• FAT32 or NTFS on a USB memory stick?
    28 replies, posted
Hello, got my new memory today and I was wondering wich is best to use on it, FAT32 or NTFS. I tried to do a comparison but the formatter in "Computer" wouldn't let me format to NTFS. [editline]01:51PM[/editline] It's a 32Gb Kingston DataTraveler G2 btw. Edit; And I am on Windows 7 if for any reason it matters.
Well, for large drives I [I]always[/I] reformat them to NTFS. In FAT32 you can't copy over files over 4GB I believe. Here's details on it: [url]http://cquirke.mvps.org/ntfs.htm[/url] and here's a comparison: [url]http://www.ntfs.com/ntfs_vs_fat.htm[/url]
-ninjad-
I'd go with NTFS.
[QUOTE=Mooe94;18313899]Well, for large drives I [I]always[/I] reformat them to NTFS. In FAT32 you can't copy over files over 4GB I believe.[/QUOTE] Okay, I had no idea lol, my last drive was only 4gb :D But it wont let me format to NTFS, is there another way?
[QUOTE=Turbis2;18313919]Okay, I had no idea lol, my last drive was only 4gb :D But it wont let me format to NTFS, is there another way?[/QUOTE] Well, it's only 32GB so perhaps it's not [I]that[/I] important to reformat it to NTFS. What does it say when you try to format it though?
[QUOTE=Turbis2;18313919]Okay, I had no idea lol, my last drive was only 4gb :D But it wont let me format to NTFS, is there another way?[/QUOTE] How are you doing it and what does it say when you try? :ninja:'d
[QUOTE=Mooe94;18313937]Well, it's only 32GB so perhaps it's not [I]that[/I] important to reformat it to NTFS. What does it say when you try to format it though?[/QUOTE] "Windows was unable to complete the format" [editline]01:57PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Jallen;18313938]How are you doing it and what does it say when you try? :ninja:'d[/QUOTE] I rightclick it in Computer and then Format.
For anything 32GB or less, FAT32 is the best option. You don't lose as much space with FAT32.
exFAT
Fat
I just tried exFAT and it moves a raw videofile of 5.55gb :D Thanks for all replies
Hey on one of those sites it showed Fat64's limit was 64ZB. It that a zettabyte?
[QUOTE=Turbis2;18314359]I just tried exFAT and it moves a raw videofile of 5.55gb :D Thanks for all replies[/QUOTE] Keep in mind exFAT only works well in Windows 7 and I believe Vista. For it to work in XP you need to install an update. This means that, if you leave it formatted exFAT and bring it to school or something where they run XP, it's unlikely you'll be able to use it. [QUOTE=uber sky;18314954]Hey on one of those sites it showed Fat64's limit was 64ZB. It that a zettabyte?[/QUOTE] Yes.
Op what os are you in cause I had to in xp go into the properties and change it to like high performace mode or something then I could format mine.
Even Vista needs SP2 or SP1 I think to support exFAT
ReiserFS, do it.
ext2 Btrfs XFS NILFS Tux3 [editline]05:55PM[/editline] Oh, and I forgot ZFS
Actually, XFS is really only good for hard drives. I use XFX with all my Linux rigs, but format all the USB drives to ReiserFS or EXT2
[QUOTE=Mooe94;18313899]Well, for large drives I [I]always[/I] reformat them to NTFS. In FAT32 you can't copy over files over 4GB I believe. Here's details on it: [url]http://cquirke.mvps.org/ntfs.htm[/url] and here's a comparison: [url]http://www.ntfs.com/ntfs_vs_fat.htm[/url][/QUOTE] Use FAT32, a memory stick isn't like RAM where every byte needs its own location. FAT32 is good for up to 64GB on flash drives etc. I hate NTFS, formating uses so much space compared to FAT32. I do use it for larger windows volumes though, I prefer ext2 though.
[QUOTE=4RT1LL3RY;18324705]Use FAT32, a memory stick isn't like RAM where every byte needs its own location. FAT32 is good for up to 64GB on flash drives etc. I hate NTFS, formating uses so much space compared to FAT32. I do use it for larger windows volumes though, I prefer ext2 though.[/QUOTE] Ntfs is needed for files larger than 4 gigs. There are probably other formats you can use but idk what they are.
