NTFS vs. FAT32

I've been told that if I want to exchange files via zip disk between mpc and pc, I have to format my C: harddrive in FAT32.
I asked some computer headz and they said that there will occur problems with windows 2000, if the harddrive ain't formatted in NTFS...
since I'll buy a new pc today, my question is: is that true?
and if it is, how do you handle the problem?

replies really appreciated!!

PEACE

from what I know, ya can easily transfer files from FAT 32 formatted drives to NTFS formatted drives and the other way around

the best thing you could do if you really want a FAT 32 formatted partition, is to create two different partitions, one in NTFS format and the other in FAT 32

if you don't know how to partition a drive, ask your re seller, it's really easy to do....

I'm at work and the laptop I use it Win 2k partitioned and formatted FAT32. I haven't had any problems. You don't need to reformat your HD but just be knowledgable of the practices that go along with the transfering of files to MPC. I have XP at home w/internal 250ZIP and an internal 250ZIP in my 2kxl. I have no problems. Search the forums as MANY people have posted techniques and solutions to these ZIP/OS/format problems you might be facing in the future..

Every problem with regards to transferring from any PC OS to any MPC is already solved. It just hasn't been announced.

Stay tuned.

for the average user, there's no need to format your C drive to NTFS. FAT32 is fine and will not cause any problems

MPC-Tutor wrote:for the average user, there's no need to format your C drive to NTFS. FAT32 is fine and will not cause any problems

A FAT32 partition will cause your files to become fragmented at a much faster rate which will cause performance issues. There's no reason to use FAT32 for anyone who has an option to use NTFS. As far as I know, if you format your Zip disks on your MPC, there shouldn't be any issues transferring files back and forth.

"for the average user, there's no need to format your C drive to NTFS"

There is not any reason for the average user to be expect to even know how to do this. 99% of the users use the pre-installed configuration that they received their PC (which now is NTFS). Most of us are musicians, not PC techinicians. If I was a profession musician, I would like to think that I would not need to concern myself with such technicalities and just make music.

Fortunately there are people around that have much easier solutions than reformatting hard drives.

plus there's a 2gig file size limit with Fat32....NTFS has a default size of 2TB tweakable to 16EB (exabytes) - AFAIK NTFS is better for multimedia. B

"plus there's a 2gig file size limit with Fat32"

Wrong. Look it up again.

fat 32 has a 4 gig limit

there's still a 2 gig file size limit for certain file types to support legacy fat 16 which has a 2.1 gig file size limit - you look it up before schooling me..ive been doing this professionally longer than you've been doing this as a novice, i can send you my A+ Book if you want.

e.g. an avi 1.0 file has a 2 gig limit even on NTFS , avi 2.0 has a 4 gig limit on a FAT 32 drive and fill up the entire volume on NTFS

hendrix:
"plus there's a 2gig file size limit with Fat32"

hendrix:
"fat 32 has a 4 gig limit"

So what is your final answer? I know mine.

i should have been more clear...i apologize
ntfs has a 4 gig limit...but a lot of file types have a 2 gig limit due to the legacy fat 16 file type...i'll do some tests and see if wave files have this limit...b

MPC-Tutor wrote:for the average user, there's no need to format your C drive to NTFS. FAT32 is fine and will not cause any problems

NTFS provides more security as far as encrypting of files which is not available on FAT32. You can dual boot your hardrive with NTFS and FAT32(dual boot) if need be. You can go from FAT32 to NTFS without any problems but to do the opposite you will have to re-format your HD which will wipe out all of your files. My pc is formatted in NTFS and I have no problems transferring my files from mp to pc though.

NTFS = FILE\FOLDER\DISK COMPRESSION

This is very usefull for all those freakn' MP3's and Audio files...saving precious disk space...


NTFS = FILE\FOLDER security

Very important to lock down your PC agains Viruses, Trojans and hackers that might access your pc via Kazza etc.,


TWO VERY GOOD REASONS TO IMPLEMENT NTFS IF YOURS ISN"T

hendrix wrote:i should have been more clear...i apologize
ntfs has a 4 gig limit...but a lot of file types have a 2 gig limit due to the legacy fat 16 file type...i'll do some tests and see if wave files have this limit...b

Sorry to dredge up the past, but I was searchin' for some info and found the following...

copied from Microsoft.

FAT(FAT16) = Maximum file size is 2 GB. Volumes from floppy disk size up to 4 gigabytes (GB).

FAT32 = Maximum file size is 4 GB. Volumes from 512 MB to 2 TB.
In Windows XP, you can format a FAT32 volume up to 32 GB only.

NTFS = File size limited only by size of volume. Recommended minimum volume size is approximately 10 megabytes (MB). Volumes much larger than 2 terabytes (TB) are possible. Cannot be used on floppy disks.

NTFS is the recommended file system for the following reasons:

NTFS is more powerful than FAT or FAT32, and includes features required for hosting Active Directory as well as other important security features. You can use features such as Active Directory and domain-based security only by choosing NTFS as your file system.
It is easy to convert partitions to NTFS. The Setup program makes conversion easy, whether your partitions used FAT, FAT32, or the older version of NTFS. This kind of conversion keeps your files intact (unlike formatting a partition). If you do not need to keep your files intact and you have a FAT or FAT32 partition, it is recommended that you format the partition with NTFS rather than convert from FAT or FAT32. Formatting a partition erases all data on the partition and allows you to start with a clean drive.
Whether a partition is formatted with NTFS or converted using the convert command, NTFS is the better choice of file system. For more information about Convert.exe, after completing Setup, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then press ENTER. In the command window, type help convert and then press ENTER.

In order to maintain access control on files and folders and support limited accounts, you must use NTFS. If you use FAT32, all users will have access to all files on your hard drive, regardless of their account type (administrator, limited, or standard.)
NTFS is the file system that works best with large disks. (The next best file system for large disks is FAT32.)

There is one situation in which you might want to choose FAT or FAT32 as your file system. If it is necessary to have a computer that will sometimes run an earlier version of Windows and other times run Windows XP, you will need to have a FAT or FAT32 partition as the primary (or startup) partition on the hard disk. Most earlier versions of Windows cannot access a partition if it uses the latest version of NTFS. The two exceptions are Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or later. Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or later has access to partitions with the latest version of NTFS, but with some limitations: It cannot access files that have been stored using NTFS features that did not exist when Windows NT 4.0 was released.

For anything other than a situation with multiple operating systems, however, the recommended file system is NTFS