Differences and selections between NTFS and FAT32 in Windows

Windows can support both FAT32 and NTFS two file systems, FAT32 is longer than compatibility, and NTFS is longer than system security. Under the premise of satisfying the application, how to set up the file system to give full play to the features of Windows? Before discussing this issue, let's take a look at the features of the FAT32 and NTFS two file systems.

FAT32 File System

Prior to the introduction of the FAT32 file system, the file system used by the PC is usually FAT16. The FAT16 file system is used in systems such as Ms-dos,win 95. Under Win 9X, the maximum number of partitions supported by FAT16 is 2GB. We know that computers store information in areas called "clusters" on your hard disk. The smaller the cluster you use, the more efficient it is to save information. In the case of FAT16, the bigger the cluster, the lower the storage efficiency and the waste of storage space. And with the continuous improvement of computer hardware and application, FAT16 file system can not adapt to the requirements of the system well. In this case, an enhanced file system FAT32 is introduced. Compared with FAT16, FAT32 mainly has the following characteristics:

1. The biggest advantage of FAT32 compared to FAT16 is that the disk size that can be supported is 2TB (2047GB), but partitions less than 512MB are not supported. Win 2000, based on FAT32, can support a maximum of 32GB partitions, while the FAT16 win 2000 supports a maximum of 4GB.

2. With smaller clusters, the FAT32 file system can save information more efficiently. If two partitions are 2GB in size, one partition uses the FAT16 file system, and the other partition uses the FAT32 file system. The cluster size of the FAT16 partition is 32KB, and the FAT32 partition is only 4KB in size. This FAT32 is much higher than the FAT16 storage efficiency and typically increases by 15%.

3. The FAT32 file system can reposition the root directory and use a backup copy of fat. In addition, the FAT32 partition's boot record is included in a structure that contains critical data, reducing the likelihood of computer crashes.

NTFS file system

The NTFS file system, a security based file system, is a unique file system structure used by Windows NT and is an advanced file system built on protecting file and directory data while taking care of saving storage resources and reducing disk consumption. Using a very wide range of Windows NT 4.0 is the NTFS 4.0 file system, I believe that it brings a strong system security to the vast number of users have left a deep impression. Win 2000 employs a newer version of the NTFS file system,--NTFS 5.0, which enables users to operate and manage computers as quickly and easily as win 9X, while also enjoying the system security that NTFS brings.

The features of NTFS 5.0 are mainly embodied in the following aspects:

1. NTFS can support partitions (if a dynamic disk is called a volume) size can reach 2TB. The maximum size of the FAT32 support partition in Win 2000 is 32GB.

2. NTFS is a recoverable file system. It is rare for a user to run a disk fix on an NTFS partition. NTFS ensures partition consistency by using standard object handling logs and recovery techniques. NTFS uses log files and checkpoint information to automatically restore file system consistency when a system failure event occurs.

3. NTFS supports compression of partitions, folders, and files. Any windows-based application that reads and writes compressed files on an NTFS partition does not need to be uncompressed by other programs, and the files are automatically decompressed when the file is read, and the files are automatically compressed when the file is closed or saved.

4. NTFS uses smaller clusters to manage disk space more efficiently. In the case of the FAT32 file system of Win 2000, the size of the partition at 2GB~8GB is 4KB, the size of the cluster is 8KB when 8GB~16GB, and the cluster size is 16KB when the partition size is 16GB~32GB. The NTFS file system of Win 2000, when the size of the partition below 2GB, the size of the cluster is smaller than the corresponding FAT32 clusters, when the size of the partition is above 2GB (2GB~2TB), the size of the cluster is 4KB. By contrast, NTFS can manage disk space more efficiently than FAT32, minimizing the waste of disk space.

5. On NTFS partitions, you can set access permission permissions for shared resources, folders, and files. Licensing settings include two things: which groups or users are allowed access to folders, files, and shared resources, and what level of access is available to the group or user who has access permission. The settings for access permission permissions apply not only to users of the local computer, but also to network users who access files through shared folders on the network. Security is much higher than accessing folders or files under the FAT32 file system. In addition, in Win 2000 in NTFS format, an audit policy can be applied to audit folders, files, and Active Directory objects, and audit results are recorded in the security log, which allows you to see which groups or users are doing what levels of folders, files, or Active Directory objects through the security log. So that the system may be faced with illegal access, by taking appropriate measures to minimize this security risk. These are not implemented under the FAT32 file system.