FAT32 or NTFS for external hard drive?

[ComputerNewbie]

I've always received lots of help on here whether it be a spyware problem or configuring my wireless internet connection.

I am now experiencing a dilemma in my newly purchased 500 GB Western Digital My Book external hard drive. I still can't figure out if I should leave it as FAT32 or convert it to NTFS. I've been doing Google searches and I just end up getting more confused. Some people have said that using FAT32 is fine. Formatting the drive to NTFS doesn't really save that much space. Others have said that NTFS is a lot safer and will have fewer disk errors down the road. All I know is that you can convert FAT32 to NTFS, but not the other way around.

I'm running Windows XP Pro with Service Pack 2. The main reason why I bought the external hard drive is to save all of the pictures and videos from my new digital camcorder. I don't plan on saving or backing anything else up into the external hard drive.

I'll be more than happy to provide you with more information upon request. Like I said before, I've always received lots of valuable advice and plenty of help in these forums. Your opinions mean a lot to me.

[cauzomb]

FAT32 seams to be more "controlable" than NTFS; there are currently buffer issues related to NTFS that are exploitable somehow through microsoft opperating systems that use ntfs. It could be related to write caching and other "drive-optimization" utilities included with xp pro sp2 /xp home and 2003 server and maybe others, but the issue is vulnerable through the network somehow! The issue causes the ntfs "file map" or MBR? to get messed up, while in buffer memory, then re-written to the disk in it's bad state!! Something like this that can be executed remotely "on demand" basically, making the hard disk look empty, at someone elses discression, for whatever reason.... makes NTFS not safe... There is mention of partition size limmit with fat32 being 32gb, due to an OS partition utillity limmitation; but the drive MFG's usually include boot disc's to setup the drives. If you are dealing with uncompressed video's over 4gb definately use NTFS, but make backup's due to the ntfs buffer/mbr issue.

These are my personal experiences in the past, probly due to me not using limmited software at the time, so you may want to avoid trying to format in windows; instead use the drive manufacture's software for partitioning/formatting.

[ComputerNewbie]

Thanks "cauzomb." I will definitely be dealing with uncompressed videos that are over 4 GB. So it looks like I will have to use NTFS even with its vulnerabilities. I actually plan on using this external hard drive to save videos and to only save videos. When it's not in use, I will unplug it entirely from my PC. Call me a bit paranoid, but whenever I use the external hard drive, I plan to unplug the wireless card from my PC to prevent unwanted "remote" executions. Should I still make backup copies of the videos onto a DVD or something?

While I'm at it, I'm still puzzled with the video formats. I've been fidgeting with my new camera and I already have some footage saved on my PC. When I save a video file, which format has the best quality to later burn it to a DVD and watch it? I think my options are mpeg1, mpeg2, avi, or divx. I read the descriptions for each format, but can somebody explain them to me in layman's terms? I just don't get it.

[itrush07]

I agree with cauzomb, i would definitely go for ntfs.

[cauzomb]

Thanks "cauzomb." I will definitely be dealing with uncompressed videos that are over 4 GB. So it looks like I will have to use NTFS even with its vulnerabilities. I actually plan on using this external hard drive to save videos and to only save videos. When it's not in use, I will unplug it entirely from my PC. Call me a bit paranoid, but whenever I use the external hard drive, I plan to unplug the wireless card from my PC to prevent unwanted "remote" executions. Should I still make backup copies of the videos onto a DVD or something?

While I'm at it, I'm still puzzled with the video formats. I've been fidgeting with my new camera and I already have some footage saved on my PC. When I save a video file, which format has the best quality to later burn it to a DVD and watch it? I think my options are mpeg1, mpeg2, avi, or divx. I read the descriptions for each format, but can somebody explain them to me in layman's terms? I just don't get it.

basically; the formats are proprietary, and the main concern is video resolution and audio bitrate for "compressed" formats; such as divx, or mpeg, I believe AVI is uncompressed, and divx is the most compressed? I don't have any experience with video's on the computer other than some odd coincidents of "hush hush" type stuff that seems to keep mpeg authoring software out of the hands of consumers...

[ComputerNewbie]

Thank you for your input. I value your responses and put them in high regards. I now know what to do because you've adequately addressed my concerns. Thanks again!

[vitamin]

As many people know, NTFS support more features than the FAT32. And considering the superiority it gives, many people would like to convert FAT32 to NTFS to experience its superiority. We know that convert FAT32 to NTFS is simple--through the disk management, but if we want to revert it back (such as we face some trouble about the NTFS file system), it is difficult to finish unless format the partition.
So, I share something useful information about the conversion between the NTFS and FAT32 I just got yesterday--there is new released software named NTFS to FAT32 Converter, it can easily convert NTFS to FAT32 without data losing. NTFS to FAT32 Converter will be a right-hand file system assistant. Your trouble to convert NTFS to FAT32 will no longer fret you.
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