Shoutbox

I just installed a second hard drive, I want to format it so I can use it for storage for like music, movies and stuff rather then keeping them on my main hard drive. I know how to format it my question is.. What settings do I use?

When trying to format the main hard drive the settings are

File System : NTFS
Allocation Unit Size : 4096

but when doing the hard drive I just installed it's

File System : Fat 32
Allocation Unit Size : Default Allocation Size


I can change the File System from Fat 32 to NTFS (not sure if it matters wether it's NTFS or Fat 32) but for the Allocation Unit Size, it only has Default Allocation Size. Also when formating do I click Quick Format or no?... I guess what im asking is Fat 32/Default Allocation Size ... ok? or what should it be when I format it.

quote:

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Originally posted by banky
File System : NTFS
Allocation Unit Size : 4096

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Format as that.

He can't change Default Allocation Unit Size.

quote:

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Originally posted by SonicSam
Format as that.

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Only problem is

quote:

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Originally posted by banky
I can change the File System from Fat 32 to NTFS (not sure if it matters wether it's NTFS or Fat 32) but for the Allocation Unit Size, it only has Default Allocation Size.

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you probably do not want quick format
you probably DO want NTFS
If it is FAT32 right now, just go to command prompt and type

code:

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CONVERT X: /FS:NTFS /NoSecurity

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where X: is the drive letter. Write the volume name down before you do this, you'll need it
the nosecurity switch just sets the NTFS permissions for 'everybody' to full access. Otherwise, only the creator/owner and administrators can access it

If you're using the Computer Management MMC app, (Control Panel > Administration Tools) it should take care of all the settings and configuration for you.

NTFS is preferable because FAT32 has a maximum file size of 4 GiB. If you want to use Windows 98 or Linux operating systems, then use FAT32 because they don't understand NTFS.

Once you decide what silesystem you want to use, just go with the default allocation unit size.

A quick format will be all that's needed, a full format takes ages and has no real usable advantage. A full format makes all the free space on the disk binary zeros, and a quick format just leaves it.