If you want to multiboot with an older version of windows, choose fat 32. Example, if xp is installed on a fat32 partition, you can still read other disks formatted as ntfs, likewise if your xp install is on ntfs, you can read other drives formatted as fat32. Convert ntfs to fat32 without formatting hard disk via freeware. You cannot convert back, except possibly by use of partition magic 7. Ntfs is the recommended file system for use with windows xp. Its very common for users to ask cmd for help when they have disk or partition problems on windows 7810xpvitsa etc. Fat32 and ntfs are file systems that may be used on a microsoft windows hard disk partition. Which version of ntfs is installed on my windows xp system. Ntfs is the modern file system windows likes to use by default. This is the optimal file system format for flash memory. Microsoft introduced ntfs in 1993, as a component of the corporateoriented windows nt 3. Im in the process of reinstalling windows xp on my husbands computer and have questions about which file system to.
When youre reformatting a hard drive, windows will ask you what format to use. The fat32 file system is a traditional file system which is readable and writable in windows, mac os x, and linux. Both times it gets to the screen where it loads files, drivers, etc. How to format a usb thumb drive to ntfs in windows xp go to my computer, click to the usb flash drive properties, in that click on hardware, click on sandisk cruzer usb device, and then to its properties, then click to policies, in that click on the optimize for performance button, click. This occurs because the usb drive is treated as a floppy disk. Ntfs has much more builtin features than fat, so generally it is a bit slower. Ntfs and fat32 are two file systems used in windows operating systems. Fat32 partitions can be from 512mb to 2 terabytes,although windows xp can format a fat32 only as large as 32gb. Free to convert ntfs partition to fat32 on windows xp. It will then be replaced with the windows installation media, which usually follows the iso format with the udf file system universal disk format wikipedia so, the technically correct answer wouldnt be fat32, ntfs, or exfat, but udf.
Windows xp cant recognize fat32 drive techrepublic. Those using xp installed on a dos fat32formatted boot camp partition will find options limited since winclone only supports the ntfs file. Converting a partition from fat32 to ntfs can be done by an inbuilt utility in the windows xp operating system but it is important to realise that it is a oneway process. Understanding windows xp file systems fat32 and ntfs. Keeping in mind i need to use the usb flash drive on ubuntu. I have a western digital my book 250 gb external harddrive connected via usb 2. How to convert fat32 file system to ntfs in windows xp. I am trying to back up my friends compaq computer via usb drive, preparing to upgrade to xp. The weird thing is that now you have to think about three different file systems when considering dualbooting. After the format, i reinstalled 98se then the xp cd upgrade. Ntfs is a file system, and either your external drive is all ntfs or not.
It offers better reliability, security, and support for hard disks over 32 gigabytes. Todays usb flash drives are huge, but they come formatted with the fat32 limit of 4gb filesif you want to format them as ntfs under windows xp youll need a little trick. It provides security by supporting access control and ownership privileges, meaning you can set permission for groups or individual users to access certain files. You can convert to ntfs after windows xp installation, but you cannot convert back to fat32. Its hard drive is a maxtor 30gbi think, running in fat32.
Just right click on the disk drive in windows file explorer and choose format, then you will get the options. Describes an issue in which you cannot start a computer from an external removable usb hard disk that is formatted to use the fat32 file system. For example, ntfs can keep small files inside mft entry, so if the file size is less than cluster size, most likely it will be accessed much faster on ntfs than on fat. Convert fat32 to ntfs without formatting or losing data. Why do removable drives still use fat32 instead of ntfs. Those using xp installed on a dos fat32formatted boot camp partition will find options limited since winclone only supports the ntfs file format for.
When you install windows, it formats your system drive with the ntfs file system. It is easy to convert an fat32 partition to ntfs on windows xp, but the task usually becomes a little difficult when you want to convert a ntfs partition to fat32 on windows xp. How to format a usb thumb drive to ntfs in windows xp. Ntfs has file size and partition size limits that are so theoretically huge you wont run up against them. It is very easy to format a storage device to any of the three file systems on a windows computer. After posting that question here, in regards to why this happened, someone said to load ntfs.
