NTFS or FAT32

[Jerboy]

My C:, D:, E: and Fread: all partitions) were rendered total loss by virus attack and since I wasn't able to recovery antying, I reformatted all the hard drives and factory re-certified the drive(using Genuine factory program from Maxtor) and I'm starting everything all over again. This time I'm thinking about using Windows 2000 Pro or 2000 Advanced Server(which is better when using on personal computer?). Even though I read NTFS vs FAT32 all over the place, I really don't see why its such a big deal other than it cause inconvinience. Should I go NTFS or FAT32? I don't need the extra security function, I don't want to deal with ADS(alternate data stream) related problems such as ADS virus and I'd like to be able to access the drive from other computer should the need arise..


Is NTFS considerable imrpovement over FAT32 on a home computer?

 

[CSoup]

<< My C:, D:, E: and Fread: all partitions) were rendered total loss by virus attack and since I wasn't able to recovery antying, I reformatted all the hard drives and factory re-certified the drive(using Genuine factory program from Maxtor) and I'm starting everything all over again. This time I'm thinking about using Windows 2000 Pro or 2000 Advanced Server(which is better when using on personal computer?). Even though I read NTFS vs FAT32 all over the place, I really don't see why its such a big deal other than it cause inconvinience. Should I go NTFS or FAT32? I don't need the extra security function, I don't want to deal with ADS(alternate data stream) related problems such as ADS virus and I'd like to be able to access the drive from other computer should the need arise..


Is NTFS considerable imrpovement over FAT32 on a home computer? >>



yes, NTFS is much better than FAT32. It can handle smaller cluster sizes while still being fast. It also is a jouraling file system, so you have less chance of corruption from frozen computers or sudden power loss.

 

[nghtmare24]

<< My C:, D:, E: and Fread: all partitions) were rendered total loss by virus attack and since I wasn't able to recovery antying, I reformatted all the hard drives and factory re-certified the drive(using Genuine factory program from Maxtor) and I'm starting everything all over again. This time I'm thinking about using Windows 2000 Pro or 2000 Advanced Server(which is better when using on personal computer?). Even though I read NTFS vs FAT32 all over the place, I really don't see why its such a big deal other than it cause inconvinience. Should I go NTFS or FAT32? I don't need the extra security function, I don't want to deal with ADS(alternate data stream) related problems such as ADS virus and I'd like to be able to access the drive from other computer should the need arise..


Is NTFS considerable imrpovement over FAT32 on a home computer? >>



For the question about Win2kPro and Advanced Server, personally, I'd go with Win2k Pro, my guess is you won't be needed most of what Advanced offers.

I'm no expert, but hear me out.

There are other advantages of NTFS over FAT32 than just security. One of them being the fact that the directory stucture's laid out within the NTFS tables are meant for quicker access to files. Its 3:00am, and I don't remember any of terms at the moment.

As for ease of use on a home network. For the machine you'd like to change, maybe to NTFS, if you're going to run any other OS's on that machine, meaning Win98, or lower, and you'd like see one of the drives when in Win98, you'll have to use FAT on that harddrive.

If this machine is on a network, and you'd like the other machines to see the files on the NTFS machine, regardless of the OS on the other machines, they will be able to see NTFS files through your protocols and junk.

Personally, if the machine is going to be straight Win2k/XP I'd go ahead and NTFS it, its a much better file system, and isn't as easily corruptable as FAT32. I believe if anything in the FAT32 tables gets damages, you can kiss it all goodbye.

 

[n0cmonkey]

REMOVE THE LINK TO THE FAQs!!!

There are still morons asking the same stupid questions over and over.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

i'll be prick #2


<< Before you post be sure to read the AnandTech FAQs for answers to commonly asked hardware and software questions. >>


and um..do a search for fat32 and/or ntfs, you will find tons of threads.

you are gonna give n0c a heart attack :Q




















drive letters

 

[n0cmonkey]

http://subscriber.anandtech.com/mes...&highlight_key=y&keyword1=NTFS&keyword2=FAT32
http://subscriber.anandtech.com/mes...&highlight_key=y&keyword1=NTFS&keyword2=FAT32
http://subscriber.anandtech.com/mes...&highlight_key=y&keyword1=NTFS&keyword2=FAT32

Those were the current threads with the general topic: NTFS or FAT32?

I wont bother listing the archived messages or the "FAT32 to NTFS?" threads.

 

[AndyHui]

Sigh.....

All that effort....and for NOTHING!!!

We have a link at the top of EVERY forum; we have members telling others to read the FAQs, we have a link at the top of the main AnandTech page, we have links in the Featured Box on the main page, we have an entire article index at the top of GH....

