Re: Multiple Hard Drives, various Partitions?

Aaaa... Why? In other words... Where's the beef?

I suppose a quick answer based on one's opinion, knowledge and experience is
always easy. Even if somewhat limited.
Explaining why and being technically accurate is where the work comes in.

I have a fundamental understanding of the differences between the FAT, FAT32
and NTFS file systems. All of which might be enough to fill a nut-shell.
But I'm personally comfortable with what I do know to guide me in making
decisions for my own PC as well as the ones at work that I manage.

Therefore, allow me to point you in the direction of some good information
for you to read through and maybe be of help to you.

Goto... Start>Help and Support and do a search on "FAT32" and/or "NTFS".

You'll find a good article called "Choosing between NTFS, FAT, and FAT32".
This article shows a table of comparison for the different file systems. (A
good read, probably for all of us! )

Look within the results window, you'll find other articles that may be of
interest as well.
If your on-line when you do the search, you'll find additional search
results from the MS server.

You could also do a Google search... maybe starting with "file system" or
"FAT32" or "NTFS".
Multiple searches using different words and phrases will provide a variety
search results.

But just for the fun of it, I'm happy to share with you alittle more of
what's in my nut-shell...

FAT or FAT16: (same thing)
I won't go here except to say that it was the file system used by DOS and
maybe the earliest versions of Windows.
Has very limited constraints on file size as well as partition size.

FAT32:
Newer and alittle better than FAT16.
Used by (or native to) windows operating systems PRIOR to Windows NT or NT
based operating systems.
(Windows XP is NT based)
Extended capabilities so far as file and partition size.
4GB max file size.
32GB max partition size.
Alittle more efficient when it comes to how much data will fit per MB of
disk space.

NTFS:
Newer and more better than FAT32.
Native (default) file system used by Windows NT as well as Windows XP
operating systems.
Alittle more efficient when it comes to how much data will fit per MB of
disk space. (cluster size)
Attaches alittle more information to each file. Such as who owns the file
and who has the right or privilege to open/read and edit/save a file. Alot
of other stuff, such as file security and/or file sharing weather it be
between different (logon) users or between PC's on a corporate network.

The XP "System Restore" utility requires the NTFS file system to function as
intended.
Windows XP needs to be installed on a partition that is formatted NTFS.

Windows ME or Win98 or earlier versions can not read/write to a NTFS
partition.
(I don't think they will even see the partition)

Therefore, to elaborate on my opinion or advice.

Formatting the Partition where you install the XP operating system will
allow you to utilize ALL the benefits you gain by upgrading from Win98 to
WinXP. At least so far as file and system security and recovery. I'm not
even sure if XP will install on a FAT32 partition, maybe someone else can
input here.

For ALL the other partitions regardless of which physical hard drive their
on. The Windows XP operating system might like you more for using NTFS.
The file ownership, file security and file recovery will not work (at least
as intended) if NOT using NTFS. The XP "System Restore" feature (I don't
think) will even work for partitions that are not NTFS. When setting up or
configuring System Restore, you can use different settings and even disable
the feature for individual partitions. I have customized my settings to
enable System Restore for my OS Partition, Application Partition and
Documents Partition, all of which reside on my 1st HD and are formatted
NTFS. Out-of-the-box, XP will enable the feature for each drive as you
install them. All of my internal drives are NTFS, so I'm not sure how XP
auto configures system restore for a FAT32 drive that you add.

As for your (2) older and smaller drives in question. If your going to
format them anyway? Maybe format them NTFS for the reason that the NTFS file
format is "newer" therefore "better" than FAT32. XP might like you more.
And the files you store on them will benefit from the features that NTFS has
to offer. If the files you store on these (2) drives are mostly multi-media
and other personal files and there is a chance you might move the drive to a
PC running Win98, you had better stick with FAT32. Remember, Win98/ME can't
read/write to a NTFS partition. Better yet, if you later purchase a
external USB HD case to put one of these drive in and you'll want to carry
the USB drive to your Aunt's house to share some family pictures and her PC
is running Win98 or WinME, then you better stick with FAT32.

So far as mixing and matching partitions that are formatted FAT32 or NTFS on
your PC. I really don't think the XP operating system is going to get
excited and present you with problems if it finds partitions formatted using
different file systems. XP is designed to except a hard drive that was
pulled from a Win98 (FAT32) system. It's all in how you plan to use the
partitions and what your preference's are. Now I'm sure Big Bill would
rather you use NTFS on all your drives tho.

Yea... I know, more opinions and advice. And not much "beef". But maybe
you can develop your own reasons "why" after reading the "Choosing between
NTFS, FAT, and FAT32" article that I mentioned earlier.

Your question "why?" is a perfectly good and deserving question to ask. My
only problem is that my reasons why are only based on my opinion and that
nut-shell worth of knowledge I claim.

And you know what they say about opinions...

Hope this helps in some way...

Richard In Va.

PS: Knowing the reasons "why" can sometimes be more important than the
answer...

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"bassplayer" <bassplayer.2a748x@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:bassplayer.2a748x@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey, that's great everyone. Thanks so much for the reply's. It will be a
little while before I obtain the newer, bigger drives and I have backups
of everything already to cd's as well as some on other smaller hard
drives.

The overall idea is for me to have multiple hard drives on one pc, and
even for now, changing or reformatting the drives is absolutley no
problem at all.

What I really need to know is, would it be better to have all of the
drives, besides the "C" drive of course formatted in the NTFS format,
and most of all, why?

Or, should I make 1 or even both of them Fat32, and again, why?

I am just trying to understand what would be better for overall system
performance as well as anything else you could think of. But again,
why???

Why would I want one, 2 or all of them NTFS, or even one, 2 or none of
them NTFS, or even just one Fat32, but again, ......... WHY ?????
:p

Hate too sound so anal or cocky, that's not the idea, but I need to
understand why I WOULD want to mix formats, or keep them all of the
same. I want to do the best thing possible that would better relate to
using the system for ANY situation.

Thanks again everyone !!

:D





bassplayer Wrote:
Hello All.

This is me first post. I have something probably controversial but
important all the same to ask all of you.

I have Windows XP Professional, and besides my normal C drive which is
formatted in NTFS, I also have 2 other Hard Drives along with a DVD
Burner installed.

Nevermind the "C" drive, MY QUESTION IS:

Should I format the other 2 separate Hard Drives in Fat32 or should I
just keep everything NTFS on the pc?

The other 2 drives are currently formatted in Fat32, but only because
they came from a different pc and are used for storage of all of my
MP3's and Video files, and also storage of program files, backups of
other things. They both are Not just for backups, but more for storage
and are used constantly.

The current drives are small by todays standards, but I plan on
upgrading ALL of the hard drives to very generously sized ones soon,
probably each of them being 80-200 Gigs, or whatevah.

Just wanted some opinions on what everyone might think is the best to
do with my configuration, which currently is:

Drive C: 40 Gig - NTFS - (Windows is Installed)
Drive D: 20 Gig - Fat32 - (Used for my MP3 Collection)
Drive F: 15 Gig - Fat32 - (Used for Videos and Backups/Storage, Misc,
Etc.)

Additional PC Info:
*Intel P4, 2.4 GHz, 1 Gig of Memory
*Asus Motherboard, P4B533-E
*Asus Dvd Burner (Drive E)
*Windows XP Professional
*NVIDIA GeFORCE 4 Ti 4200 Video Card - 1 Regular Monitor (Primary), Big
Screen TV as Secondary connected at the same time with a DSL
Connection.

((((((THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND OPINIONS EVERYONE))))))

Peace.


--
bassplayer


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