Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
308 Posts
0
1363
Using an External HD for BU
If my computer is using Vista and the drive on it is formatted NTFS, must any external HD that I purchase for backing up also be formatted NTFS or will FAT 32 on the external drive work?
ieee488
4 Operator
4 Operator
•
11.1K Posts
0
December 11th, 2009 14:00
If the external drive isn't formatted in NTFS, you can always change it. I prefer NTFS myself because I don't have to worry about the FAT32 filesize limit.
C3PO5
2.7K Posts
0
December 11th, 2009 17:00
Hi
Yes the external drive has to be formated to ntfs before Vista can use it for backups !!
Good Luck
C3PO5
2.7K Posts
0
December 12th, 2009 12:00
Hi
From the backup and restore help section on your computer !!
System Restore doesn't protect FAT32 and other FAT disks because FAT disks don't support the use of shadow copies. Shadow copies contain information about changes to documents and system files. Shadow copies require the NTFS file system. In this version of Windows, System Restore uses shadow copies to create restore points. If you store system files on a FAT disk, you cannot use System Restore to undo changes.
Good Luck
TheRealFireblad
4.6K Posts
0
December 12th, 2009 12:00
First I've heard of that?
Vista and Windows 7 are both able to recognise/use FAT32 devices as is - i.e. without the need to convert them to NTFS?
All external drives come pre-formatted in FAT32 (for compatibility with older OS etc), and although I do it myself if the drive isn't required to be connected to an older system, I've never had to reformat an external drive to NTFS?