Advantages and Disadvantages of FAT and NTFS File Systems

Understanding FAT and NTFS File Systems

• NTFS provides optimum security and reliability through its ability to lock down individual files and folders on a user-by-user basis. Advanced features such as disk compression, disk quotas and encryption make it the file system recommended by 9 out of 10 MCSEs.

• FAT and FAT32 are only used for dual-booting between Windows XP and another operating system (like DOS 6.22, Win 3.1 or Win 95/98).

• Existing NT 4.0 NTFS system partitions will be upgraded to Windows XP NTFS automatically. If you wish to dual-boot between NT4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP you must first install Service Pack 4 on the NT4.0 machine. This will allow it to read the upgraded NTFS partitions, but advanced features such as EFS and Disk Quotas will be disabled.

• Use convert.exe to convert a FAT or FAT32 file system to NTFS. NTFS partitions cannot be converted to FAT or FAT32 - the partition must be deleted and recreated as FAT or FAT32 • You cannot convert a FAT partition to FAT32 using convert.exe.

NTFS file and folder permissions:

• NTFS in Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional features enhancements not found in Windows NT 4.0 version 4: Reparse Points, Encrypting File System (EFS), Disk Quotas, Volume Mount Points, SID Searching, Bulk ACL Checking, and Sparse File Support.

• Volume Mount Points allow new volumes to be added to the file system without needing to assign a drive letter to it. Instead of mounting a CD-ROM as drive E:, it can be mounted and accessed under an existing drive (e.g., C:\CD-ROM).

• Sparse File Support prevents files containing large consecutive areas of zero bits from being allocated corresponding physical space on the drive and improves system performance.

• NTFS partitions can be de-fragmented in Windows XP (as can FAT and FAT32 partitions). Use Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter.

• Local security access can be set on a NTFS volume.

• Files moved from an NTFS partition to a FAT partition do not retain their attributes or security descriptors, but will retain their long filenames.

• Permissions are cumulative, except for Deny, which overrides anything.

• File permissions override the permissions of its parent folder.

• Anytime a new file is created, the file will inherit permissions from the target folder.

• The cacls.exe utility is used to modify NTFS volume permissions.

• Windows XP supports disk-based quotas. Quotas can be set on NTFS volumes, but not on FAT or FAT32 volumes. Quotas cannot be set on individual folders within a NTFS partition. Quotas can be set on both Basic and Dynamic disks.

• Disk information is stored on the physical disk itself, facilitating moving hard drives between systems. As managing disk numbering can become quite complex, the dmdiag.exe utility has been provided.

• If you accidentally start an NTFS conversion on the wrong FAT or FAT32 volume, you still have a chance to cancel it before restarting your system. Go into the registry and change the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager and change the BootExecute entry to: autocheck autochk *