FAT32/NTFS formatting?

papoosue · 17 April 2009 at 10:46PM

I've just got a 16gb memory stick for keeping my photos on and I've heard people talking about changing the format from FAT32 to NTFS - what does this mean and is it something I should do? I'm afraid it means nothing to me.

Susan

posted_2 · 17 April 2009 at 10:48PM

yes.

use it as a backup, keep a copy on the pc.

papoosue · 17 April 2009 at 11:04PM

Thanks. well, I usually keep a copy on a dvd and I wanted to get rid of all the photos on the pc and keep another copy on the memory stick.

Susan

posted wrote: »

yes.

use it as a backup, keep a copy on the pc.

Marty_J · 17 April 2009 at 11:11PM

FAT32 and NTFS are just two different file systems.

FAT32 volumes are limited to a maximum file size of 4 GB, so if you want to store individual files larger than that, you should format it as NTFS.

However, FAT32 is much more compatible with other operating systems and devices than NTFS is. An Apple Mac won't be able to write to an NTFS volume for example.

papoosue · 17 April 2009 at 11:29PM

Ah, I see. That makes things a bit clearer, thanks :-)

QUOTE=Marty J;20776429]FAT32 and NTFS are just two different file systems.

FAT32 volumes are limited to a maximum file size of 4 GB, so if you want to store individual files larger than that, you should format it as NTFS.

However, FAT32 is much more compatible with other operating systems and devices than NTFS is. An Apple Mac won't be able to write to an NTFS volume for example.[/QUOTE]

posted_2 · 17 April 2009 at 11:42PM

Any particular reason why you want them off the hard disk?

papoosue · 18 April 2009 at 7:40AM

Really just to free up more space - I have a ton of photos, not all are on the hard disk, some are printed out and also backed up on disk. It seems that there is no sure fire way of keeping a really 'safe' copy of them - every backup seems to need another backup IYKWIM!

Susan

posted wrote: »

Any particular reason why you want them off the hard disk?

aliEnRIK · 18 April 2009 at 9:57AM

Marty_J wrote: »

FAT32 and NTFS are just two different file systems.

FAT32 volumes are limited to a maximum file size of 4 GB, so if you want to store individual files larger than that, you should format it as NTFS.

However, FAT32 is much more compatible with other operating systems and devices than NTFS is. An Apple Mac won't be able to write to an NTFS volume for example.

So macs cant read any file over 4 gig?

weegie.geek · 18 April 2009 at 10:08AM

aliEnRIK wrote: »

So macs cant read any file over 4 gig?

They'd have trouble doing the video work they love to talk about so much if that were the case.

No, macs use neither FAT(32) or NTFS, and never have, they use HFS+ these days, which allows maximum filesizes of 1,152,921,504,606,846,976 bytes. Plenty.

Anway, while macs don't have native support for writing to NTFS, it's very possible.

thomas01155 · 18 April 2009 at 10:16AM

I wouldn't keep all your photos on a memory stick if it goes corrupt or breaks you will lose them all. Some memory sticks only last a few years before they die.