NTFS vs. FAT32

GoNYIsles · TweakNOOB Joined: 02 Jun 2003 Posts: 60

Is the speed difference between NTFS and FAT32 noticeable? I'm currently using FAT32 and was wondering if the conversion would be beneficial.

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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Be reminded that if you go to NTFS, you won't be able to go back to FAT32.

Just to let you know before you take the plunge.
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DMW · SirTweaksabit Joined: 16 May 2002 Posts: 457

partition the drive...a smaller 10 gig partition for the OS is adequate.
since win2K and XP...I always started loading the OS in an NTFS partition, while loading games and MP3s or such other software on separate partitions...
it makes keeping the installs of the games or saved MP3s easier to access from other non NTFS systems...for file sharing and such.
you can select what type of file allocation table you wish to use from the disk management menu after xp is loaded.

In addition to what peer said, NTFS systems also save information and system changes "on the fly" and makes for a better recovery....it's one of the reasons XP will restart and not have to run scan disk like 98 does...
only truly severe errors, usually associated with device failures will cause a report by XP.

if you wanted a quick "how to".....it could be arranged in a follow-up post.

icyrus76 · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 9:36 pm Post subject:

Nathan said

robin338 · TweakNOOB Joined: 16 Jun 2003 Posts: 34

Going back to FAT32 should not be a problem with something like PowerQuest Partition Magic. You will lose some NTFS information, so beware. Sometimes it doesn't work due to NTFS having data in memory which hasn't been written yet. I have done it a few times from on the same computer, running 98Lite and Win2k on FAT32 on the same drive (98 has to be formatted first, unless things have changed). The combo works well, especially if you have some apps that need 98.

Roger · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2003 12:43 pm Post subject:

we run our office on NTFS (over a hundred users) and i got three of my six systems on my home LAN on NTFS as well. i highly recommend NTFS. the reasons are many. even for a home system, NTFS outperforms FAT32. the only way you'll see a performance hit is if you are using compression and your system isn't that powerful... that has been my experience, although some of you may have seen otherwise. i've got compression running on one of my partitions on a P4 1.8 and i'm not seeing any difference to speak of. (the partition is where i store my music and such, not executable files. although i have compressed folders which house exes and never seen much of a delay.)
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bushman · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Aug 2003 Posts: 3

I have used FAT32 and partitioning my HDD for smaller sizes. I was wondering about NTFS why can't you convert back? What happens if you try?

DMW · SirTweaksabit Joined: 16 May 2002 Posts: 457

it's a little misleading the way it reads.....
converting back within windows is a hassle unless a third part y app. is used.

but if you delete the partition, then re-create it....you can format it any way you wish...FAT/FAT32/NTFS.....etc.

ya know....I haven't tried it in some time...I have a few blank partitions here...I'll give it a try and see what comes of it.........

bushman · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Aug 2003 Posts: 3

I thought I was doing something that you were suppose to do. Cause i deleted the partition and then formatted using FAT32. I was worried by the ONCE YOU GO NTFS YOU CANNT GO BACK cause i thought it did some low level format or something to the drive. I have never really use NTFS format.

Thank you for the info.

bushman

Geoff · TweakNOOB Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Posts: 1 Location: SoCal

Hi All,

Definitely not a wizard here and would appreciate some advice.

Fed up with win2k system not functioning properly because of virus issues and anti-virus software and decided to reinstall the OS.

The drive in question is partitioned into an 8 gig C: system drive (NTFS) and the remaining 32 gigs is the F: drive (FAT 32) I use for storage files.

The reinstall trashed the C drive but left the the F drive files intact.
The last boot/recovery disk (FAT 32) I have contains some programs and and by loading it would simplify having to install alot of programs...so my question is:

Should I reformat the C drive system partition back to FAT 32 so I will be able to this 'orginal' boot/recovery disk or should I leave well enough alone and just spend more time installing all those programs over again??

Geoff

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Keep it NTFS, it's more secure and stable than Fat32.

Completely format the c: Drive and reinstall all the programs.
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