Dummy question.

[redcar]

I run a DVD capture software on my computer, the program is installed on the pc hard drive (Fat32), I have just purchased a external 160GB hard drive which I want to save the DVD films on whilst editing them, I was going to format the new drive for NTFS file systems.
Question, if the capture program is on a FAT 32 drive and the film is on a NTFS system will I be able to edit the film or will be program need to be installed on to the new drive.
Hope someone understands what I'm asking.

[onedsla]

Unless I've completely missed something I don't see how the format system of your hard drive would affect this - ie I don't see any problem using both drives as you suggest.
Dave

[redcar]

onedsla said:

Unless I've completely missed something I don't see how the format system of your hard drive would affect this - ie I don't see any problem using both drives as you suggest. Dave

I wasn't sure if the two filing systems were compatible,FAT32 & NTFS for file transferring back and forth as I'm not computer minded.
Or am I thinking to deeply into it and not understanding what is meant by file system. (i.e doe's it change any formating in the saved item or is it saved in the seem way on both systems)

[JonRB]

Will make no difference as far as compatibility is concerned, although if you format your external HD to NTFS it won't be able to be read by a Win9x machine, and if you format it to FAT32 then a WinNT machine won'e be able to read it (although in both cases there are driver downloads available at SysInternals to get round these limitations).

NTFS is arguably more reliable than FAT32, but really the choice is yours.

Oh, one other thing. NTFS supports multiple data streams in single files and FAT32 does not. But hardly anyone uses this facility so I doubt it will be an issue.

But the bottom line is that in real terms, under a modern Windows version like XP, it should make no difference whatsoever whether you use FAT32 or NTFS on either drive and in any combination.

Hope that helps

>> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 11th August 14:13

[redcar]

JonRB said:

Will make no difference as far as compatibility is concerned, although if you format your external HD to NTFS it won't be able to be read by a Win9x machine, and if you format it to FAT32 then a WinNT machine won'e be able to read it (although in both cases there are driver downloads available at SysInternals to get round these limitations). NTFS is arguably more reliable than FAT32, but really the choice is yours. Oh, one other thing. NTFS supports multiple data streams in single files and FAT32 does not. But hardly anyone uses this facility so I doubt it will be an issue. But the bottom line is that in real terms, under a modern Windows version like XP, it should make no difference whatsoever whether you use FAT32 or NTFS on either drive and in any combination. Hope that helps >> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 11th August 14:13

Thanks.
I think I understand, I'm only using the external drive on one pc at home abd for video capture, so it should all be ok.

Thanks