Anyone tell me what's what?
You have the option to use either when formatting?

 

Fat32 is for win98 and below, ntfs for anything better than win98 like xp etc

 

NTFS allows you to put security on individual folders etc.

 

You wanna be using NTFS James,

it allows file security & unlimited file sizes to name 2 handy features!

 

also in dos mode if your drive is NTFS you can't see the c: unlike FAT32, another security feature

 

They're different filesystems.
NTFS would be the preferred one to use generally speaking.

 

NTFS is more modern file system used by NT based windows versions (they still support FAT and FAT 32). It has some more features (access restrictions, different descriptors and stuff like that). In this days I don't see a point to use FAT format anymore if you don't have to use it with win9x systems. (there is NTFS for win 9x but not very good)

 

James

Whats up with your PC?

Are you going to Beds RS Day?

 

There isn't any "DOSmode" in NT-core windows anymore. Win 9x were DOS based. NT systems have only a console that has interface similar to DOS but it isn't any true DOS.

 

xp will run on fat 32 too...

but NTFS is recommented

 

again, i concur with the others... use NTFS wherever possible.

thre are pros/cons to it as with anythng, but you'd have to be a real techy with very specific requirements to even need to think about it... lol

 

FAT (File allocation table) Use a table that provides the name of the file and the location of the actual clusters on the hard drive.

NTFS (Current is NTFS 5) supports far more security features, and more robust file storage and recovery. Naming is more flexible, and the mimimum and maximum amount a file uses on the harddrive is smaller/larger.

 

cheers, only ask because my brothers laptop on XP is running FAT32 and I'm on NTFS on a Desktop

 

you can run a FAT32 -> NTFS convert if you want. i'm sure its provided as standard? (bit like FAT16 - > FAT32 convertor that came with win98)

 

To convert to the NTFS filesystem from Fat32 (so you don't have to wipe your macine and start again) open a command prompt (W2k or XP) and type:

convert c: /fs:ntfs

You need to be an admin to do this. You will get a message saying it can't be done now, do you wish this process to occur on the next restart, type Y and press enter. Next time you restart the conversion will take place.

Substitute the "c:" for other drive letters you wish to convert (if you have them).