Reformating external HDD, need advice.

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paskowitz

paskowitz

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thepatriots
I have a 320gb WD My Book external HDD that is FAT32. Unfortunately I have a lot of files one my laptop HDD that are above 4gb that I need to back up. So (I think) I need to convert my external to NTFS. Since I am not a tech savvy guy I have some questions... What should I set the allocation unit size to? What are the effects of NTFS? Risks of conversion? (I know I will loose all my data). Will my PS3 only recognize FAT32 drives?
 
paskowitz
I have a 320gb WD My Book external HDD that is FAT32. Unfortunately I have a lot of files one my laptop HDD that are above 4gb that I need to back up. So (I think) I need to convert my external to NTFS.
Click to expand...
For files larger than 4Gb, you think correctly.
paskowitz
Since I am not a tech savvy guy I have some questions... What should I set the allocation unit size to? What are the effects of NTFS? Risks of conversion? (I know I will loose all my data).
Click to expand...
I left the allocation unit size at the default setting (whatever that was). As for the other two parts, I'm not sure what you are getting at. As far as I know, short of wiping the drive, there is no problem going between FAT32 and NTFS and vice versa.
paskowitz
Will my PS3 only recognize FAT32 drives?
Click to expand...
Correct. NTFS and the PS3 don't play nice together. :p

My suggestion is use something like Swissknife, partition the drive however you feel (50-50, 60-40, etc.) and have one of the partitions formatted to NTFS for backups and the other for FAT32 for the PS3. That's how I have my 500Gb set up and it works great.
 
If not for the PS3 part, you don't have to format a FAT32 drive to make it NTFS. Just use the following command line at the command prompt:

convert X: /fs:ntfs

Where X is the letter of the drive your wanting to convert. You won't lose any data this way. Also, it can't be done the reverse way.
 
TB
For files larger than 4Gb, you think correctly.

I left the allocation unit size at the default setting (whatever that was). As for the other two parts, I'm not sure what you are getting at. As far as I know, short of wiping the drive, there is no problem going between FAT32 and NTFS and vice versa.

Correct. NTFS and the PS3 don't play nice together. :p

My suggestion is use something like Swissknife, partition the drive however you feel (50-50, 60-40, etc.) and have one of the partitions formatted to NTFS for backups and the other for FAT32 for the PS3. That's how I have my 500Gb set up and it works great.
Click to expand...

I have a partitioned HDD at 60-40 split. It is the original HDD from my 60GB PS3. Works without flaws.
 

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