AND WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE ASKING THE SAME QUESTIONS OVER AND OVER!!!

I might as well just stop writing FAQs since no one wants to read them.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

D'ya think we could get away with having an AMD-INTEL flame FAQ as well? People could read that instead of posting in our lovely forums

Oh, and if you need to ask If Win2k server is for you (This applies to advanced and datacentre more so) then it's not.

And while I remember, in the context of Win2k server, ADS (which requires at least two NTFS partitions) stands for Active Directory Services. Is there such a thing as an Alternate Data Stream? It sounds cool, and if there is, I want one!

 

[Jerboy]

ACTUALLY I DID read the FAQ, and also used Google... I got the main idea, but wanted to see if it makes much difference in real life home use.

 

[Mitzi]

<< ACTUALLY I DID read the FAQ, and also used Google... I got the main idea, but wanted to see if it makes much difference in real life home use. >>



No it doesn't.

 

[shurato]

maybe he just wanted random opinions from people....i read the faq but i dont take it for gold. perhaps you shoulda changed your title to something else since you were also mainly asking about whether using advanced server or professional.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< maybe he just wanted random opinions from people....i read the faq but i dont take it for gold. perhaps you shoulda changed your title to something else since you were also mainly asking about whether using advanced server or professional. >>



A quick search of the forums would show you great opinions from Windows geniuses such as Psychoholic, Saltin, AndyHui, and more.

 

[CSFM]

LOL... n0cmonkey is going to have a heart attack! Cricky!

FAQ's ARE VERY INFORMATIVE. Read them! PLEASE.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< LOL... n0cmonkey is going to have a heart attack! Cricky! FAQ's ARE VERY INFORMATIVE. Read them! PLEASE. >>



Nah, brain hemmorage...

 

[mOrphine]

how does one make 2845 posts on anandtech forum and not know about 1) FAQ and 2) the SEARCH button? :Q

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

<< how does one make 2845 posts on anandtech forum and not know about 1) FAQ and 2) the SEARCH button? :Q

>>


ATOT

 

[n0cmonkey]

<<

<< how does one make 2845 posts on anandtech forum and not know about 1) FAQ and 2) the SEARCH button? :Q

>>

ATOT >>




BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!

 

[CSFM]

n0cmonkey I felt I wasn't pulling my weight... so I have added the FAQ link to my own signature.... don't want to see your head explode!

I think we should all have this link in our signature!

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

<< n0cmonkey I felt I wasn't pulling my weight... so I have added the FAQ link to my own signature.... don't want to see your head explode!

I think we should all have this link in our signature! >>


not a bad idea....my tupperware pics are out of date anyways

 

[GroundedSailor]

I can sympathize with Jerboy. I am also planning to upgrade from W98 to W2k and have been looking into NTFS vs FAT32. Have read the FAQ?s and searched posts but still have a few questions. For e.g., all the articles mainly talk about the positive aspects for NTFS. I?m more interested in finding out about the negative issues,. Like what, if any, are backward compatibility problems with NTFS - in terms of hardware, software and games? Will I be able to use ghost with W2k (I have Norton Sysmtemworks pro 2001) et. etc.

I had considered posting a few questions but seeing the kind of unhelpful & critical reponses posted by Elite & Platinum members I decided not to. Even Andy could have been more helpful in his post instead of simply lamenting.

As to the links provided by n0cmonkey ? how do nonsubscibers get to see them?

Go ahead and flame if you wish ? you only make yourself look silly to others.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< I can sympathize with Jerboy. I am also planning to upgrade from W98 to W2k and have been looking into NTFS vs FAT32. Have read the FAQ?s and searched posts but still have a few questions. >>



Questions are fine as long as they are not answered by the FAQ, ie. "FAT32 or NTFS?".



<< For e.g., all the articles mainly talk about the positive aspects for NTFS. I?m more interested in finding out about the negative issues,. Like what, if any, are backward compatibility problems with NTFS - in terms of hardware, >>



Does the hardware work with Win2k/XP?



<< software >>



Works fine with Win2k/XP



<< and games? >>



Do they work with Win2k/XP?



<< Will I be able to use ghost with W2k (I have Norton Sysmtemworks pro 2001) et. etc. >>



What does Norton say?



<< I had considered posting a few questions but seeing the kind of unhelpful & critical reponses posted by Elite & Platinum members I decided not to. >>



The idiotic question asked ("Fat32 or NTFS?") is essentially answered. The threads I linked/posted/whatever I did were just a couple of the most recent. There are long threads that are archived at this point giving plenty of opinions from such esteemed members such as Psychoholic.



