Backup Partition - NTFS vs FAT32

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  1. Posts : 87
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    Backup Partition - NTFS vs FAT32


    I wanna make a hidden partition on my hard drive for saving image backup files. Should it be FAT32 or NTFS?
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  2. Posts : 11,840
    64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
       #2

    Who are you hiding it from, and why would you want to use FAT32??
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  3. Posts : 16,132
    7 X64
       #3

    Tews said:
    Who are you hiding it from, and why would you want to use FAT32??
    LOL.


    You may as well use ntfs - I assume you are making backups of ntfs partitions - so why not.
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  4. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #4

    What imaging program do you plan to use? Depending on that, you may have to use a different internal or external drive - not just a different partition on the same drive.
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  5. Posts : 7,878
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #5

    If you are going to back up any single file over 4GB, you are going to need to use something other than FAT32. Use NTFS.
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  6.    #6

    If you plan to use Windows 7 imaging backup, then you should format NTFS primary partition so that it is discovered as a drive for saving the backup, and for recovering from the boot repair console. On each of my Win7 computers I have done this, including ones dual booted with XP since the Win7 imaging backup saves both, and then I copy the image once saved in that partition "drive" to an external backup. Thus I have a recovery partition and a backed up external hardrive copy. In fact, when I plug in the external and reboot into repair then tell it to Recover using an Image, it finds both the lettered primary partition AND the backup in the root of the external drive. I have already recovered this way several times and it works fast and perfectly.

    Of course you need the external backup in case you lose your HDD.
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  7. Posts : 12,177
    Windows 7 Ult x64 - SP1/ Windows 8 Pro x64
       #7

    kreesdqban said:
    I wanna make a hidden partition on my hard drive for saving image backup files. Should it be FAT32 or NTFS?
    You're going to backup Win7 which is NTFS, FAT32 has the 4GB limitation, better to use NTFS.

    It's safer to keep your operating system backup image on a seperate storage device, external hard drives are large and a good choice for OS image storage. If your internal hard drive fails, you have lost everything. Hope this never happens to anyone, but it has.
    The concern here is, why a hidden partition? If you have a reason, or just want to, then it's up to you. I would guess that most people don't put it in a hidden partition so you can access it easily when needed and you can, depending on the imaging backup program you are using, look through and access files you may want to restore individually.

    gregrocker said:
    If you plan to use Windows 7 imaging backup, then you should format NTFS primary partition so that it is discovered as a drive for saving the backup, and for recovering from the boot repair console. On each of my Win7 computers I have done this, including ones dual booted with XP since the Win7 imaging backup saves both, and then I copy the image once saved in that partition "drive" to an external backup. Thus I have a recovery partition and a backed up external hardrive copy. In fact, when I plug in the external and reboot into repair then tell it to Recover using an Image, it finds both the lettered primary partition AND the backup in the root of the external drive. I have already recovered this way several times and it works fast and perfectly.

    Of course you need the external backup in case you lose your HDD.
    Nice backup plan.
    I am going to do the same after I get Win7 RTM, load it on my Vista partition, then use the Win7 RC partition for same HDD image storage and a copy to my external. I was hoping the image would restore faster and no need to hookup the external. Copy on external for safety.
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  8. Posts : 87
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Thanks for your help
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  9. Posts : 4,280
    Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit / XP Home sp3
       #9

    Lots of good information thanks
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  10. Posts : 334
    Win7 64bit Ultimate
       #10

    NTFS gives you a good bit more control than FAT and FAT in any format be it FAT or FAT32 ect is a legacy format and only used for specific things any more. Like the Wii uses FAT and a specific block size for SD cards but aside form that particular situation FAT should be avoided.
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