Selecting File System - NTFS or FAT during Setup

Question: How do I determine when to use NTFS or FAT during setup?
After you create the partition on which you will install Windows, Setup allows you to select the file system with which to format the partition. Windows supports the NTFS, FAT (technically known as FAT16), and FAT32 file systems. The following diagram summarizes when each system is most appropriate.

• Selecting File System for Windows during Setup
  

  

An operating system (OS) uses partitions and file systems to manage data storage on a disk effectively. Here's a detailed explanation of how this works:
Partitions

1. What is a Partition?: A partition is a logical division of a physical disk. Think of a partition as a section of the disk that is set aside for a specific purpose. This division allows multiple operating systems to reside on the same physical disk or enables better organization and management of data.
2. Types of Partitions:
   • Primary Partitions: These are the main partitions on a disk, and a disk can have up to four primary partitions.
   • Extended Partitions: A way to overcome the limitation of having only four primary partitions. An extended partition acts as a container for multiple logical partitions.
   • Logical Partitions: These are subdivisions within an extended partition, and they can be used just like primary partitions.
3. Usage:
   • System Partition: Contains the operating system and boot files. This partition is crucial for system startup.
   • Data Partition: Used for storing user data, applications, and files separate from the operating system.
   • Swap Partition: Used in Unix-like systems (including Linux) as virtual memory to extend the physical memory of the system.

File Systems

1. What is a File System?
   A file system is a method and data structure that an operating system uses to manage files on a disk or partition. It determines how data is stored, accessed, and organized on a storage device.
2. Types of File Systems:
   • FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32): An older file system with wide compatibility but limited to 4GB file sizes.
   • NTFS (New Technology File System): Used by Windows, supports large files, permissions, encryption, and other features.
   • HFS+ (Hierarchical File System Plus): Used by older versions of macOS.
   • APFS (Apple File System): Used by newer versions of macOS, optimized for SSDs, with features like snapshots and encryption.
   • ext3/ext4 (Third/Fourth Extended Filesystem): Commonly used by Linux, with journaling and large file support.
   • XFS, Btrfs, ZFS: Advanced file systems used in various Linux and Unix systems for scalability, performance, and features like snapshots and self-healing.
3. Functions of a File System:
   • File Storage and Retrieval: Manages how data is stored on the disk and retrieves it when needed.
   • Directory Structure: Organizes files in directories (folders) for easy navigation and management.
   • Metadata Management: Keeps track of information about files, such as names, sizes, permissions, and timestamps.
   • Access Control: Enforces permissions and security measures to control who can access or modify files.
   • File Integrity and Recovery: Some file systems include features to ensure data integrity and support recovery in case of corruption or failure.

How OS Utilizes Partitions and File Systems:

1. Installation: During OS installation, partitions are created, and file systems are set up. The OS assigns different partitions for system files, user data, and swap space, configuring them with appropriate file systems.
2. Booting: When the computer boots up, the OS loads from the system partition. The boot loader reads the necessary files from the file system to start the OS.
3. Data Management: The OS uses the file system to manage files and directories, keeping track of where each file is stored on the disk. It ensures efficient access and modification of files while maintaining data integrity.
4. Performance and Optimization: File systems are optimized for performance, ensuring quick read/write operations. The OS may also use techniques like caching and indexing to enhance performance.
5. Maintenance: The OS includes tools for managing partitions and file systems, such as creating, resizing, or deleting partitions and formatting partitions with different file systems.

By effectively utilizing partitions and file systems, an operating system can manage storage resources efficiently, provide robust data organization, and ensure system stability and performance.

Server roles are designed to help you tune your server to perform a specific task or functionality without adding any unnecessary functionality or security risks to your server. You can set up your server as one of the following roles:

1. File Server: Enables Windows to share and manage files. With this role, you can use the NT File System (NTFS) to enable and manage disk usage quotas, set up the Indexing Service to index your files for faster searches, and search the content of files in various languages and formats.
2. Print Server: Enables your server to provide access to and management of printers on your network. You can manage your printers through Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). This allows you to use a scripting language like VBScript to automate administrative functions on your printers, such as automatic printer mapping for clients, which can also be done from a web point-and-click interface that you set up on the print server. In addition, you can use a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to print to printers that are set up on a print server.
3. Web Application Server: Enables the server that has Internet Information Services (IIS) 6 set up and configured to host web applications and services.
4. Mail Server: Allows you to provide Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) services to your users.
5. Terminal Server: Allows you to remotely connect to your server with Terminal Services. Terminal Services can be used for either remote server administration or for serving terminal sessions to clients.
6. Remote Access/VPN Server: Enables you to set up routing and remote access to a variety of clients through Terminal Services, create custom networking solutions, and use persistent network connections that allow your users to stay connected to your server's resources during long sessions.
7. Domain Controller (Active Directory): Lets you maintain all of the logon information of the user , such as the login name and the groups in which a user belongs, and manages the communication between other domain controllers across your network.

