Choosing between NTFS, FAT, and
FAT32
You can choose between three file systems for disk partitions on a computer running
Windows XP: NTFS, FAT, and FAT32. Use the information below to compare the file
systems.
NTFS is the recommended file system for the following reasons:
• NTFS is more powerful than FAT or FAT32, and includes features required for
hosting Active Directory as well as other important security features. You can use
features such as Active Directory and domain-based security only by choosing
NTFS as your file system.
• It is easy to convert partitions to NTFS. The Setup program makes conversion
easy, whether your partitions used FAT, FAT32, or the older version of NTFS.
This kind of conversion keeps your files intact (unlike formatting a partition). If
you do not need to keep your files intact and you have a FAT or FAT32 partition,
it is recommended that you format the partition with NTFS rather than convert
from FAT or FAT32. Formatting a partition erases all data on the partition and
allows you to start with a clean drive.
Whether a partition is formatted with NTFS or converted using the convert
command, NTFS is the better choice of file system. For more information about
Convert.exe, after completing Setup, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then
press ENTER. In the command window, type help convert and then press
ENTER.
• In order to maintain access control on files and folders and support limited
accounts, you must use NTFS. If you use FAT32, all users will have access to all
files on your hard drive, regardless of their account type (administrator, limited,
or standard.)
• NTFS is the file system that works best with large disks. (The next best file
system for large disks is FAT32.)
There is one situation in which you might want to choose FAT or FAT32 as your file
system. If it is necessary to have a computer that will sometimes run an earlier version of
Windows and other times run Windows XP, you will need to have a FAT or FAT32
partition as the primary (or startup) partition on the hard disk. Most earlier versions of
Windows cannot access a partition if it uses the latest version of NTFS. The two
exceptions are Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or later.
Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or later has access to partitions with the latest
version of NTFS, but with some limitations: It cannot access files that have been stored
using NTFS features that did not exist when Windows NT 4.0 was released.
For anything other than a situation with multiple operating systems, however, the
recommended file system is NTFS.
Important
• Once you convert a drive or partition to NTFS, you cannot simply convert it back
to FAT or FAT32. You will need to reformat the drive or partition which will
erase all data including programs and personal files on the partition.
The following table describes the compatibility of each file system with various operating
systems.
NTFS FAT FAT32
A computer running Windows XP or
Access is available Access is available only
Windows 2000 can access files on an
through MS-DOS, all through Windows 95 OSR2,
NTFS partition. A computer running
versions of Windows, Windows 98, Windows
Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4
Windows NT, Windows Millennium Edition,
or later might be able to access some
2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2000, and
files. Other operating systems allow no
OS/2. Windows XP.
access.
The following table compares disk and file sizes possible with each file system.
NTFS FAT FAT32
Recommended minimum volume
Volumes from 512 MB to 2 TB.
size is approximately 10 megabytes
(MB). Volumes from floppy disk In Windows XP, you can format
size up to 4 gigabytes (GB). a FAT32 volume up to 32 GB
Volumes much larger than 2
terabytes (TB) are possible. Does not support domains. only.
Does not support domains.
Cannot be used on floppy disks.
File size limited only by size of
Maximum file size is 2 GB. Maximum file size is 4 GB.
volume.
Note
• Some older programs may not run on an NTFS volume, so you should research
the current requirements for your software before converting.
