View Full Version : Fat32 or NTFS
Which is better,is one faster than the other?
What are the advantages to each?
Thanks:)
ThePerfectCore
12-06-02, 09:45 AM
NTFS 5.0
-----------
-More secure
-Less prone to corruption
-Doesn't need Scandisk
-Doesn't fragment very quickly
-Adds some (but not much) disk space
FAT32
--------
-Faster
-Supported by 9x systems straight out of the box
-Backwards compatible with DOS
That's all I recall right now. Neither is "better". It's either speed or security.
I use FAT32.
I am using NTFS right now,but it seems real slow,but I cannot remember Fat32 being this slow,the HDD seems to be always being accessed,I have run many tools and the drive is fine,but it is slow for a Maxtor 80 Gig,I think.
Also how do I swith back to Fat 32 from NTFS??
SemiCycle
12-07-02, 07:39 AM
Originally posted by Dave65
I am using NTFS right now,but it seems real slow,but I cannot remember Fat32 being this slow,the HDD seems to be always being accessed,I have run many tools and the drive is fine,but it is slow for a Maxtor 80 Gig,I think.
It could be many different issues as to why the the drive is always accessing. The same goes for why it "feels" slow.
shadowdr
12-07-02, 08:15 AM
as far as i know you can't go back to fat without reformatting or using 3rd party software to do it.
as far as speed how many partitions are on the drive and where they are located could make a difference.i have 80 gigs and split into four equal partitions,windows on c: games on d: programs on e: and all downloaded files on f:.keeping only windows and the page file on c keeps all those files on the fastest part of the drive as well as faster defragmenting times)i also keep another page file on d for use with photoshop).to me it feels alot faster than 98 fat 32 on 1 40 gig drive.
mbentley
12-07-02, 09:52 AM
Originally posted by Dave65
Also how do I swith back to Fat 32 from NTFS??
try partition magic pro. it have used it to reverse a drive for my parents and it worked fine. just make sure that you don't turn off the computer while it is converting or you will lose all of your data... i would be sure to back up the partition before converting it just in case there are errors since they don't guarantee it working 100% of the time.
captain_amd
12-08-02, 01:00 PM
What makes NTFS more secure? How much faster is Fat32?
mbentley
12-08-02, 01:23 PM
Originally posted by captain_amd
What makes NTFS more secure? How much faster is Fat32?
what makes ntfs more secure is that it adds security features to files so you are able to set who can and can't see/access/re-write files. i would say that fat32 isn't noticibly faster at all. i like ntfs, but having fat32 is the best for the factor of compatability. with fat32, you can browse your drive if you use a boot disk. when formatted in ntfs, you would need some sort of third party utility to view to contents on your drive. also you can't install win9x onto a partition formatted in ntfs. if you do have a seperate partition for a win9x os, you can't read the files off of the ntfs partition. it simply will not appear in win9x.
I use NTFS where I need the security (speed dosen't bother me much), and FAT32 where I have files that I'd die without (like my music). Thus, I've got NTFS on the C drive while my music, and my DigiCam pics are on their own FAT32 drives.
JigPu
Yes but were is the security in NTFS,I know this is probably a dumb question,but do you mean security from other computers?
Or from others who use your computer.Because the reason I switched to NTFS was to keep my kids out of some folders I have with financial stuff on them that I update regularly.And I don't want them into it.But I donot want to give them there own profile because of SETI,when they swith users,SETI starts on there profile also so it is running twice which really slows it down.And they never remember to shut it off.So is there a way to block them from seeing certain folders on my desktop?
Other than putting them on a CD or Zip?
I have tryed to encrypt those folders ,but I have a lot of learning to do:)
mbentley
12-08-02, 01:52 PM
Originally posted by Dave65
Yes but were is the security in NTFS,I know this is probably a dumb question,but do you mean security from other computers?
