File Systems

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Advantages of NTFS

It is recommended that you format all Windows 2000 partitions with NTFS except multiple-boot configurations where non-Windows 2000 and non-Windows NT startups are necessary.

Formatting your Windows 2000 partitions with NTFS instead of FAT allows you to use features that are available only on NTFS. These include:

Recoverability   The recoverability designed into NTFS is such that a user should seldom have to run a disk repair program on an NTFS volume. NTFS guarantees the consistency of the volume by using standard transaction logging and recovery techniques. In the event of a system failure, NTFS uses its log file and checkpoint information to automatically restore the consistency of the file system. For more information about recovering your system, restoring data, and creating an emergency repair disk (ERD), see "Repair, Recovery, and Restore" in this book.

Compression   Windows 2000 supports compression on an individual file basis for NTFS volumes. Files that are compressed on an NTFS volume can be read and written by any Windows-based application without first being decompressed by another program. Decompression happens automatically during the read of the file. The file is compressed again when it is closed or saved.

In addition, formatting your volumes with NTFS instead of FAT16 or FAT32 provides the following advantages:

Disadvantages of NTFS

While NTFS is the recommended file system for users of Windows 2000, it is not appropriate in all circumstances. Disadvantages of NTFS include:

Formatting the System Partition in Multiple-Boot Configurations

If you want to start another operating system, such as Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows for Workgroups, or MS-DOS, use FAT for your system partition and the boot partitions for the other operating systems. You can use NTFS for your Windows 2000 boot partition and other volumes on the computer, as long as those volumes will not be accessed by an operating system other than Windows 2000.

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