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vfat or fat32 for shared partition?
Long time MS user (there's a surprise).
After running Knoppix a while, I've decided I'm ready for a full blown install, and so I've chose SuSE 10. As Linux appears most compatible with my laptop, I've decided to dual boot it, along with XP Pro (need it for work). There is extensive information on the install and its use (for which I'm thankful). Having said that, there is one issue I've not seen/found addressed as yet. I thought it a good idea (and a wise use of limited space) to combine the shared partition with the Windows My Document folder (on all my installs, I have My Docs on its own partition). However, I'm aware that htough Linux reads ntfs without issue, it isn't as strong writing to it. I was going to format/partition the 37GB drive as follows ... 8gb XP Pro - ntfs (kept small for imaging) 10gb Programs - ntfs 8gb My Documents (windows folder) - vfat 11gb SuSE (1gb swap and 10 for linux). I've done some research on ntfs for linux, but, am unsure of that. So, the questions are... 1) that setup suitable for my needs? 2) is vfat limited in partition sise as is fat32? Thanks for any guidance. |
I use FAT32 for data on a separate physical drive. Keeps things a bit more robust if there is a hardware drive failure
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Yes, but... this is my laptop see ^^^.
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I consider vfat and FAT32 the same thing. To confuse the issue in the windows world vfat (virtual FAT) was the precursor to FAT32.
XP has been limited to only creating and formating a FAT32 partition of <=32GB but is not limited in accessing larger partitions. IMO the safest filesystem for sharing data is still FAT32. |
Thanks for the confirmation.
Just to clarify, my concern is that FAT32 loses its ideal cluster size when size of the partition is greater than 8gb. Should've pointed that out in op, apologies. Again, thanks for the help. Looking forward to learning the commands now. :P |
I share my data with a hardly-used windows install via a FAT32. I always create a fat32 using Linux and Windows has never had a problem recognizing it. My current FAT32 partitions are 120GB on windows disc and 200 GB on external usb disk (for backup). No problems there.
Tux, |
If you MUST keep Windows (gags :-x) FAT32 is the only tried and true means of reading/writting from both linux and winslows.
NTFS support is lacking, and why not, I wouldnt want to spend all my time writting file system support for it so some newb can access his "hax0rz fil3z dawg". |
You can also approach this problem in the opposite direction, by obtaining and using the ext2/ext3 Installable File System (IFS) driver for Windows.
Yes, Virginia, Windows also understands filesystem-formats beyond VFAT and NTFS. :eek: It would be a shame to stick a large partition with nothing better than VFAT. |
Windows will also read/write to reiserfs partitions with no problem for me.
But you need an IFS as mentioned above. |
So, it appears you have a 30 gig hard drive. Since you seem to be pretty organized about the plan, maybe you could spring for at least a 50 gig drive unless you really don't ever expect to need the space for data. My laptop has a 100 gig drive 45 for Windows including a 30 gig Fat32 partition used by both OSs.
I think you could get by with a little less ntfs on your partition. My 15 gig Windows (ntfs) OS partition includes the WinXP Home Edition, MS Office Pro, and probably 10 or 12 other programs. It is currently actually using about 8 gigs total. I'm not sure how much is OS and how much is applications. |
Why use NTFS at all? XP can be installed to FAT32. You will lose some security but it doesn't matter since it is a single user laptop. This way you can reduce the number of partitions needed.
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Quote:
@ rickh... actually 37 usable, and no, can't see a need for anything larger. :P Again, thanks for the direction guys. I've just now started the wipe of the OS partion (4 hours with 2x over writes). SuSE goes in tomorrow. :D |
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