Or from others who use your computer.Because the reason I switched to NTFS was to keep my kids out of some folders I have with financial stuff on them that I update regularly.And I don't want them into it.But I donot want to give them there own profile because of SETI,when they swith users,SETI starts on there profile also so it is running twice which really slows it down.And they never remember to shut it off.So is there a way to block them from seeing certain folders on my desktop?
Other than putting them on a CD or Zip?
I have tryed to encrypt those folders ,but I have a lot of learning to do:)
the security is for different users on the computer, different users on your network, and from the internet. don't quote me on this, but i don't think there is a way that you can block the access to those files throught the ntfs security features since they only work by blocking other users. i don't believe that you can set passwords for files... someone please verify this issue...
FuriousBroccoli
12-08-02, 02:09 PM
Speed shouldn't be your #1 concern, because NTFS is soo close to FAT32 speed, you'd never ever notice a realworld difference, and as the drive gets bigger and more fragmented, NTFS races ahead of FAT32 in speed. But NTFS is VASTLY superior in terms of reliability. NTFS gives you more space too, due to smaller cluster sizes.
On FAT32 you frequently get corrupt files and scandisks when something imporper occurs, like a crash or power loss, NTFS suffers none of these problems.
In this day and age, if you have a decent PC running XP/2K that isn't dual-boot with 98/DOS, you have no excuse to use the legacy FAT32 format.
More info and links here:
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/windowstips/story/0,24330,3201552,00.html
Originally posted by FuriousBroccoli
Speed shouldn't be your #1 concern, because NTFS is soo close to FAT32 speed, you'd never ever notice a realworld difference, and as the drive gets bigger and more fragmented, NTFS races ahead of FAT32 in speed. But NTFS is VASTLY superior in terms of reliability. NTFS gives you more space too, due to smaller cluster sizes.
On FAT32 you frequently get corrupt files and scandisks when something imporper occurs, like a crash or power loss, NTFS suffers none of these problems.
In this day and age, if you have a decent PC running XP/2K that isn't dual-boot with 98/DOS, you have no excuse to use the legacy FAT32 format.
More info and links here:
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/windowstips/story/0,24330,3201552,00.html
I agree,I was going to reformat back to Fat32 but I won't knowing what I know now,it was rel slow,but I ran a diagnostic test and found the problem and it is fine now..
But I still need to figure this security thing out.
Originally posted by FuriousBroccoli
Speed shouldn't be your #1 concern, because NTFS is soo close to FAT32 speed, you'd never ever notice a realworld difference, and as the drive gets bigger and more fragmented, NTFS races ahead of FAT32 in speed. But NTFS is VASTLY superior in terms of reliability. NTFS gives you more space too, due to smaller cluster sizes.
On FAT32 you frequently get corrupt files and scandisks when something imporper occurs, like a crash or power loss, NTFS suffers none of these problems.
In this day and age, if you have a decent PC running XP/2K that isn't dual-boot with 98/DOS, you have no excuse to use the legacy FAT32 format.
More info and links here:
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/windowstips/story/0,24330,3201552,00.html
That is a great article,thanks it helped me a lot:)
Well, one solution I can think of is to run SETI as a service rather than have it opened by SETISpy or SETIDriver. However, if you use Driver, I don't really know how you would go about doing that because I don't use driver. You may wish to write a thread down in SETI about how to make it work as a service.
JigPu
shadowdr
12-10-02, 05:27 PM
you can set security on any folder of your chosing,just right click the folder,chose properties,select security.this pertains to who can access it.you could allow only administrators.you could then sign on with another profile and leave that profile signed on untill you need access.it may let you just enter a password when you try to access it,but i'm not sure as i have never had any use for it.meybe an m.c.s.e. will chime in about that.
Originally posted by shadowdr
you can set security on any folder of your chosing,just right click the folder,chose properties,select security.this pertains to who can access it.you could allow only administrators.you could then sign on with another profile and leave that profile signed on untill you need access.it may let you just enter a password when you try to access it,but i'm not sure as i have never had any use for it.meybe an m.c.s.e. will chime in about that.
That is a good idea,I will give that a try.Thanks..
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