QUESTION: External HDD - NTFS or FAT32?

[Rockstar1983]

Question: On your external HDD, do you personally format to FAT32 or NTFS, and why? (The "why" is equally important... I'd like to hear your reasons.)

I've recently bought a 500GB external drive, and am wondering which filesystem is best.

I'd kinda like to use FAT32 so the drive would be compatible with my PS2 and Wii consoles (It'd be nice for playing my music, video and photos, not to mention backups), but I've heard "old wives' tales" about FAT32 being more corruptible, and more prone to failure than NTFS.

Would someone like to set me straight on this, please? +REP for good, informative answers.

[Inferno.]

NTFS if not wanting to use it on a console, FAT32 if wanting to use it on a console. Simple as that really. I've had no problems with FAT32 or NTFS.

[Yubson]

If I'm not wrong there's a limitation when transfering files larger than 4 or 5GB when your format is FAT32. That's why I reformated my to NTFS cause it has to be the same way like your internal HDD.

And I think there's an easy method with switching among via DOS, but I'm not sure if I'm right, I did that years ago.

Try googling.

[Inferno.]

If I'm not wrong there's a limitation when transfering files larger than 4 or 5GB when your format is FAT32. That's why I reformated my to NTFS cause it has to be the same way like your internal HDD.

And I think there's an easy method with switching among via DOS, but I'm not sure if I'm right, I did that years ago.

Try googling.

Yes FAT32 can't hold files >4GB.

[Yubson]

Yes FAT32 can't hold files >4GB.

Thanks for comfirming. With that out of the way, it wouldn't be really handy to have a 500GB HDD without capacity to transfer some massive files or such. If you can cope, great for you!

[Inferno.]

Thanks for comfirming. With that out of the way, it wouldn't be really handy to have a 500GB HDD without capacity to transfer some massive files or such. If you can cope, great for you!

Well you can always create a FAT32 partition and an NTFS partition if you need both.

[Jazzmarazz]

If I'm not wrong there's a limitation when transfering files larger than 4 or 5GB when your format is FAT32. That's why I reformated my to NTFS cause it has to be the same way like your internal HDD.

And I think there's an easy method with switching among via DOS, but I'm not sure if I'm right, I did that years ago.

Try googling.

Yeah. You can convert to NTFS from FAT at any time, but not the other way around. (iirc)

Well you can always create a FAT32 partition and an NTFS partition if you need both.

I was gonna say that.

[Kouen Hasuki]

NTFS

File Size Limitations of FAT32 is too restrictive and most of today's stuff has breached the 4GB File size limitation of the old FAT32 system
also FAT32 can be a little awkward at times with how it reacts to the windows formatter, if memory serves me the windows OS doesn't like making more than 32GB FAT32 Partitions without external apps

FAT32 is really only good for Flash Drives these days and even then there is a newer version but isnt in full effect as of yet exFAT which has less overhead, since most portable devices dont support that format standard it is not so common yet.

As for easier to become corrupted, I've not had that issue really in all my years of computing maybe ive been lucky? but ive not had my Partition table die

if your plan is also for PS2 and Wii Usage here are my thoughts.

PS2... Unless you got a fatty and putting an IDE in its expansion port with a HDD module (or sata if you got the money) forget it. PS2 only has USB1.1 and it takes FOREVER to load anything from it (I got a PS2 Slim but all PS2's have USB1.1), trust me I had the same idea with a 5400RPM Laptop drive
Wii... OK now were cooking but what are you intending to load off it? maybe flash media would be better? if you intend to have a ton of games ready at the touch of a button then aye a hdd may be the way to go, although since the Wii is lacking on decent titles maybe a 16 or 32GB USB Flash Drive?

[Rockstar1983]

Well you can always create a FAT32 partition and an NTFS partition if you need both.

Good idea, Inferno (and Jazz)! Just might do this... I'd +rep that post, but I already repped your first post in this thread.

If your plan is also for PS2 and Wii Usage here are my thoughts.

PS2... Unless you got a fatty and putting an IDE in its expansion port with a HDD module (or sata if you got the money) forget it. PS2 only has USB1.1 and it takes FOREVER to load anything from it (I got a PS2 Slim but all PS2's have USB1.1), trust me I had the same idea with a 5400RPM Laptop drive
Wii... OK now were cooking but what are you intending to load off it? maybe flash media would be better? if you intend to have a ton of games ready at the touch of a button then aye a hdd may be the way to go, although since the Wii is lacking on decent titles maybe a 16 or 32GB USB Flash Drive?

These are good thoughts, Kouen... I'm currently using an 8GB flash drive for my Wii. It holds around 4-5 "scrubbed" games, and works very well. The thing is, I've got 100GB+ of music, and am not always near my laptop to play it. However, there are good, capable MP3 player softwares written for both PS2 and Wii... thus, my thought of having my external HDD formatted so my consoles could read it.

You're right, PS2 USB-loading isn't great. The only PS2 game I used to bother loading from USB was "The Adventures of Cookie and Cream" (no FMV to stutter, all scenes remain in the game engine). Results with that one were good... speed was not much slower than loading from disc. Other games? Not so much.

Thanks for posting. +Rep for your time and info.

[Kouen Hasuki]

Good idea, Inferno (and Jazz)! Just might do this... I'd +rep that post, but I already repped your first post in this thread.



These are good thoughts, Kouen... I'm currently using an 8GB flash drive for my Wii. It holds around 4-5 "scrubbed" games, and works very well. The thing is, I've got 100GB+ of music, and am not always near my laptop to play it. However, there are good, capable MP3 player softwares written for both PS2 and Wii... thus, my thought of having my external HDD formatted so my consoles could read it.

You're right, PS2 USB-loading isn't great. The only PS2 game I used to bother loading from USB was "The Adventures of Cookie and Cream" (no FMV to stutter, all scenes remain in the game engine). Results with that one were good... speed was not much slower than loading from disc. Other games? Not so much.

Thanks for posting. +Rep for your time and info.

Jazz's Idea seems to be the best way forward maybe split the drive like 200GB FAT32 and the rest NTFS