FAT32 is shit when you have multiple drives.
Windows, Mac, and Linux can all read and write to NTFS, so I always use Gparted to format the stick with, using 8KB clusters because I move medium to large files, and it boosts the speed over the default 4KB cluster size quite a bit. The only downside to that method is smaller files suffer during the transfers, but that's negligible.
Had to reformat my external HD (400g) to NTFS because I couldn't move my steam folder over to it with FAT32. It was a relatively quick and easy process.
[QUOTE=Pixel Heart;18325454]Windows, Mac, and Linux can all read and write to NTFS, so I always use Gparted to format the stick with, using 8KB clusters because I move medium to large files, and it boosts the speed over the default 4KB cluster size quite a bit. The only downside to that method is smaller files suffer during the transfers, but that's negligible.[/QUOTE] It's a bitch to get linux to automatically recognize an NTFS drive though. also, based on my knowledge of hard drives and floppy drives, clusters cannot be 8KB.
[QUOTE=ButtsexV2;18326464][b]It's a bitch to get linux to automatically recognize an NTFS drive though.[/b][/QUOTE] Lol, since when? I insert my NTFS drives all the time and Linux finds them, mounts them, and I instantly have read-write access automatically like any other drive. :/ Maybe you're just doing it wrong. :bang: [QUOTE=ButtsexV2;18326464]also, based on my knowledge of [b]hard drives[/b] and floppy drives, clusters cannot be 8KB.[/QUOTE] Since when can harddrives and flashdrives not be 8KB clusters? I have the option of doing up to 16KB clusters if I want, which is ideal for large files like movies.
You also use Mint. It does everything for you. I use Debian, I have to jump through a few hoops to get some things to work. I don't know, could just be me with outdated information. Or I could be thinking of Sectors. I get the two mixed up all the time.
[QUOTE=Turbis2;18313945]"Windows was unable to complete the format" [editline]01:57PM[/editline] rightclick it in Computer and then Format.[/QUOTE] First, note the drive letter of your drive and the label (yes, for some reason windows sometimes requires the volume label) For the purpose of this demonstration, I will be using [u][b]X:[/b][/u] as the drive letter. Replace it with yours, of course. Also, things you must type in are [b]bolded[/b]. Start -> Run type in [b]cmd[/b] then hit enter. type [b]chkdsk [u]X:[/u] /r[/b] then hit enter; if there is no data on your drive, you may skip this step type [b]convert [u]X:[/u] /fs:NTFS[/b] then hit enter At this point, windows may or may not ask you for the drive's "label", aka what the drive is named. I don't know why it needs this but it just does. This will convert the drive to NTFS without losing your data and without installing extra software. However, since you formatted the drive (thus wiping it) the format shouldn't take more than a minute. There will be no progress bar. Just wait till the command gets done and you're left with a blinking cursor. You may now exit the command prompt with [b]exit[/b] or simply click the [X] in the top right corner. Enjoy your NTFS Pen drive! This works with Windows XP and later
[QUOTE=Nevermind_;18326823]First, note the drive letter of your drive and the label (yes, for some reason windows sometimes requires the volume label) For the purpose of this demonstration, I will be using [u][b]X:[/b][/u] as the drive letter. Replace it with yours, of course. Also, things you must type in are [b]bolded[/b]. Start -> Run type in [b]cmd[/b] then hit enter. type [b]chkdsk [u]X:[/u] /r[/b] then hit enter; if there is no data on your drive, you may skip this step type [b]convert [u]X:[/u] /fs:NTFS[/b] then hit enter At this point, windows may or may not ask you for the drive's "label", aka what the drive is named. I don't know why it needs this but it just does. This will convert the drive to NTFS without losing your data and without installing extra software. However, since you formatted the drive (thus wiping it) the format shouldn't take more than a minute. There will be no progress bar. Just wait till the command gets done and you're left with a blinking cursor. You may now exit the command prompt with [b]exit[/b] or simply click the [X] in the top right corner. Enjoy your NTFS Pen drive! This works with Windows XP and later[/QUOTE] This is what I exactly did to convert my 120GB external harddrive to NTFS in January this year. I am now able to copy single 4GB+ files onto it.
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