Hard Drive Configuration for SageTV

[mightyt]

I have my Primary IDE Driver set up in the following manner;

Drive 0

• 400gb EIDE

C:

• Boot Partition
• For OS & Programs
• 50GB
• 4k Cluster size
• Formatted FAT32

D:

• For SageTV Recordiongs
• 350GB
• 64k Cluster Size
• Formated NTFS

The question is ... Is it better for format Drive C: at FAT32 or NTFS?? I thought NTFS and not sure how this got by me, but figure I would ask before doing anything.

Thanks, T.

[flavius]

The only reason to still use FAT32 I can think of today is maybe some dual boot situation with a second OS that can't read/write NTFS.

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by flavius

The only reason to still use FAT32 I can think of today is maybe some dual boot situation with a second OS that can't read/write NTFS.

Thanks Flavius that's what I thought, plus the security aspect, but then I second guessed myself and wondered if somewhere down the line someone gave me a good reason to do so for Sage ...

It's been a while since I've had to do this, but doesn't XP somewhere have a utility to convert from FAT32 to NTFS??

Thanks, T.

[flavius]

IIRC, it's called *convert*. There's no way back, though, and I have never used it ..

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by flavius

IIRC, it's called *convert*. There's no way back, though, and I have never used it ..

Yea, I remember that it was FAT32 > NTFS only ... Hmmm, thought I remembered a GUI convert in the drive properties somewhere...

Thanks, T.

[ke6guj]

I don't remember there being a GUI converter, but there may be.

Just fire up a DOS prompt and type "convert /?" without the quotes and you'll get all the info on the options.

YOu'll probably just use "convert c: /FS:NTFS" and it'll prompt you to let it restart so that it can do the conversion before XP fires back up.

edit: I mean that there is no microsoft GUI converter, but there are 3rd party programs like partition magic if you requre a GUI.

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by ke6guj

I don't remember there being a GUI converter, but there may be.

Just fire up a DOS prompt and type "convert /?" without the quotes and you'll get all the info on the options.

YOu'll probably just use "convert c: /FS:NTFS" and it'll prompt you to let it restart so that it can do the conversion before XP fires back up.

edit: I mean that there is no microsoft GUI converter, but there are 3rd party programs like partition magic if you requre a GUI.

Thanks ... Yep, I'll go ahead and do it ...

I may be thinking of the ol'NT days ... ?? I forget ...

I can handle doing it in a DOS window though ...

Thanks!!, T.

[greggerm]

My thoughts ($0.02)

If you are currently using it at FAT32, there's no real point in making the change (unless you require the security functions of NTFS). There is always a bit of risk in converting a file system, FAT32-->NTFS included.

Next time you reinstall the system from scratch - THEN set it up with NTFS. I just don't think it's worth the possible risk in the conversion.

If you DO convert it, for safety's sake, copy your SageTV program directory to your recordings directory for backup purposes. IN the unlikely event of something terrible happening, you'll have a backup.

-Greg

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by greggerm

My thoughts ($0.02)

If you are currently using it at FAT32, there's no real point in making the change (unless you require the security functions of NTFS). There is always a bit of risk in converting a file system, FAT32-->NTFS included.

Next time you reinstall the system from scratch - THEN set it up with NTFS. I just don't think it's worth the possible risk in the conversion.

If you DO convert it, for safety's sake, copy your SageTV program directory to your recordings directory for backup purposes. IN the unlikely event of something terrible happening, you'll have a backup.

-Greg

Thanks Greg ... You got a point ... Which makes me think ... With adding the drives I always create a small partition / drive on my last disk for backup and use Ghost to create images of C: Drive with the OS and Programs including Sage. Maybe I'll do that first should I decide to try convert ...

T.

[hmca]

On my "1st" hard drive, I have the same setup as you. I see no need to change to NTFS. Partition Magic or what I use, Partition Manager will do the conversion, but I don't see myself changing the "C" partition at this time. No advantage to it since it is just the operating system and a few programs, no data.

[mightyt]

Sounds like I am being talked out of it ... May just leave well enough alone then ...

Thanks All for the feedback ... I appreciate it ...

T.

[greggerm]

I get in trouble both at home and at work for fiddling with computers when I don't really have to... usually, it's best to leave well enough alone until whatever change you want to do can be easily and safely performed during the normal course of action....

...darn... I must be getting old... I sounded like my old boss there...

-Greg

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by greggerm

...darn... I must be getting old... I sounded like my old boss there...

-Greg

Funny how that happens!!!