Ntfs & Fat32

[meow]

If I install 2K with NTFS, will I be able to read from another unit (anotherHD) with Win9x, FAT32 installed?

I'm not interested in what's "the best", just in how it works.

[Bruce]

If you install Win2k on an NTFS partition you will not be able to read the files on a FAT32 drive. If you install Win2k on a FAT32 drive then you would be able to view files from both partitons/drives.

[meow]

OK, that means I won't even see them I guess? I mean, I can't even copy a document over and read it that way, is that right?

Craps, this is driving me nuts.

[Bruce]

Correct. If you're on an NTFS partition/drive, the FAT32 partition/drive will not be accessible by you.

[Giancarlo]

The best thing to do is just convert the other drive to NTFS.

[Canuckkev]

Well, say if you have two partitions, one Fat32, the other NTFS, you can open and view and transfer files on the Fat32 partiotion in Win2k. But the NTFS partition doesn't even appear in My Computer under 98. So, if you are planning on dual booting, I would stay away from NTFS. Otherwise, there really isn't much of a reason not to use NTFS.

[meow]

I don't think I'll get Win9x to run on NTFS, GC.

Phroz, you run 2K, don't you? Would you say it's a big disadvantage to use FAT32?

Oh, I can't change from one file system to another later without formatting and starting all over I guess?

[Bruce]

Originally posted by Giancarlo
The best thing to do is just convert the other drive to NTFS.

Well considering Win98 doesn't support NTFS, that wouldn't be possible.

[meow]

Originally posted by Canuckkev
Well, say if you have two partitions, one Fat32, the other NTFS, you can open and view and transfer files on the Fat32 partiotion in Win2k. But the NTFS partition doesn't even appear in My Computer under 98. So, if you are planning on dual booting, I would stay away from NTFS. Otherwise, there really isn't much of a reason not to use NTFS.

Wait wait. Is there a difference between partitions and drives? Phroz said I couldn't do that.

[Giancarlo]

Well then I must of misunderstood. Because I was in the same situation, but Win98 wasn't on my second drive, just FAT32 and I converted it.

The difference between NTFS and FAT32 is substantial... probably in speed and reliability.

[Bruce]

The only advantages of NTFS are better file security and disk compression. Things that most people would never notice, unless of course you were running a server.

I'm currently running Win2k on a FAT32 partition and it's just as reliable. The difference isn't really noticable except for what I mentioned previously.

See here for more info: http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=63

[Canuckkev]

I have seen many more things listed under advantages of NTFS before...but I don't think there really is a large difference. Don't bother having different filing systems on different partitions. I messed up my win2k install, and I couldn't get any of the files on that drive, because there was some corruption or something (I forget exactly what it was, but I couldn't convert it back to Fat32 because of it).

And I am not very experienced in partitioning, but when I have done it before (using Partition Magic), it makes a new drive essentially. For example, my C was still FAT32 (win98), D was FAT32 (file storage), G was win2k. E and F were my CD drives.

[meow]

Thre's UNICODE...

Guess I'll start with FAT32 then. CAN I convert to NTFS later without formatting?

[stu]

keep it simple.. fat32...