Do I want ntfs?

[adl6009]

I have the option of having the new computer formated in fat 32 or ntfs with winxp. Which do I want? What are some of the pro and cons?
When I get it I will be transfering about 30 gigs of data from the old computer. And then it will reside on my home network with one win me machine and maybe one w-95 machine. I will be using this new one for personal use, games, web, photos and maybe some video work.
Thanks.

[Epyon9283]

Unless you plan on dual booting, NTFS is the way to go. Its just better than FAT32 on so many levels.

[muchmark]

Some of the advantages of NTFS over FAT32

Encryption
NTFS can automatically encrypt and decrypt file data as it is read and written to the disk
Disk compression
File and directory compression can be performed without using any third party software, which saves space, while still allowing for transparent access and operation to the user.
Support for large hard disks
We're talking very large. Try a theoretical limit of 16 Exabytes, and up to 2 Terabytes.
File names
Native support of long file names and a 16-bit character standard called Unicode (likely the next generation ASCII)
Storage quotas
Disk quotas can be assigned that limit the amount of disk space users can access on a partition.
Sparse files
Let the user assign and reserve hard disk space to specific files.
File streams
Support for multiple data streams

Overview of FAT, HPFS, and NTFS File Systems (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q100108)

[dmoltrup]

When I did my WinXP install on a virgin drive, it prompted me on the format type I wanted. My options were "NTFS", or "Quick NTFS". Is there any long-term difference between these, or is it like a format compared to a quick format on a 3 1/2" floppy?

[hyborn]

MU HUH HUH...

Virgin

:eek:

[smily_03]

NTFS is also wonderful if you're on a network and want so share files to just specific users. Whereas with windows 9x and ME you can either share files as just read only, write, and those with just one password that would be the same with everyone, with NTFS you can create a separate account and password for each user and only share files and directories with those specific users. This is great if you are a college student or someone with a lot of network users on their network, because instead of giving 2,000 people access to your computer you can give it out to only a select few.

[Dragonjucr]

Basically, NTFS has FILE level security where as FAT only can support SHARE level security.

[smily_03]

that's a much easier (and less wordy and technical) way to put it. thank you!

[adl6009]

Thanks, after all the responses and a little bit of reading I think ntfs is the only way to go.

[Balthazor]

I've read some of the technobabble on the pro's & con's of NTFS vs. FAT, but when it comes to the question of which is better, they universally come to the same conclusion: it depends. Big help.

So I'm looking for the opinion from someone who's used both regarding whether there's any real performance difference between NTFS and FAT. I frankly don't give a rip about file security, compression, or any of that jazz. I just want whichever one will offer the best performance. So if anyone can offer an opinion, I'd be much obliged.

[araaraara]

FAT offers better perfomance than NTFS, especially on a drive with a lot of files. I have tried running WinXP on both and when I had it on a FAT partition, it booted way faster and many programs loaded faster. I am using NTFS now though, because I want the security. I have also used NTFS on my dad's computer because I compressed his HD.

[Doomer]

Keep in mind that, with ntfs, if XP goes fubar on you, you'll have to jump through hoops to access your data. With fat32, just boot to dos and copy away.

[adl6009]

Hey Doomer- why is that? Is dos not compatible with ntfs? You would think that if you can boot to dos with win xp that microsoft would include the capability to read the hard drive.:confused:

[dmoltrup]

Originally posted by adl6009
Hey Doomer- why is that? Is dos not compatible with ntfs? You would think that if you can boot to dos with win xp that microsoft would include the capability to read the hard drive.:confused: Sorry... When you "boot to DOS", you aren't really in DOS. You're in a program that looks and acts like DOS. It's all smoke and mirrors.

[rockinmale]

If you plan on playing games on that machine. I wouldnt be installing ntfs on it. There's more than a few titles that are not compatible with ntfs.

[downrodeo]

For my needs, which will be better. I will be dual booting between win2k professional and linux mandrake 8.2, i wont be playing games too much, but it is an option. I have a 40 gig WD 5400rpm.

[araaraara]

You should use FAT32 if you want to be able to use data from the W2K partition while you are in Linux. You can use NTFS and Linux, I have done it before. I used to have NTFS,FAT32,EXT3, and SWAP partitions on my harddrive when I had WinXP/2K/98 and Linux Redhat/Mandrake.