A file system is the format used to store information on a hard disk. In all computer systems, there is a corresponding file system, which defines the various standards and mechanisms by which the computer handles files and folders. Therefore, all operations users perform on files and folders are completed through the file system.
• Standard file allocation table (FAT): systems running Windows NT, Windows 95, versions below MSDOS7.0, or OS/2 can access files on FAT primary partitions or logical partitions.
• Enhanced file allocation table (FAT32): this is an extremely efficient system for storing files on large disk drives (over 512 megabytes). If a user's drive uses this format, it can create up to hundreds of megabytes of extra hard disk space on the drive, thus storing data more efficiently. In addition, it can make programs run 50% faster while using fewer computer system resources.
• The recommended file system in Windows 2000 (NTFS): only computers running Windows NT or versions after Windows 2000 can access files on NTFS volumes.
1. FAT file system
A simple file system originally used for small disks and simple file structures. The FAT file system gets its name from its organizational method: the file allocation table placed at the beginning of the volume. To protect the volume, two copies are used, ensuring that even if one is damaged it can still function normally. In addition, to ensure the correct loading and unloading of the files required to boot the system, the file allocation table and the root folder must be stored in fixed locations.
A volume formatted with the FAT file system is allocated in clusters. The default cluster size depends on the size of the volume. For the FAT file system, the number of clusters must be representable with a 16-bit binary number and must be a power of 2. By using the f o r m a t program at the command prompt interface, users can specify the cluster size. Because of overhead, using the FAT file system on volumes larger than 511 M B is not recommended.
If the user's computer is running Windows 95, Windows for Work groups, MSDOS, OS/2, or versions earlier than Windows 95, then the FAT file system format is the best choice. However, it should be noted that the FAT file system is best used on smaller volumes. Because, without considering cluster size, when using the FAT file system, the volume cannot be larger than 4 G B.
2. FAT32 file system
The FAT32 file system provides more advanced file management features than the FAT file system, for example, support for volumes larger than 32 G B and more efficient use of disk space through smaller clusters. As an enhanced version of the FAT file system, it can be used on drives ranging in capacity from 512 M B to 2 T B.
In earlier operating systems, only Windows 2000 and Windows 9x could access FAT32 volumes. MSDOS, Windows 3.1 and earlier versions, Windows for Work groups, Wi n d o w sNT 4.0 and earlier versions cannot recognize FAT32 volumes, nor can they boot from FAT32.
FAT and FAT32 can be compatible with operating systems other than Windows 2000. If a dual-boot configuration is set up, FAT or FAT32 will very likely be needed. If the user is setting up a dual-boot configuration of Windows 2000 and another operating system, choose a file system suitable for the latter. The standards for choosing are as follows:
• If the installation partition is smaller than 2GB, or if you want a dual-boot configuration of Windows 2000 and MSDOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, or earlier versions of Windows NT, format the installation partition as FAT.
• Use the FAT32 file system on partitions larger than or equal to 2GB. If during Windows 2000 Setup you choose to format using FAT, and the installation partition is larger than 2 G B, Setup will automatically format it as FAT32.
Note: for partitions larger than 32GB, it is recommended that you use NTFS rather than the FAT32 file system.
3. NTFS file system
The NTFS file system recommended by Windows 2000 provides the comprehensive performance, reliability, and compatibility that the FAT and FAT32 file systems do not have. The design goal of the NTFS file system is to execute standard file operations such as reading, writing, and searching very quickly on very large hard disks, and even advanced operations such as file system recovery.
The NTFS file system includes the security features required for file servers and high-end personal computers in enterprise environments. The NTFS file system also supports data access control and private permissions, which are very important for the integrity of critical data. Besides being able to assign specific permissions to shared folders on Windows 2000 computers, permissions can be assigned to NTFS files and folders whether they are shared or not. NTFS is the only file system in Windows 2000 that allows permissions to be assigned to individual files. However, when a user moves or copies files from an NTFS volume to a FAT volume, the NTFS file system permissions and other unique attributes will be lost.
Like the FAT file system, the NTFS file system uses clusters as the basic unit of disk allocation. In the NTFS file system, the default cluster size depends on the size of the volume. In the "Disk Administrator," the maximum cluster size the user can specify is 4 k.
Windows 2000 includes a new version of NTFS. On top of the file system's original flexible security features (such as domains and user account databases), it also adds new features such as Active Directory. The NTFS file system used in Windows 2000 supports the following features:
• Active Directory. Allows network administrators and network users to conveniently and flexibly view and control network resources.
• Domains. This is part of Active Directory, helping network administrators balance ease of management and network security. For example, only in the NTFS file system can users set permissions for individual files and not just directory permissions (the most obvious feature is that in an NTFS system, when you right-click a folder or file, there is an extra Security item in Properties, while FAT and FAT32 do not have this).
• File encryption. Can greatly improve information security.
• Sparse files. A special kind of file generated by applications; the file size is very large, but in reality only a small amount of disk space is needed. That is to say, NTFS only needs to allocate disk storage space for the data actually written to this kind of file.
• Other data storage modes. These modes can improve the efficiency of storing and modifying information.
• Recovery log for disk activity. This helps users quickly recover information when power fails or other system failures occur.
• Disk quotas. Administrators can manage and control the maximum disk space each user can use.
• Good scalability for large-capacity drives. The maximum drive size in NTFS is far greater than that of FAT format, and the performance and storage efficiency of NTFS do not decline as drive size increases the way they do with FAT.
Important features such as "Active Directory" and domain-based security policies can only be used in the NTFS file system.
Users who need to make the entire disk or a disk drive use the NTFS file system can complete all the operations with the help of the installation wizard when installing Windows 2000. Setup can easily convert a partition to the new version of the NTFS file system, even if the partition previously used FAT or FAT32. Setup will detect the existing file system format. If it is NTFS, it will automatically perform the conversion; if it is FAT or FAT32, it will prompt the installer whether to convert it to NTFS. Users can also use C o n v e r t . e x e after installation is complete to convert FAT or FAT32 partitions into new-version NTFS partitions. Whether during Setup or after Setup has run, this conversion will not damage the user's files (compared with reformatting the disk).
If a dual-boot configuration is used, it may be impossible to access files on an NTFS partition from another operating system on the computer. So if a dual-boot configuration is needed, the FAT32 or FAT file system will be a more suitable choice.
Generally speaking, accessing NTFS under DOS is impossible, but with some tools, such as NTFSDOS, you can access NTFS. And in WIN9X and WIN3.X, some software can also be used to achieve the purpose.
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