Does it matter,NTFS or FAT32

[ayabrea38]

I am looking at external hard drives and there seems to be someone selling on Amazon that is selling both FAT 32 and NTFS.Am I right in thinking it does not matter which I buy as I can format it myself to whichever?Even could I partition it and have half and half.
It is to put a shadow copy of my pc on,paranoia has me thinking my luck is going to run out soon,so finally getting round to it.
I was tempted to go down the cheaper USB route,but I don't think it would be as reliable.Any thoughts......
Thanks
Aya

[ChuckFickens]

It really doesn't matter that much unless you want to store files over 4GB in size on the drive (it's a bit more complicated than that.... but to the average user that's the main issue)

[ChuckFickens]

And yes, you can simply reformat any drive in NTFS or FAT32 if you want to, you can also easily convert a FAT32 drive to NTFS without losing anything on the drive if needed.

[ayabrea38]

Thank you Mr Fickens Sir.

[ChuckFickens]

The other main issue the average user will find when it comes to NTFS vs FAT32 is compatibility..

Everything will work with a FAT32 drive (xbox's, PS3's car stereos with a USB input.... and so on) the only thing that will generally work with a NTFS drive is a windows computer.

[ayabrea38]

NOW I find this out just after ordering an NTFS hard drive.Should be OK though because it will only be getting used for the pc.....I hope
Thanks again
Aya

[VHG]

I also believe Windows wont let you format a Fat32 drive larger than 32Gb.

I think you have to download a utility to let you format a disk of a larger size.

[ayabrea38]

At least I am prepared now,I do have a partition manager programe that helps format drives too,so I hope that is good enough.
I don't know,nothing,nothing is ever simple in my life.
Thanks All
Aya