Re: How to convert from FAT32 to NTFS?

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Thank you both for your replies.

The 4GB file size limitation is undeniable, but it's not an issue for me. The size of all my documents and spreadsheets doesn't come close to that, especially after compression by my backup program. Having quick and convenient access to that data is most important to me.

Media files - at least, the ones I own - can be backed up to 4 GB containers, if need be. If I start acquiring video files greater than 4 GB...I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

I'm not trying to argue with you...just expressing the preference that works for me.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
On Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:15:54 -0700, Bruce Chambers
<bchambers@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Leonard Grey wrote:
Mind if I stick my head in? Thanks, please see below, inline:


Of course I don't mind. All conversations here are public, and your
comments are usually very good ones.

But see my single comment on one of your points, below.


"In my view, it's best to run all drives as NTFS..."

I understand that very well in the context of internal drives. However, I don't understand the advantage of NTFS for an external drive used for data or for backup.

Most Backup applications store the preserved data in a single file, which, given the large amount of music or videos that are often present, can easily exceed 4GB in size. FAT32 cannot support files this large, but NTFS can.


If you plug an NTFS-formatted external hard drive into another computer where you do /not/ have administrator permissions, you can't access the data on the drive because NTFS enforces user account permissions.

True. This helps prevent someone else from accessing your data without your knowledge, permission, and assistance.

And you can't use the data on the drive with a Mac.

Again, true. But, if one were preparing an external drive to be shared between Windows and Mac (or any other non-WinNT OS), one would naturally choose a file system that is common to all.


Yes, and that was one of my original points. I said "it's best to run
all drives as NTFS, *unless* you also want to use it on an older
non-NTFS-aware operating system, like Windows 98."


If one has no such plans, why not go with NTFS' superiority over FAT32.




.

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