NTFS Query

stuartsjg · 16th October 2003

Hi folks,

If i get a new 160Gb HDD which doesnt work under FAT32 (clips at 130GB i think) and format it as NTFS to get the full space will windows 2k have problems with my existing 2 HDD's being fat 32?

Should i reformatmy existing ones as NTFS? How safe is this to do when data is on the drive?

I do mainly AV and image editing so i think an NTFS would be better overall for that and also hence the 160GB drive need. (1394 firewire DV at 3.6MB/sec - space hungry!!!)

One other thing, does NTFS allow files over 4GB. I can only create DV files 18min long or 4GB in size.

Thanks,
Stuart.

ps. thankgs again to folk who helped me out with the last prob. All sorted. :-)

Newt · 17th October 2003

2K has no problems whatever with a mix of NTFS and FAT32 file systems.

The convert command usually does a good job of moving FAT32 to NTFS but I have read that it will occasionally damage data. Can't say first hand since I only use and work with NTFS.

NTFS will allow a file size up to the amount of free space on the drive.

My personal preference in your situation would be to make a good backup of all data from the FAT32 partitions and then convert them to NTFS. But you will find others (and quite a few of them are experienced folk on this forum) who dislike NTFS and prefer FAT32.

Logik007 · 19th October 2003

Quote:

One other thing, does NTFS allow files over 4GB.

Definitely.

I'd definitely convert to NTFS. It's a far more robust file system.

http://www.ultratech-llc.com/KB/?File=Convert.TXT

sorinso · 28th October 2003

I'm with Newt in this one 100% (no intent of being arrogant).
I cannot see a reason of using FAT32 file systems... And I think the best thing for you is NTFS, both for the new HD and for the old ones...
And the most important thing: ALWAYS backup your data before making any changes to the file system or any other serious change in your computer.
Good luck.

El Mariachi · 30th October 2003

There only file size limitation with NTFS is by the size of the volume.. the maximum volume size on an NTFS file system is 2 terrabytes

rdzien · 30th October 2003

Quote:

There only file size limitation with NTFS is by the size of the volume.. the maximum volume size on an NTFS file system is 2 terrabytes

No, the limit of NTFS volume size is 2^64 bytes (18,446,744,073,709,551,616)

**Admin.** · 31st October 2003

Maximum volume size:

Theory: 2^64 clusters minus 1 cluster
Implementation: 256 terabytes minus 64 KB ( 2^32 clusters minus 1 cluster)

Source

Newt · 31st October 2003

Dang. So I'm gonna have to partition my 400Tb drive then? Dang.

davott · 2nd January 2004

In planning to convert my C: drive from FAT32 to NTFS, I will definitely back up my data. But, this begs the question: is such a conversion inherently distructive?

I'm not concerned about losing data (which I've backed up), I'm more concerned about the 1000's of miscellaneous programs I've been using over the years, some of which I doubt are available anymore, or which were originally freeware and now are shareware, etc.

Using XP (Home)

Newt · 2nd January 2004

... is such a conversion inherently distructive?

Not at all. Usually (the vast majority of the time) there are no problems whatever.