Should I format the flash drives FAT32 or NTFS?


  1. ramzzz999
    Posts : 2
    Windows 64 bit
       New #1

    Should I format the flash drives FAT32 or NTFS?


    Hi im going to be moving files which are 4gb+ from my computer over to my ps3. To do this should I format the usb to FAT32 or NTFS?

    Thanks.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. AddRAM
    Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       New #2

    I would choose NTFS.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. ramzzz999
    Posts : 2
    Windows 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Thanks


    Okay thanks for the quick reply!
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. NoelDP
    Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       New #4

    ... or exFAT
    FAT32 cannot handle files larger than 4GB - but exFAT can.
    One possible problem with formatting flash drives as NTFS is that they may be seen as permanent drives in Windows - and System Restore /VSS may write to them as well.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. Alejandro85
    Posts : 2,468
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       New #5

    NTFS is a nice option and much more stable and safer than FAT32, but some other devices (non-Windows) may have trouble with them and not recognize them at all, so try your particular case before reaching to a conclusion.
    FAT32 can store files larger than 4GB at all, so with it you must split it beforehand or compress them. ExFAT seems like a good candidate, but not sure about compatibility.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. minitooljoker
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Professional 64BIT
       New #6

    NTFS seems better choice, however, as I know the PS3 could only read the hard disk which first partition is FAT32
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. 4wd
    Posts : 337
    W7, W8.1
       New #7

    All depends how\where it's to be used. Example, my satellite receivers & car stereos only work with with FAT32. PC only + very large files, definitely NTFS.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
I need my 4gb flahs disk to be formatted with NTFS, but it does not always fail. It works fine with FAT, exFAT and FAT32, but not with NTFS. I have formatted it with NTFS before.... I have tried formatting quick and slow, on Right Click ---> Format as well as on Device Manager. I still get the...
16Gb flash drive FAT32 or NTFS?
in General Discussion

I'm going to use two 16Gb USB flash drives strictly for backing up data files and storing the drives alternately every month offsite. I will need to use the flash drives mainly in my Windows 7 machine, but I might need to access them with a Windows XP laptop. Should I format the flash drives...
I have "Kingston" 4GB pen-drive its file system is "FAT32" i try to change its files system to "NTFS" using "formatting" process. When i try to format it in "NTFS" this error show. "Windows was unable to complete the Format." So how do i change its file system to "NTFS"? :mad: ...
Hello , Is there any way to convert from NTFS to FAT32 without format ? Thank U :)
I have a couple of flash drives I have formatted to NTFS. One for an install drive and one for a readyboost test. If I formatted the drive in CMD do I have to format it the other way (to FAT32) in CMD or can I just right click the flash drive and format it there?
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:47.
Find Us