Use NTFS for partitions that require the elements shown in the following illustration:

Windows and Windows NT are the only operating systems that can access data on a local hard disk that is formatted with NTFS.
You must take care when you choose to dual boot Windows NT 4.0 and Windows. Windows will upgrade existing NTFS partitions automatically to NTFS 5.0. If you have Windows NT 4.0 installed on the same computer in a dual-boot configuration, it will not be able to read NTFS 5.0 partitions, and if the boot partition for the Windows NT 4.0 installation is on an NTFS partition, you will not be able to start Windows NT 4.0. You can prevent this by installing Service Pack 4 or above in the Windows NT 4.0 installation before installing Windows.

FAT (File Allocation Table) and FAT32 have not been officially deprecated in Windows 10 and 11. However, their usage has become limited due to the availability of more advanced file systems like NTFS and exFAT. Here's a more detailed explanation:

1. Compatibility:
   • FAT and FAT32 are still supported for compatibility reasons. These file systems are commonly used in removable storage devices like USB flash drives and SD cards, ensuring they can be read by a wide range of devices and operating systems.
2. Limitations:
   • File Size Limit: FAT32 has a maximum file size limit of 4 GB, which can be restrictive for modern use cases involving large files.
   • Volume Size Limit: FAT32 supports volumes up to 8 TB, but performance issues can arise with larger volumes.
   • Security Features: FAT and FAT32 lack the advanced security features present in NTFS, such as file permissions and encryption.
3. Recommended Use:
   • Small Storage Devices: FAT32 is often used for smaller storage devices where compatibility across different platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, and various embedded systems) is crucial.
   • Bootable Media: FAT32 is frequently used for creating bootable USB drives due to its wide compatibility.
4. Alternatives:
   • NTFS: Recommended for internal drives and large storage solutions due to its advanced features, including support for large files and volumes, security, and reliability.
   • exFAT: Designed as a modern replacement for FAT32, exFAT supports larger file sizes and volumes without the limitations of FAT32. It's suitable for external drives and flash storage, offering compatibility across different operating systems.

Conclusion: While FAT and FAT32 are not deprecated in Windows 10 and 11, their use is generally limited to specific scenarios where compatibility is more important than the advanced features offered by NTFS or exFAT. For most modern storage needs, especially on internal drives, NTFS or exFAT are preferred due to their superior capabilities.

FAT and FAT32 are still used in some Windows Operating Systems. FAT, or File Allocation Table, is a file system that was first introduced in MS-DOS in 1981. It is a simple and reliable file system, but it has some limitations, such as a maximum file size of 4GB and a maximum partition size of 2TB. FAT32 is an improved version of FAT that was introduced in Windows 95. It has a maximum file size of 4GB and a maximum partition size of 32GB. FAT and FAT32 are still used in some Windows Operating Systems, such as Windows 10, for removable media such as USB drives and SD cards. They are also used in some embedded systems, such as routers and NAS devices. However, FAT and FAT32 are not recommended for use on internal hard drives, as they are not as efficient or secure as newer file systems such as NTFS and ReFS.
Normally, you would not format the partition on which Windows resides with FAT or FAT32 unless you require a dual-boot configuration, as illustrated in the image below.

A dual-boot configuration allows you to choose between two or more operating systems each time you restart the computer. When the operating system starts, a display appears for a specified number of seconds, allowing you to select between the operating systems.
Windows is a great boon to users who wish to dual boot machines that have Windows 95 or Windows 98 installed and have the primary active partition formatted as FAT32. Windows NT 4.0 does not support FAT32 and cannot be dual booted with operating systems that have the primary active partition formatted as FAT32. However, FAT and FAT32 do not offer the security features that NTFS provides.
If files are on an NTFS partition, security can be set for those files so that only a specific user can access them, and no one else.
If those files are on a FAT or FAT32 partition, you cannot secure those files locally (that is, you cannot restrict someone who is actually sitting at that computer from accessing them).
The Windows Setup program does not support partitions larger than 2 GB.
If you attempt to format a partition larger than 2 GB with FAT, Setup automatically formats the partition with FAT32.
In the next lesson, licensing mode selection will be discussed.