What does FAT32 and NTFS mean???

Question

and how do i convert from one to another on an external hard drive?

Answer 1

NTFS
NT file system
A Microsoft file system introduced with Windows NT and now used in Windows XP and Windows 2000. It offers several benefits over the older FAT file system, including improved security, file compression, and encryption.

FAT
file allocation table
The FAT is the table, or record, of where a specific file is stored on a PC's (but not a Mac's) hard disk. Hard drive data is stored in small chunks called clusters. A particular file is made up of any number of these clusters, but the clusters might be located on different parts of the hard disk. The FAT keeps track of where each file's clusters are located and how they should be reassembled. The original FAT was introduced by Microsoft in 1983 for its MS-DOS operating system, but it has evolved since then to accommodate various changes in how files and clusters are managed; the latest version is FAT32. FAT is also supported by other operating systems, including Linux.

=Converting to NTFS Using Convert.exe=
A partition can also be converted after Setup by using Convert.exe. For more information about Convert.exe, after completing Setup, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then press ENTER. In the command window, type help convert, and then press ENTER.

It is easy to convert partitions to NTFS. The Setup program makes conversion easy, whether your partitions used FAT, FAT32, or the older version of NTFS. This kind of conversion keeps your files intact (unlike formatting a partition.

Answer 2

FAT32:
A derivative of the file allocation table (FAT) file system. FAT32 supports smaller cluster sizes and larger volumes than FAT, which results in more efficient space allocation on FAT32 volumes.
NTFS:
An advanced file system that provides performance, security, reliability, and advanced features that are not found in any version of FAT. For example, NTFS guarantees volume consistency by using standard transaction logging and recovery techniques. If a system fails, NTFS uses its log file and checkpoint information to restore the consistency of the file system. In Windows 2000 and Windows XP, NTFS also provides advanced features such as file and folder permissions, encryption, disk quotas, and compression.

In a nutshell NTFS is more secure than FAT32

Start
Settings
Control Panel
Administrative Tools
Computer Management
Under the options "Storage"
Select 'Disk Management'
You will see an option for your External Drive
Right click and Select 'Format'
Change the 'File System' to 'NTFS'
Click 'Ok' this will start formating the drive.

Answer 3

I would not convert from NTFS to FAT32 cause when i did it crashed my computer.

Answer 4

File Allocation Table 32bit. New Technology File System. It is easy to convert from FAT to NTFS, but to reverse it you need to reformat your HD to the FAT system.