Hdd Format Types

[02coled]

hello
another quick question what are the differences between the hard drive format types FAT, FAT 32 and NFTS is there any speed differences or compression differences.
thanks
damian cole

 

[scarecrow]

FAT is the old DOS filesystem, with very limited support for filename codings, and being able to handle no more than 512MB of overall data.
FAT32 is an extended FAT filesystem, still with some limitations (maximum filesize 4 GB with the default cluster size, bad space management and loads of slack space with large partitions (larger than 25 GB, and that's a reason Windows 2000/XP refuse to format a FAT32 partition larger than 32GB, although in theory this is possible with no real danger of losing data).
NTFS is the native NT/2000/XP/2003 filesystem, and unless you have VERY serious reasons to use something else (e.g. common data access in a dualbooting system) it is a one-way choice. Surely enough, NTFS isn't "perfect" either, but way preferrable to any other filesystem supported by Windoze.

 

[LTR12101B]

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/partCluster-c.html
FAT is the default opttion for partitions of 512MB or less, abut can be used for up to 2GB (and with serious reservations, up to 4GB using a cluster size unsupported in some operating systems).

The recent patent ruling, though it seems the scope may only cover long file names in FAT, potentailly removes one of the few advantages of FAT (FAT16), in that it was essentaially a free for all with de-facto cross operating system compatibility.


Agree entirely, on NTFS, it's the default file system for WinXP, and generally the most effective, with FAT32 a second choice if the data needs to be accessed ubder operating systems where NTFS support means extra issues.

A dedicated swap drive or partition, is probably best formatted in FAT16 (up to 2GB) or FAT32 with cluster size increased, though increasing RAM is a better option, if your system ends up leaning that heavily on the swapfile.

From Win95 OSR2 up to Windows ME, the only choice for larger partitions was FAT32.