NTFS vs. FAT32: What are the pros & cons of each?

[ArvinC]

Hello everyone.

When I installed Windows XP Pro in my new machine, I chose the NTFS format for my hard drives. It never occured to me why I chose NTFS over FAT32...think I just went with it because it was exclusive to XP. Anywho, what are the advantages and disadvantages with both file systems? And which one are you running and why?

Thanks for any info or comments!

ArvinC

 

[nihil]

FAQ.

and NTFS isn't exclusive on xp. it works for win2k as well.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< FAQ.

and NTFS isn't exclusive on xp. it works for win2k as well. >>



And NT

 

[Sukhoi]

And Win9x with that software program..

 

[wildwildwes]

And dos with ntfsdos. And I think linux can read NTFS now. Last time I checked, it couldn't write it though.

 

[nihil]

guess i missed a few. i didn't really feel jumping headfirst into every single os that supports NTFS.

 

[SinNisTeR]

ive gone back and forth on this... i had NTFS running for as long as i had a win NT based OS. but finally i got sick of the fact that i cant access them in DOS. another thing that i notices after i switched to fat32 is that the system feels a bit more responsive. not as sluggish as before with the NTFS. dont get me wrong, NTFS is great........... if........... you use any of its features, which i did not.

 

[Colt45]

NTFS owns FAT32

The only reason you should use FAT32 is if you need to access the partition with a 9x OS or DOS (IMO, of course)

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

also in linux but only reads are safe!

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< NTFS owns FAT32

The only reason you should use FAT32 is if you need to access the partition with a 9x OS or DOS (IMO, of course) >>



Win9x *IS* DOS! :Q

But all in all, Colt45 is right

 

[Colt45]

<< Win9x *IS* DOS! :Q >>



I know!

just just mentioning them both for people that dont know that.

Win9x looks considerably different than DOS, so its common for people to not realize that win9x is a fancy DOSShell