For long time, I have been delaying the proper understanding about all types of filesystems we see while formatting disk-drives/pendrives. But today I decided to drill down, investigate and better document it one place taking some 1/2 an hour. So, here it is.
How to format disk-drive/pen-drive in windows/linux
It's almost same in both OS, right click on the drive -> Format->Start->Ok
But in between we come across 4 options for Filetypes . In Windows-XP/windows7 (FAT, FAT32, NTFS and exFAT) and in Linux(FAT, ext2, ext4 and encrypted FAT). We will not see FAT and FAT32 if our drive memory is > 32 GB. So what is the difference between these file systems and which one should we choose? Let’s look at the advantages of each.
But in between we come across 4 options for Filetypes . In Windows-XP/windows7 (FAT, FAT32, NTFS and exFAT) and in Linux(FAT, ext2, ext4 and encrypted FAT). We will not see FAT and FAT32 if our drive memory is > 32 GB. So what is the difference between these file systems and which one should we choose? Let’s look at the advantages of each.
Various Filetypes
Advantages of NTFS over FAT & FAT32:
- read/write files > 4 GB and up to maximum partition size. (So, if your jump drive stores oftenly HD movies or big setup file > 4GB. NTFS is best suited.)
- In NTFS partition memory created are > 32GB.
- Better file compression filesystem used, hence better space management.
- better space management = less fragmentation.
- allows more clusters on larger drives = less wasted space.
- add user permissions to individual files and folders (Windows Professional).
- on-the-fly file encryption using EFS (Encrypting File System in Windows XP and 7).
Advantages of FAT & FAT32 over NTFS:
- compatible with virtually all operating systems.
- takes up less space on USB drive.
- less disk writing operations = faster and less memory usage.
exFAT Compared To FAT & FAT32:
- read/write files larger than 4 GB.
- create drive partitions larger than 32 GB.
- better space management = less fragmentation.
