Did I choose the wrong file system?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jamie
  • Start date Start date
J

jamie

I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks
 
jamie said:
I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks
Click to expand...

The main difference between FAT32 and NTFS is the security you can use. If
you're the sole user, then I shouldn't worry.
 
And don't forget about file storage efficiency with NTFS vs FAT.
Significently better with NTFS.

Stu Davis
 
jamie said:
I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks
Click to expand...

For some further details, see "Overview of FAT, HPFS, and NTFS File
Systems" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=100108).
 
jamie said:
I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks
Click to expand...

For the most part, it does not matter which file system you use. There
will be some minute performance differences (shadowed by the slowness of
hard drives) and NTFS offers some features that FAT32 doesn't support
(but unless you are aware of them already and own XP Pro, you aren't
likely to need them). Finally, if you really feel you've gone the wrong
route, don't nuke your computer and reinstall. There is a utility to
convert FAT32 to NTFS. Use it instead.

Alex
 
I have recently installed Windows XP. I used the FAT32
system but I am wondering if I should have used the NTFS
system. My computer has a 60 GB hard drive. Will it make
a difference? Should I reinstall XP using the NTFS System?
I am a novice and could use some help. Thanks
Click to expand...

If you decide to try NTFS, you can convert the file system instead of
reinstalling. Note that this is a one way experiment. If you decide that
you like FAT32 more, you'll have to start over, using a Win98SE or WinME
boot disk to delete the (non-MSDOS) NTFS partition and then formatting
FAT32.

More info about the conversion process that includes additional advice
about how to accomplish the most efficient cluster size can be found here:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm
 
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