Flash Drive's?

[ColTom2]

Hi:

I just noticed that when going to format one of my flash drive that it
shows File System as Fat 32 for the drive. I am running Windows XP MCE(2005)
with NFTS file system.

Why does the flash drive indicate File System Fat 32 and what is the
significance of using it with my NFTS file system?

As far as I know I have been able to save files to it and then transfer to
NFTS file system with no problems.

Thanks

[Mir Mehdi]

USB Flash Drives comes with FAT file system by default.
This may be helpful for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_flash_drive#File_system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory
--
Mir Sajjad Mehdi
Microsoft XP Platform Support

[Malke]

ColTom2 wrote:

The flash drive was formatted FAT32 because the mftr. wanted you to be able
to use it on various operating systems - Win98 (after installing drivers
probably), WinME, Win2k, XP, Vista, Linux, and OS X. All those operating
systems can read/write to FAT32. Only XP and Vista can natively write to
NTFS and Win9x/ME systems can't even read NTFS.

It doesn't matter that your XP is formatted NTFS in this instance. It isn't
the file system format that "reads" your flash drive; it is the operating
system.

The only time you would want to format the flash drive NTFS would be if it
is a largish drive and you want to copy files larger than 4GB (not likely
with a thumb drive) and if you know you'll only use it with XP/Vista. If
you are only using the drive with XP/Vista, it certainly won't hurt to
format it NTFS instead of FAT32; your choice.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:07:35 -0400, "ColTom2"
<noemail...@nomail.com> wrote:

> I just noticed that when going to format one of my flash drive that it
> shows File System as Fat 32 for the drive. I am running Windows XP MCE(2005)
> with NFTS file system.

A clarification: You are running Windows XP MCE with a *hard drive
that uses* the NFTS file system.

My point is that NTFS is not being used for everything, but just for
your hard drive. That doesn't restrict you from using other file
systems on other drives.

> Why does the flash drive indicate File System Fat 32

Because that's the file system your flash drive uses.

> and what is the
> significance of using it with my NFTS file system?

None at all.

> As far as I know I have been able to save files to it and then transfer to
> NFTS file system with no problems.

Sure. That's perfectly normal. Windows XP can use NTFS, FAT32, FAT16,
and FAT12 in any and all combinations, regardless of what file system
it itself is installed on. You can even have NTFS and FAT32 partitions
on the same physical drive.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Bill in Co.]

ColTom2 wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I just noticed that when going to format one of my flash drive that it
> shows File System as Fat 32 for the drive. I am running Windows XP
> MCE(2005)
> with NFTS file system.
>
> Why does the flash drive indicate File System Fat 32

FAT is more universal (meaning that some other operating systems (like
Win9x) can recognize and use it in that format, unlike NTFS)

> and what is the significance of using it with my NFTS file system?

None - there is no issue here. No problem.

> As far as I know I have been able to save files to it and then transfer to
> NFTS file system with no problems.

Exactly.