FAT32 vs. NTFS
 

My new external hard drive (Western Digital My Book 500GB) came pre-formatted to FAT32. Currently, I have been alternating the drive between my PC desktop and my Apple iBook (mainly transferring files).

My question is:

Does this matter?

Do I need to re-format to NTFS?

If I re-format, will my Mac still be able to "see" or read the drive?

From what I understand Mac OS X versions 10.3 and later offer read-only NTFS support.

FAT32 is more "open" and flexible for other operating systems to see and utilize 100%.

why do you think you need NTFS?

It came up in a review of my hard drive. It recommended reformatting or converting to NTFS. I looked into it and apparently NTFS is more secure, more efficient at using space etc. I am concerned if I convert or reformat then I won't be able to use it with my Mac like I am able to do now.

NTFS isn't secure if one can gain physical access to the drive and for external HD that is often VERY simple.
The efficiency can also be debated. Said that I will admit that all my external HD's are NTFS formatted, one of the reasons is that XP can't format FAT32 larger than 32 GB and an other is the 2 Gb size limits of files.
Like Cynthetic pointed out NTFS is read-only in many applications where the host is not Windows XP/Vista.
For the use that you describe I would not think that NTFS would have advantage over FAT32, but your milage may vary ;-).

Yours
ZB

The biggest advantage of ntfs over fat32, and the reason i format all of my drives ntfs, even thumdrives, is that fat32 limits the file size at 4GB, while Ntfs lets you use bigger files. I use lots of files over 8GB, so I use Ntfs, if it wasn't for that single reason i'd use Fat.

This is the biggest issue with FAT32. Especially if you are handling DVD disk images. Space lost to cluster size and security are some of the other issues but these usually aren't major issues for typical users.

FYI - XP can address up to close to 8 terrabytes with FAT32. The installation program that ships with XP is limited to 32 gigabytes.

Format to NTFS. Windows XP doesn't like FAT32.

macs don't like NTFS..or do you have a different fix for the OP?

I don't know of any issues with XP and FAT32 beside that there is a limitation in XP that it will not format partitions that are larger than 32GB but that's by design.

Please share with us if you know of other issues.

Currently FAT32 is the best filesystem if you have to share it between OSes due to limitations in XP and Vista.

yours
ZB

Look into the NTFS-3G driver for OS X... it allows full read and write of NTFS volumes in Mac OS X. It even allows Disk Utility to reformat a drive in NTFS. Stable since Feb 2007 and easy to install (no need to even touch Terminal.app).


here's the home page

Thanks for the tips you guys, I really appreciate it.

Update: I have the Western Digital My Book My Essentials 500 GB. I did format it to NTSF and have it attached to my desktop PC (very old from 2000). I use a 8GB USB drive to transfer files to my iBook when I need to. It works albeit slowly.

I'm gonna try out this NTFS-3G driver for OS X program. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

thank you for this, wow it works perfect. I was almost at the point of buying MacDrive and formatting my external as a Mac OS file system because I can't use FAT32 and NTFS wasn't an option. But then my external would only really be usable on two computers, my mac laptop and my desktop with MacDrive installed. This solves that problem completely. Cheers!