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Level 1

106 points

NTFS or FAT32

I installed XP with Boot Camp and used NTFS, The one thing I do not like is that the drive is now called "Untitled" is there a way to switch that?

Should I use NTFS or FAT32 and pros and cons for the two?

MacBook Pro 2.0GHZ, Mac OS X (10.4.4), 2GB RAM

Posted on Apr 5, 2006 2:03 PM

Best reply

Nick A

Level 4

1,522 points

Posted on Apr 5, 2006 2:44 PM

Use disk utility to rename it?

As for the differences, if you want to possibly read some files from OSX while on windows, you'd want FAT32 since OSX recognizes FAT32. It will not recognize NTFS though.
NTFS is supposed to have more security features available, which is only good if you actually take advantage of them. Also, NTFS tends to be less prone to fragmenting. In terms of performance, you won't notice a difference. I went with FAT32.

Nick

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35 replies

Apr 7, 2006 5:38 PM in response to coreyammons

Hi I have been unable to get windows to boot after installing the Apple drivers when I create the partition as FAT32. I was wanting to do exactly what you are discussing have the "my documents" folder available to OSX. Created the partition as NTFS and windows works fine. I was trying for the max 32 Gig size. Am trying to make a 25 gig partition now. Hopefully it works. Anyone run into the missing or corrupt PCI.SYS file problem with the FAT32 file system?

Oben

Level 1

65 points

Apr 7, 2006 6:16 PM in response to coreyammons

Bear in mind that if you choose FAT32 you can always convert the partition to NTFS from within Windows. It's a one way procedure though. You can't go the other way.

Start with FAT32 and change it to NTFS later if you wish.

Apr 12, 2006 6:18 PM in response to Resno

I just clicked on the hard drive and highlighted

the

name of my XP partition (currently named "NO

NAME")

and changed it--what's the deal?

let me verify: you do this while from OS X? do you
just right click on the icon on the desktop and
change the name? does the XP work fine afterwards?

thanks!

Boot into Windows. Open Explorer. Click on drive. Press F2. Type in new name. Press Return. Fnished. It sould now be the new name when you boot back into MacOS

donie

djeung

Level 1

0 points

Apr 26, 2006 11:09 PM in response to coreyammons

I was wondering: since OS X can read fat32, what if I store my itunes files under XP and just read them from the Mac side. Has anyone tried this yet? It would certainly be better than storing them twice, once under XP, and once under OS X.

-Daniel

Apr 26, 2006 11:49 PM in response to coreyammons

FAT has one advantage only: It can be written to from Mac OS.

NTFS is a modern file system with many advantages: Journaling; Protection; Space efficiency; Compression; Encryption; Case-sensitivity.

Just say “no!” to FAT.

Randall Schulz

NTFS or FAT32