500gb FAT32 Format

[lib319]

Hello,

Can anyone advise on this?

I would like to format a 500gb external HDD with FAT32 for use with my Xbox. I'm going to use Gparted to do the formatting. How many GBs will I be left with after formatting?

Would I get proportionately more GBs after formatting if I partitioned the drive into sections before formatting? And if so does anyone know if an Xbox can see numerous partitions on 1 single external HDD.

Thanks for any help with this

lib

[Sylvander]

Why not just try it and see? :)

It will give you valuable practise in partitioning and formatting using GParted.

And GParted is so easy and intuitive, your unlikely to go wrong. :cool:

[lib319]

Thanks Sylvander, I've used Gparted before and you're right I found it very intuative to use. However, I havent actually bought the 500gb drive yet (hopefully picking one up at lunchtime) and so before I do I want to know if what I'm left with is going to be enough to hold all my AVIs and MP3s. If it isn't I'll have to buy a bigger drive.

[jlreich]

One partition versus several is not going to make a difference. The drive space is the drive space.

My 500GB shows as 465.76GiB. This is of course the difference between GB and GiB and is normal.

May I suggest that if you are not sure if a 500GB drive will hold all your files then you should probably get something larger since you will no doubt acquire more files over time. 1TB drives are obtainable for $90-$110 these days.

[lib319]

Thanks jlreich.

I assume that your 500gb drive is FAT32 and no NTFS. I read that FAT32 formatted drives end up with less usable space than NTFS.

I have another HDD that I can use in addition which will cover any future space requirements, as long as there isn't a significant reduction after FAT32 formatting.

[jlreich]

It's NTFS. I am not aware of any real difference it will make as far as size goes. If there is any it would be negligible.

Are you aware that FAT32 does have a 4GB file size limitation? This may be important as video files can easily reach beyond that. If they do you will not be able to store them on a FAT32 partition.

And particular reason you need FAT32? NTFS is preferred for several reasons. The only real reason to use FAT32 is if you need access from several types of OS's. Even then Linux has good NTFS support these days. Running Linux now and read NTFS partitions all the time. Not sure about MAC.

[lib319]

Thanks for that

It's NTFS. I am not aware of any real difference it will make as far as size goes. If there is any it would be negligible.

Can anyone else confirm this?

I need FAT32 because the Xbox won't recognise NTFS

[Fruss Tray Ted]

You are really just splitting hairs (http://images.dpchallenge.com/images_challenge/0-999/488/800/Copyrighted_Image_Reuse_Prohibited_329135.jpg) on this. Read the paragraph on the advantages of NTFS here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/russel_october01.mspx).

The differences are really negligible as JL mentioned in as it can be compared to what you prefer, a green chalkboard or a black one. The only difference is the NTFS one is highly more efficient. Not only is it better at compression, FAT volumes are lossy between files because each file has bits on either end of unused space where NTFS does not.

So even if you format to NTFS and obtain say, a few KB of lost storage area (more likely <1kb), once you use the drive to any degree it will have made that back up by the more efficient storage ability.

The article linked to also goes on to say that if you are using a system (XBox in this case) to access files on another system remotely such as shared files across a network (connected to an XP or Vista PC), that the files will be able to be read because the file structure is not on the older OS or device. The files could then be streamed through your gaming system.

Using the HDD as an external drive for the box would not work however and you'd be limited to formatting in FAT32.

[lib319]

Thanks Fruss, I have all my other drives NTFS because I am aware that it is a better file system.

I was thinking of trying to use Tversity as a media hub along with my mobile broadband modem for Xbox LIVE connection which, if i could get it to work, would, as you say bypass the FAT32 issue altogether.

The amount of learning I would have to do about networking and setting up Tversity means that I'll be going the external hdd FAT32 route for the moment. Once I get au fait with Tversity and getting my Xbox and my PC talking to each other then I'll have a go at streaming over the network. This weekend however I'll be watching Arrested Development from my comfy sofa in full FAT32 glory. Not splitting hairs, just keeping my weekend enjoyable.

Thanks for the responses, got the new drive formatted and it came in at 465gb, just as JL said. Thanks again

[lib319]

Tversity now up and running, streaming from NTFS drive, great bit of software