\nTIP:\nThe only time you should bother with FAT32 on a Windows 2000 system is if you are dual-booting between Windows 2000 and Windows 98/Me, or otherwise sharing a hard drive with a system that cannot read NTFS.
43022
FAT [ File Allocation Table ] is the storage format used on Windows 3.X, FAT32 is Windows 9.X. \n\nFAT being 16bit and FAT32 32bit obviously. \n\nFAT had limitations in that it could only handle had drives partitioned into 2Gb sectors and file names of up to 11 characters [ including the extension ]. \n\nFAT32 saw this improve with alowing file names of up to 255 characters and much larger disk paritions [ not sure of the exact size but I know its big ]. \n\nNTFS [ New Technology File System ] was intorduced with the NT operating systems [ like 2000, ME, XP ] and is basicaly a more efficiant version of FAT32. It also allows large contigous files and better features. \n\nNTFS files cannot be read on a system using an O/S older than NT. A NT O/S is not supposed to be able to read or locate files on a FAT storage device but there is a driver that can be downloaded that give NT the ability to do this.
758975
format command creates a file system in the disk partition. In case of windows it is either FAT32 or NTFS depending on your choice.
316120
no ntfs does not work with linux, NTFS is a file system supported  by windows and linux has its own file system.
486105
Nope.  FAT32 can be made into NTFS (on Windows XP) but NTFS cannot be reverted back to FAT32.
707849
Besides all the differences between NTFS and FAT32 file systems also note that there is no such a rigid restriction on the size of the file in NTFS file system. As for FAT32 file system the maximum size of the file in it is only 4 gigs.
992080
Any version of Linux should be able to read a NTFS and FAT32 File System.  There should be no time limits or other measures limiting you.\n\nMake sure you've mounted the volumes correctly, or you will not be able to view them.\n\nPlease provide us with the current version/distribution of Linux you're using, because the GUI will be different per distribution.\n\nIf you require additional assistance, email us at techsupport@thepcmonitor.com
211307
FAT = File Allocation Table\nNTFS = NT File System\n\nThe major differences (performance vise) are\n\nSecurity:\nFAT32 provides very little security. A user with access to a drive using FAT32 has access to the files on that drive.\n\nNTFS allows the use of NTFS Permissions. It's much more difficult to implement, but folder and file access can be controlled individually, down to an an extreme degree if necessary. The down side of using NTFS Permissions is the chance for error and screwing up the system is greatly magnified.\n\nWindows XP Professional supports file encryption.\n  \n\nCompatibility:\nNTFS volumes are not recognized by Windows 95/98/Me. This is only a concern when the system is set up for dual or multi-booting. FAT32 must be be used for any drives that must be accessed when the computer is booted from Windows 95/98 or Windows Me.\n\nAn additional note to the previous statement. Users on the network have access to shared folders no matter what disk format is being used or what version of Windows is installed.\n\nFAT and FAT32 volumes can be converted to NTFS volumes. NTFS cannot be converted to FAT32 without reformatting.\n  \n\nSpace Efficiency:\nNTFS supports disk quotas, allowing you to control the amount of disk usage on a per user basis.\n\nNTFS supports file compression. FAT32 does not.\n\nOnce you pass the 8GB partition size, NTFS handles space management much more efficiently than FAT32. Cluster sizes play an important part in how much disk space is wasted storing files. NTFS provides smaller cluster sizes and less disk space waste than FAT32.\n\nIn Windows XP, the maximum partition size that can be created using FAT32 is 32GB. This increases to 16TB (terabytes) using NTFS. There is a workaround for the 32GB limitation under FAT32, but it is a nuisance especially considering the size of drives currently being manufactured.\n  \nReliability:\nFAT32 drives are much more susceptible to disk errors.\n\nNTFS volumes have the ability to recover from errors more readily than similar FAT32 volumes.\n\nLog files are created under NTFS which can be used for automatic file system repairs.\n\nNTFS supports dynamic cluster remapping for bad sectors and prevent them from being used in the future.
376964
in Fdisk there is a Non-Dos option...use that to delete an NTFS or any other Non-Dos Partition.
324430
Yes in newer versions of Windows, type the following at a command prompt:\n\nconvert c: /fs:ntfs\n\nJust make sure it's something you want to do.
1054612
there is no limitation........ and theoratically its about 160GB......... but at now many tools are available which makes your harddrive NTFS even if you have more than this bytes. but exactly research telling about more tahn 32TB
888542
Is it a new HD, or an old one from an other computer? how is it tied into your computer, USB, Fire wire, or Slave in the tower?? Is it FAT32, or NTSF format? Is a Windows OS installed on it, which one? Info need to help....