NTFS or FAT system?

[f1king]

What the hell is the difference between the two file systems can someone explain??

 

[Solid Fro]

FAT and FAT32 allocation tables are used for older operating systems like Windows 3x, 9x, ME, and NT 3.5.1. NTFS is used for new and network operating systems like NT 4, 2000, and XP. FAT can use volumes up to 4GB. FAT32 can use up to 2TB (terra-byte). NTFS is only limited by the size of the drive. If you have the option, use NTFS, especially with XP.

 

[LoudMusic]

DING DING DING! VZ, you are building high respect from me (:

However ...

According to Microsoft, for NTFS "The maximum partition size is 2TB (terabyte, a trillion bytes). NTFS actually has an upper limit of 16 exabytes (quintillion bytes, or 16 million TB), but since current industry standard limits the Partition Tables to 2 to the 32nd power sectors (with 512B sectors, that's 2 TB), the actual current upper limit is 2 TB."

Basically it's still a 32bit file system. 64bit file systems like BeFS (from Be Inc, makers of BeOS) is closer to that "unlimited" stage you were talking about (:

So the real differance is ... FAT32 is nothing more than a file system, where NTFS has file permissions so that you can control access to files and directories at the file system level, rather than at the operating system level. This is a really nice thing for big time file servers.

There are additional features like, increased data integrity that makes your data more stable at higher volumes. I believe it is also much quicker than FAT.

 

[Pako]

For sound/video recording, I haven't found an advantage of using one over the other, besides being able to have larger file sizes. In performance tests, I had one SCSI 34 gb formated NTFS while the second one was FAT32. There was no detectable differences between the two in my application.

 

[LoudMusic]

Yeah, for single user you won't really notice a difference. Well, not until the FAT goes kablewy and you have no data anymore (:

 

[Race Idiot]

Never had a problem with FAT or NTFS myself.

Anyway Does XP use NTFS version 5?

 

[Shannon]

Originally posted by Viper Zero
FAT and FAT32 allocation tables are used for older operating systems like Windows 3x, 9x, ME, and NT 3.5.1. NTFS is used for new and network operating systems like NT 4, 2000, and XP. FAT can use volumes up to 4GB. FAT32 can use up to 2TB (terra-byte). NTFS is only limited by the size of the drive. If you have the option, use NTFS, especially with XP.

Wait a minute. So, 2000 uses NTFS. Mine is FAT32 and I'm currently running 2000 Professional. Is there a way to convert from FAT32 to NTFS?

 

[duo17]

These are all things that FAT32 lacks over NTFS:

File security
Access rights can be assigned to files and directories, allowing users full access, partial access or no access at all to data on the hard disk.

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.

Fault tolerance
An enhanced ability to seamlessly respond to unexpected hardware and software errors.

Taken from thescreensavers.com

OA

 

[Shannon]

Whats does OA mean?

 

[duo17]

They are my initials.

OA

 

[Shannon]

Oh.

SE

 

[Race Idiot]

Originally posted by duo17
These are all things that FAT32 lacks over NTFS:

File security
Access rights can be assigned to files and directories, allowing users full access, partial access or no access at all to data on the hard disk.

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.

Fault tolerance
An enhanced ability to seamlessly respond to unexpected hardware and software errors.

Taken from thescreensavers.com

OA

Yeah but not all these features are available depending on what version NTFS you have. Apparently the win2k machine im using at the moment has NTFS version 3 (according to PQ magic) I know that disk compression is one of the newer features, but im not sure what the other ones are. Although I havent heard of Sparse files, or File streams. Maybe I just havent been reading up enough on this stuuf.

 

[Solid Fro]

Eddy, search in the Windows 2000 Help for NTFS, It should tell you how to convert.

 

[Pako]

(Off Topic - Sort of...)

Viper Zero,

Just wanted to congradulate you in becoming a sparkle in LoudMusic's eye!

Keep up the technical articulation, it is a benifit to us all.

 

[Shannon]

Originally posted by Viper Zero
Eddy, search in the Windows 2000 Help for NTFS, It should tell you how to convert.

Nevermind, me mate from London (Race Idiot) told me how...

 

[Shannon]

Originally posted by Pako
(Off Topic - Sort of...)

Viper Zero,

Just wanted to congradulate you in becoming a sparkle in LoudMusic's eye!

Keep up the technical articulation, it is a benifit to us all.

Yes, ViperZero is the new MistaX of GTP. :thumbsup:

 

[Pako]

Originally posted by Eddy

Yes, ViperZero is the new MistaX of GTP. :thumbsup:

I don't know about that, seems more like the ViperZero of

(Off Topic)

ViperZero,

What's your technical background (if any) or are you just a technology spunge?

 

[Solid Fro]

Originally posted by Eddy

Yes, ViperZero is the new MistaX of GTP. :thumbsup:

Damn straight! MistaX was a complete bore.

Technology background? None, I guess. I've taken high school classes for VB and C++ and right now I'm in the networking and repair class. We're studying to take the A+ exam at the end of the year. I know most stuff just by reading about it or experiencing it for myself. My uncle also helped me out too.

I'm not sure that becoming a sparkle in LoudMusic's eye is a good thing or not.

 

[Race Idiot]

What you have the A+ in america?

Whoa, didnt know that. Im studying hopefully for the win2k mcse`s but because im at work, I usually dont. Althoght before I was working I was going to do the A+ and N+

 

[Tom M]

Originally posted by Pako
For sound/video recording, I haven't found an advantage of using one over the other, besides being able to have larger file sizes. In performance tests, I had one SCSI 34 gb formated NTFS while the second one was FAT32. There was no detectable differences between the two in my application.

Hehe, that would really stink if you were to do video encoding onto your FAT32 drive, and have your encoding sessions end prematurely. Good thing no one rubs in things like that.