Backup Partition - NTFS vs FAT32

[kreesdqban]

I wanna make a hidden partition on my hard drive for saving image backup files. Should it be FAT32 or NTFS?

 

[Tews]

Who are you hiding it from, and why would you want to use FAT32??

 

[SIW2]

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.

 

[whs]

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.

 

[pparks1]

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.

 

[gregrocker]

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.

 

[Dave76]

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.

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.

 

[kreesdqban]

Thanks for your help

 

[thefabe]

Lots of good information thanks

 

[Corpsecrank]

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.

 

[kreesdqban]

Why is it that portable hard drives use FAT32 and not NTFS?

 

[quenoteam]

Why is it that portable hard drives use FAT32 and not NTFS?

For use in WINXP-VISTA-7 and Mac OS X

 

[kreesdqban]

Why is it that portable hard drives use FAT32 and not NTFS?

For use in WINXP-VISTA-7 and Mac OS X

Would it be wise to convert a portable hdd to NTFS for use with Windows PC's only?

 

[logicearth]

Why is it that portable hard drives use FAT32 and not NTFS?

For use in WINXP-VISTA-7 and Mac OS X

Would it be wise to convert a portable hdd to NTFS for use with Windows PC's only?

Sure. Sides NTFS is already getting great support on Mac and Linux thanks to ntfs-3g

 

[SanityKills]

I am attempting to configure the same setup. I have an NTFS partition that I hide from Windows while it's booted, however, this also hides the drive from the Windows 7 image backup process so it is not listed as a backup option. Is it safe to assume that I would have to show the partition with a drive letter then manually hide it after each backup routine as opposed to somehow enabling the Windows 7 image backup process to see a partition that does not have a drive letter assigned?

I prefer to hide the partition to eliminate any possibility of accidentally deleting any contents within the restore partition--as is my current setup with Acronis True Image Home with Acronis Secure Zone. With the F8 boot option it would be nice to go completely native Windows for backup/restore but I'm kinda hung up on having a hidden partition.

 

[logicearth]

I prefer to hide the partition to eliminate any possibility of accidentally deleting any contents within the restore partition....but I'm kinda hung up on having a hidden partition.

Then simply deny the permission to delete contents from the drive for your user account. A hidden partition is no longer required from there on.