You cannot start a computer from a usb flash drive that is. Convert is a command line utility to convert fat32 to ntfs in windows vista and xp fat32 and ntfs. How to convert a fat32 hard drive to ntfs on windows does not lose data. I like to change from fat32 to ntfs, my operating system is windows xp pro, how can i do that. Microsoft ended mainstream support for the windows xp operating system in 2009, but continue to provide security updates until april 2014. By default, windows xp computers come configured with ntfs. Ntfs vs fat32 formatting windows xp sp2 dell community. Microsofts windows xp started using the ntfs file system by default for its internal drives back in 2001. Reformat ntfs to fat32 partition on windows xp you can also reformat a ntfs partition to fat32 file system on windows xp. Exfat is designed based on fat32 but exfat is not as limited as the old format. Ntfs has all the basic capabilities of fat as well as all the advantages of fat32 file systems. How can i copy files from a hard drive formatted to ntfs, to a fat32 hard drive. Fresh installing windows 10 and before downloading file, i was thinking if i should format my drive to fat32 or ntfs or exfat.
I have tried twice to install windows 10 using the auto update. Convert ntfs to fat32 windows xp windows xp was released in 2001 and microsoft stopped providing support for windows xp in 2014, so you have to pay more attention to the security of data when executing any task on windows xp. However, as windows 2000 or windows xp fully supports using a fat32 partition over 32gb, and only does not permit formatting a fat drive over 32gb, it is possible to use a windows 98 or windows me boot diskette to get a larger fat partition formatted. Convert ntfs to fat32 without formatting using freeware. Storage hardware cannot be used without a file system, but not all file systems are universally supported by all operating systems all operating systems support fat32 because it is a simple file system and has been around for a really long time. Please highlight any advantages of one format over the other. Ntfs is a file system that windows xp can read without a problem. A computer running windows 2000 or xp can natively access files on an ntfs partition.
Running windows xp service pack 2, we can write and read files greater than 2 tb. Fat32 was used in the earlier versions of windows operating systems, including windows 9598 windows me. We use an adaptec 31205 raid controller with a 4 tb raid 0 on a windows xp service pack 2 computer. This is the second drive i purchased, the first had to be retu. It is interesting to note that this method cannot be used to reconvert ntfs file system back to fat32. Ntfs is the recommended file system with windows xp. However, when it comes to converting ntfs to fat32 without formatting or losing data, it does. One of the first choices you have to make when you install or upgrade to windows xp is the file system. To make the job safe and easy, we show you how to convert fat32 to ntfs in windows 10 without data loss step by step in this page. Fat32, ntfs and exfat are the types of disk file system. Why we need convert fat32 to ntfs in windows xp vista and windows 7. When installing windows xp from scratch, you are prompted to select from two different file systems. This command can also be used to convert fat16 disks and works on windows 10, windows 8, windows 8. Ntfs new technology files system is the newer drive format.
We also provide an extensive windows 7 tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks. Convert windows xp from fat32 to ntfs twocanoes software. Convert ntfs to fat32 windows 7 windows 7 came to public in 2009, which supports both ntfs and fat32 file system. Click all tools ntfs to fat32 converter in the left side. After moving all important data to another partition, you can right click the ntfs partition and then select fat32 as file system to format it. I then began to download sp2 when i realized xp is showing both my c. I converted my flash drives file system using these steps and it worked flawlessly.
Ntfs is the preferred file system for windows operating systems. Converting from fat32 to ntfs at a later time if you want, under windows xp you can convert your fat32 partition to ntfs using the following command from your command prompt. To convert a fat partition to ntfs, follow these steps. Which format is better for installing windows from a usb. Whether one care is installed or not has nothing to do with whether you. Ntfs has always been a faster and more secure file system than fat and fat32. During setup, windows xp gives you the choice of the windows nt file system ntfs or one of the file allocation table file systems fat or fat32. Just be extremely careful that the correct partition is formatted when booting from a diskette. By default, the maximum cluster size for ntfs under windows nt 4. Whats the difference between fat32, exfat, and ntfs. This is because ntfs file compression is not possible on drives that have a larger cluster size. Ntfs v5 has all the basic capabilities of fat as well as all the advantages of fat32 file systems. Ntfs, short for nt file system, is the most secure and robust file system for windows 7, vista, and xp. No option for fat32 file system under format window.
However, it gives no real reason why you should select one or the other, and. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find support and solutions for any problems regarding your windows 7 pc be it dell, hp, acer, asus or a custom build. Windows 2000 and xp include a newer version of ntfs than windows nt 4. In windows 2000 or xp, how do i choose between ntfs and fat32. Their features and differences are described below.
How does ntfs compared to fat32 in windows xp, and which is faster. Formatting a volume from windows explorer when the allocation unit box in the format dialog box lists default allocation size. It came formatted via fat32 from the vendor with a footnote in the instruction manual that i might want to reformat it in ntfs mode. It seems that it is easy to reformat a ntfs partition to fat32 on windows xp.
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