DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

flash drive query

11 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/flash-drive-query.44279/

rohus24
rohus24 Original post #1
Dec 20, 2006 at 9:41 PM
i wanted 2 ask whether changing my usb drive's filesystem 2 fat32 will improve or change the transfer speed?
jatt
jatt #2
Dec 20, 2006 at 10:59 PM
i think no
Kiran.dks
Dec 21, 2006 at 8:27 AM
No. Rather it makes the drive useless!
J
janitha #4
Dec 21, 2006 at 2:23 PM
Which is the default file system of the Flash/Pen drives?
Kiran.dks
Dec 21, 2006 at 2:40 PM
Most of flash drives use FAT format.
Formatting FAT to NTFS is recommended and can be done without problems.
shantanu
Dec 21, 2006 at 3:31 PM
No Dont Change It To Fat32
rohus24
rohus24 #7
Jan 3, 2007 at 8:09 PM
okie thnx
ill keep it at fat
and my usb cant be formatted to ntfs
J
janitha #8
Jan 3, 2007 at 9:00 PM
I am having Kingston Datatraveler. Will it do any good formatting it to NTFS?
Kiran.dks
Jan 3, 2007 at 10:02 PM
There are some things which you need to be aware of before changing the format to NTFS. All memory stick devices are formatted to either FAT or FAT16 or FAT32. The advantage of FAT16 or FAT32 format lies w.r.t Windows. Windows disables "write caching" on flash devices. With FAT format you can remove the flash drive as soon as read/write is done. You need not worry much about the Windows safe removal process. Many a times we neglect the safe removal process and just unplug the device. In such scenario's stick to FAT format.

Once formatted to NTFS, You need to carry on the Windows safe removal process perfectly. Else the device may easily get damaged.
The advantage in NTFS system is that you get a huge performance boost while dealing with small size files. For larger file sizes, it is not recommended becoz NTFS uses many read/write cycles.

Summarizing above..
Small file sizes transfer: Use NFTS format
More Data reliability: Use NFTS format

If above is your scenario, proceed to NTFS format. Else stick to FAT.
J
janitha #10
Jan 3, 2007 at 10:48 PM
Thank you Kiran but always I use the safely remove method.
Kiran.dks
Kiran.dks #11
Jan 3, 2007 at 11:03 PM
My pleasure! :)
Its always good to follow the safe removal process. But what about file size in the device? If it is big transfers, stick to FAT.