Windows XP

[GrowingSlowly]

Hi everyone. I ahve been trying to ge my system (computer that is) running and thought that I would vear off my well worn path with a question about the XP software that I bought to "fix my problems". XP lets you format the HD in NTSF or FAT#@. Which is better and why? Also, can you safely partition a HD and have one of each? Lastly, If you do go with NTSF and don't like it, can you reformat with FAT32?

:confused: :t :x

Thanks. This should be interesting.

[Midknyte]

in a nutshell
FAT32 - backwards compatible to win9x systems
NTFS - better security (NTFS file and folder permissions), encryption, compression, quotas, mount points

There are going to be a lot of other reasons, but those are the ones I can just spout off.

you can have your partitions in any file allocation table type, it doesn't have to be all the same on one drive.

you can reformat the drive from ntfs to fat32, but you would lose all your data. you can CONVERT from fat32 to ntfs by using the command:

convert c: /fs:ntfs

BTW, if the partition is larger than 32GB, xp will force you to use ntfs.

[bubbleflap]

ntfs (new technology file system) is veeery nice. As mentioned it has security encryption etc etc. The way forward really is ntfs, so don't bother with fat32.

[danee]

Originally posted by Midknyte
in a nutshell
FAT32 - backwards compatible to win9x systems
NTFS - better security (NTFS file and folder permissions), encryption, compression, quotas, mount points

There are going to be a lot of other reasons, but those are the ones I can just spout off.

you can have your partitions in any file allocation table type, it doesn't have to be all the same on one drive.

you can reformat the drive from ntfs to fat32, but you would lose all your data. you can CONVERT from fat32 to ntfs by using the command:
BTW, if the partition is larger than 32GB, xp will force you to use ntfs.

The major point I point out it the backwards compatability with FAT32. What function is this machine serving, is what i would use to determine what partition table.
E.g: If it were for games, then Id say run with FAT32.
As to the other OS's... the've all been either type of table outside of 2K & XP which will allow both.
Dos / Win 3.x - FAT16
Win 9.x - FAT32
Win NT - NTFS
Win 2K/XP - FAT32 OR NTFS