<< Even Andy could have been more helpful in his post instead of simply lamenting. >>



He spent countless hours Im sure working on those FAQs only to have them ignored time and time again. I dont blame him.



<< As to the links provided by n0cmonkey ? how do nonsubscibers get to see them? >>



Subscriber, or do what has been mentioned COUNTLESS times, change subscriber to forums. Its a simple fix. What does your URL look like on this page? Probably something like: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=34&threadid=715271. Well, mine looks like: http://subscriber.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=34&threadid=715271. Pretty simple huh?



<< Go ahead and flame if you wish ? you only make yourself look silly to others. >>



Clowns are silly, and everyone loves clowns. Answer the same question over and over, provide a way for people to get the answers without asking, watch as the servers fill up with the same question day in and day out and then see how it feels to be let down like this. If you cant RTFM you probably shouldnt be using a computer.

 

[AndyHui]

GroundedSailor: your additional questions are answered in another FAQ: Using FAT32 and NTFS on the same system.

There's a risk in trying to answer EVERYTHING in one FAQ...it becomes too long and people won't read it. The FAT32 vs NTFS FAQ is way too long already. I try to put in as much as possible, but is it really reasonable for people to expect me to spoon-feed them?

Look around in the other FAQs. I know it's not always obvious, but usually one of the other FAQs will cover what is missing.

 

[GroundedSailor]

<<Works fine with Win2k/XP >>

<<Do they work with Win2k/XP>>

n0cmonkey

I'm not sure what you mean by the above. I have no experience working with XP or 2K - am planning to upgrade from Win98 to Win2k today and hence wasn't sure abut the file system to choose. (No, have not worked with Win NT earlier hence my uncertainty regarding NTFS).



<< What does Norton say?>>

I had checked the Norton website before posting and read that page you linked. Unfortunately that is for Systemworks 2002 ? I have 2001. And while they say certain features will work with W2k there are exceptions:

Read here Norton Ghost if it makes sense!

Had also checked here.


<< Subscriber, or do what has been mentioned COUNTLESS times, change subscriber to forums. Its a simple fix. What does your URL look like on this page? Probably something like: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=34&threadid=715271. Well, mine looks like: http://subscriber.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=34&threadid=715271. Pretty simple huh?
>>

Pretty simple once you know how!! Not having read it earlier I wasn?t aware it could be done this way. As you can see from my posting average I don?t visit the forums that often and must have missed it.

Thanks for your insights.





AndyHui

I completely agree with what you say and my comments were in no way meant to detract from the admirable job you have done on the FAQ?s. They are certainly very helpful and anyone can appreciate the effort you have put in. And no, you can?t be expected to spoon feed anyone.

My comment implied that the time & effort taken to reply could have been more constructively used as in, say, providing a link to the specific FAQ topic. Don?t get me wrong , I was not being critical. Constructive criticism would better describe it.



After posting this am going to shut down the computer and install my new 100GB HDD and W2k. Have decided to go with NTFS. If nothing else it will be a learning curve! And no doubt, shall post here if I have any questions

 

[CTho9305]

<<

<< ACTUALLY I DID read the FAQ, and also used Google... I got the main idea, but wanted to see if it makes much difference in real life home use. >>



No it doesn't. >>



NTFS does make a difference in real life home use. if you power down wrong, your hard drive doesn't blow up as badly as with fat32. that said, I wouldn't pay for the "upgrade" from XP Home to XP Pro. as the school sells us Pro for a grand total of $10, I use ntfs

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< <<Works fine with Win2k/XP >><<Do they work with Win2k/XP>>n0cmonkeyI'm not sure what you mean by the above. I have no experience working with XP or 2K - am planning to upgrade from Win98 to Win2k today and hence wasn't sure abut the file system to choose. (No, have not worked with Win NT earlier hence my uncertainty regarding NTFS). >>



Like most good consumers Im sure you asked around, checked labels, and whatnot. Since NTFS is a filesystem you would not have to worry about it in the questions you asked, you would have to worry about the OS.



<< << What does Norton say?>> I had checked the Norton website before posting and read that page you linked. Unfortunately that is for Systemworks 2002 ? I have 2001. And while they say certain features will work with W2k there are exceptions:Read here Norton Ghost if it makes sense! Had also checked here. >>



I didnt read those because Im not interrested. I gave you a link that I believe said everything works fine. I dont have Norton. I wouldnt buy Norton. And I gave you all the information I could. Sorry it was for hte wrong version