If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
FAT32 & NTFS
OK Not so much a hardware but a software issue.
I have just reformatted one of the two hard drives in my system. I opted to use the NTFS system this time as i had it as FAT32 before. The thing is, my slave hard drive is still FAT32 & i seem to be getting problems with software in that drive. Will i have to format that drive too to the NTFS System so as to avoid any hassle ?? Phil. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
phil wrote:
OK Not so much a hardware but a software issue. I have just reformatted one of the two hard drives in my system. I opted to use the NTFS system this time as i had it as FAT32 before. The thing is, my slave hard drive is still FAT32 & i seem to be getting problems with software in that drive. Will i have to format that drive too to the NTFS System so as to avoid any hassle ?? Phil. While you haven't stated exactly what the problems are or what applications you are using, I don't think the different in the filesystems is the cause of them. Perhaps you could list the applications and the errors. If you did have an application that doesn't support Fat32, you could use convert to change to NTFS without reformatting. (You should still backup any critcal data before running.) |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 21:30:01 -0000, "phil"
wrote: OK Not so much a hardware but a software issue. I have just reformatted one of the two hard drives in my system. I opted to use the NTFS system this time as i had it as FAT32 before. Err, ok? So since you had NTFS this time, will you choose FAT32 next? I don't mean to start another NTFS vs FAT32 flamefest, but did you have some particular need for the NTFS, as it might effect your use of this second, FAT32 formatted drive? The thing is, my slave hard drive is still FAT32 & i seem to be getting problems with software in that drive. Will i have to format that drive too to the NTFS System so as to avoid any hassle ?? Software shouldn't care unless it's trying to create files larger than 4GB, as it's the FAT32 limit. Otherwise there are no problems that come to mind that you'd encounter due to having FAT32 instead of NTFS, that is, if the system (especially the drive) is working properly. It might be a good safeguard to back up the data on that drive and run the manufacturer's diagnostics. Exactly what "problems" (as detailed as possible) ? |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 23:17:10 GMT, kony wrote:
Software shouldn't care unless it's trying to create files larger than 4GB, as it's the FAT32 limit. Otherwise there are no problems that come to mind that you'd encounter due to having FAT32 instead of NTFS, that is, if the system (especially the drive) is working properly. I've always thought that Fat32 was reliable, although maybe not quite as robust as NTFS. But Maxtor tech support has taken to blaming lots of their drive failures on FAT32 format. They claim that they've seen corruption of the files system in 250g FAT32 drives. This may be just an convenient excuse. I'm not sure why there would be a problem with larger drives. That is, if you can figure out how to do FAT32 partition/format on 250G. But most of the drive utils (Acronis, etc) can handle it. _B |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I have just reformatted one of the two hard drives in my system.
I opted to use the NTFS system this time as i had it as FAT32 before. The thing is, my slave hard drive is still FAT32 & i seem to be getting problems with software in that drive. Will i have to format that drive too to the NTFS System so as to avoid any hassle ?? Describe "problems with software".. what kind of problems ? error messages ? anything else helpful ? Software to my knowledge neither knows nor cares what type of file system it's installed onto, so I doubt this is your problem. Regards, Chris |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 06:14:38 -0500, _BNC
wrote: On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 23:17:10 GMT, kony wrote: Software shouldn't care unless it's trying to create files larger than 4GB, as it's the FAT32 limit. Otherwise there are no problems that come to mind that you'd encounter due to having FAT32 instead of NTFS, that is, if the system (especially the drive) is working properly. I've always thought that Fat32 was reliable, although maybe not quite as robust as NTFS. It is. I always question those who claim a real benefit to NTFS for "reliability", as a system that is more reliable with NTFS has other problems than it's filesystem. NTFS would then be a bandaid, not a fix. As with all things, an extra layer of protection may not hurt- unless one needs DOS support. But Maxtor tech support has taken to blaming lots of their drive failures on FAT32 format. They claim that they've seen corruption of the files system in 250g FAT32 drives. This may be just an convenient excuse. I'm not sure why there would be a problem with larger drives. I'd look for more confirmation of this than only relying on Maxtor, if it's only their drives it seems more like a diversion than the truth. That is, if you can figure out how to do FAT32 partition/format on 250G. But most of the drive utils (Acronis, etc) can handle it. Figure out? The newer (win98se patched or WinME) FDISK will. Just choose percentage and ignore that it "overlaps" the sizes in 64GB chucks when reporting actual space. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
kony wrote:
_BNC wrote: .... snip ... I've always thought that Fat32 was reliable, although maybe not quite as robust as NTFS. It is. I always question those who claim a real benefit to NTFS for "reliability", as a system that is more reliable with NTFS has other problems than it's filesystem. NTFS would then be a bandaid, not a fix. As with all things, an extra layer of protection may not hurt- unless one needs DOS support. At least as described by Helen Custer in her books on NT, the NTFS should be much safer because of the database aspects of handling directories and space assignments. It _should_ be impossible to get the equivalent of a fouled FAT table. It is quite possible that MS has since dumbed it down to enhance their monopolism. I have no direct experience, since the MS EULA is something up with which I shall not put. -- "If you want to post a followup via groups.google.com, don't use the broken "Reply" link at the bottom of the article. Click on "show options" at the top of the article, then click on the "Reply" at the bottom of the article headers." - Keith Thompson |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks all for your suggestions.
I can't publish any error messages etc as i have now backed up data & deleted all content of that drive. Now my Win XP CD rom is the upgrade disc which requires a previous version installed first of which is Win 98se i have. When i reinstalled windows XP on my master drive it did it as NTFS so will following the same procedure do the same for my slave drive?? The thing is how do i select to format this drive as NTFS without actually installing windows itself. Please forgive me if i sound stupid as i have only ever installed windows on 1 occasion before therefore i am not totally familiar with this procedure althouh the most of it is self explanatory. "Skeleton Man" wrote in message ... I have just reformatted one of the two hard drives in my system. I opted to use the NTFS system this time as i had it as FAT32 before. The thing is, my slave hard drive is still FAT32 & i seem to be getting problems with software in that drive. Will i have to format that drive too to the NTFS System so as to avoid any hassle ?? Describe "problems with software".. what kind of problems ? error messages ? anything else helpful ? Software to my knowledge neither knows nor cares what type of file system it's installed onto, so I doubt this is your problem. Regards, Chris |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"CBFalconer" wrote:
MS EULA is something up with which I shall not put. Much of Ms. Eula is bluff, up with whom one needn't put. *TimDaniels* |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
"Mr Digital" wrote: When i reinstalled windows XP on my master drive it did it as NTFS so will following the same procedure do the same for my slave drive?? Yes. The thing is how do i select to format this drive as NTFS without actually installing windows itself? Use the Disk Management utility on your existing WinXP drive. Right-click on My Computer, select Manage, then select Disk Management. Right click on the new HD ("Disk 1", probably) and delete any partitions there (assuming you don't want them) by rt-clking the partition and selecting Delete Partition. Then rt-clk the now "unallocated" area on Disk 1, and select New Partition and follow the wizard. At some point you will be asked for the type of file format. *TimDaniels* |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Ghost and NTFS | hon123456 | General | 0 | October 31st 04 02:22 PM |
corrupted partition table - help needed! | Justin Case | General | 0 | August 3rd 04 09:22 AM |
NTFS v FAT32 | Dave | General | 6 | January 9th 04 04:20 AM |
Scanning NTFS partitions for virus outside XP | macphisto | General | 9 | December 24th 03 11:11 AM |
Get message "Remove disks or other media" since converting from NTFS to FAT32 | Paul Hill | General | 1 | July 6th 03 02:03 PM |