NTFS and programs

[r_report]

i use only windows xp professional right now.
it is running on a FAT32 partition.
i understand that if i change this into NTFS, it'll give me better performance. i need to know that if I convert my hard drive to NTFS, will programs that would normally run on FAT32 have trouble running? or is it just the OS that determines that?

 

[NickM]

Don't worry about your programs after changing file system, everything will be normal for your programs.
Better not to expect a performance boost from the NTFS. Depends on the size of the partition/drive, it’s possible, but I would rather be even prepared to loose probably some speed. Most likely that you will not catch any difference.
Anyway, the NTFS is better.

 

[AMD_Man]

NTFS is not faster than FAT32 but it is more efficent. In larger hard drives, FAT32 uses 32KB clusters while NTFS uses 512B which means NTFS wastes less disk space than FAT32, so you get more free disk space.

AMD technology + Intel technology = Intel/AMD Pentathlon IV; the <b>ULTIMATE</b> PC processor

 

[Guest]

I've heard there are one or two incompatibilities with extemely old DOS programs (not even old DOS games) and NTFS, programs from like the mid 80's and stuff. I wouldn't worry about that.

One thing to think about is that disk management programs written specifically for FAT32 may not work - I think stuff like parts of Norton Utils and similar products. Most have support for NTFS though.

~ The First Formally Rehabilitated AMD Lemming ~

 

[NickM]

I would never recommend any disk management tools for any version of NTFS or FAT32 or any other file system if the tools are not specially designed for that particular version of file sistem. Even if those tools work just fine on a previous (older) version of file sistem and have excellent reputation on expensive servers.

 

[Toejam31]

Actually, NTFS can have clusters up to 4KB in size for any partitions over 2GB. There used to be a problem when running NTFS and WinNT that FAT32 partitions converted to NFTS would have clusters that were 512B, but not with Win2K.

This issue would actually <i>reduce</i> performance.

Note: This occurred only when converting the file system, but not when creating a new NTFS volume.

FAT32 clusters can be between 4KB to 32KB, depending on the partition size.

<A HREF="http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/ntfs/archCluster-c.html" target="_new">http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/ntfs/archCluster-c.html</A>

Toejam31

<font color=red>My Rig:</font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847" target="_new">http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847</A>
____________________________________________________

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[ejsmith2]

"NTFS is not faster than FAT32 but it is more efficent"

Uhhhhhh.

Just the opposite; vice-versa.

"Fat32 is not faster than NTFS, but it is more efficient."

Now, if NTFS didn't chew up 12.5% of your drive, then it would be more efficient...

Rich is the nation that has many war heroes. Long since forgotten...

 

[AMD_Man]

What are you talking about? It uses up less disk space per cluster!

AMD technology + Intel technology = Intel/AMD Pentathlon IV; the <b>ULTIMATE</b> PC processor

 

[Arrow]

I thought that NTFS has smaller cluster sizes?

Rob
Please visit <b><A HREF="http://www.ncix.com/canada/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048" target="_new">http://www.ncix.com/canada/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048</A></b>

 

[AMD_Man]

Isn't that what I just said?

AMD technology + Intel technology = Intel/AMD Pentathlon IV; the <b>ULTIMATE</b> PC processor

 

[Arrow]

Oops, was meant to be directed to ejsmith.

Rob
Please visit <b><A HREF="http://www.ncix.com/canada/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048" target="_new">http://www.ncix.com/canada/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048</A></b>