PS3 Hard Drive...FAT32---> NTFS?

Is one format supposed to be superior to the other, or is there no difference.

PC should be able to read both formats right?

NTFS is the superior one in most systems. For example, it has more capability in system security.

But it makes no difference for an embedded system such as PS3. So SONY just exclusively picks FAT32 maybe for more compatibility?!

And yes, your PC would be able to recognize almost any format.

heh... you mean "Windows NT kernel" should be able to read both formats. Windows does not entirely equal PC, nor PS3 for that matter. It's all based on the Operating System....

In you're case you are catering to the PS3. If you refuse....then the PS3 will refuse, too

I'm pretty sure the PS3 has it's own file system. I upgraded my PS3's hdd and hooked the one that came with it to my Windows PC. Windows did not recognize the file format.

This show the difference between format

And check wiki if you want to know more about FAT32. If you are bothered about the file size limitation just split the disk in 2, 1 side NTFS other FAT32

thats bloody 4gb limit thing gives me the **** stupid sonyReldas89

Sony had nothing to do with that.

NTFS was made by microsoft exclusively so Sony can't use it. So people who complain, your making yourself look stupid. They can't really do anything about it.

FAT32 is more stone age and was being used back in Windows '98. You can't have files bigger then 4 GBs, and the clusters are larger so a bunch of small files actually take more space then they would on an NTFS drive.

The 4Gig thing is easy to bypass, what do you really want on your PS3 that's above 4 gigs? An HD movie? Well those are illegal. An ISO image? You can't on a PS3.

Other then that they're basically the same.

ok then stupid microsoft, and yes downloading a BR movie is illegal doesnt mean i am not gunna do it, and iso might be playable in the future though hacks or something, still it would be nice to have NTFSReldas89

Well then, maybe having a 4GB cap is smart move to stop pirates like you. Just sayin'.

Yes it use FAT32, you have to format a notebook HDD in FAT for it to work on ps3plg2307

I wonder how the PS3 handles fragmentation issues then. Maybe there's a built in defrag utility that runs in the background?

[QUOTE="plg2307"]Yes it use FAT32, you have to format a notebook HDD in FAT for it to work on ps3lokestar

I wonder how the PS3 handles fragmentation issues then. Maybe there's a built in defrag utility that runs in the background?

That is what I was wondering every time I delete a Demo, wallpapers, pictures etc. I defrag my computer every month to keep the hard-drive in good shape.

There is an option with PS3 to defrag, but I'm not sure if it works the same way. I don't wish to lose game saved files or down-loadable ones, like tekken online, warhawk etc.

If there indeed is a tool or maybe a operating system that takes care of the hard-drive on it's own, that would be more then impressive, maybe someone in here has knowledge of how how defrag works in PS3, or if we need to use one in the long run?

There is an option with PS3 to defrag, but I'm not sure if it works the same way. I don't wish to lose game saved files or down-loadable ones, like tekken online, warhawk etc.

Sokol4ever

I didn't know there was a defrag option onthe PS3?

Oh? I could swear I saw an option under system settings.

Since I'm at work now, I'll double check.

Edit: I had made a mistake, there is a reformat option available, not defrag. That was my bad.

On the other hand, there is a good discussion on the topic here: http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3&message.id=1318746

Have anyone tried connecting a USB external HDD (32GB to 160GB) to the PS3 and use the PS3 to access images, music and videos from the HDD?

I've been trying to connect my 2.5" portable USB HDD (60GB) to the PS3 via USB but it won't recognise the drive. I've tried formatting the HDD in FAT32 with different sector sizes (from 1 to 128) but still my PS3 won't see it when connected.

Anyone had any idea?

hope this helps

no the ps3's hdd is not a FAT32, and will not recognize a NTFS. the NTFS hdd's are meant for use with windows pcs. the fat32 by certain companies because it is recognized on more systems than anything else, such as both macs and windows pc, and also the 360 and ps3.

the NTFS hdd format is only used by windows operated systems. so that is whythe ps3 wont recognize it. I have a 320gb external hdd and i split it into two partitions: 1 NTFS, 1 FAT32. i keep all my ps3 stuff on the fat32 so the ps3 can read it and for a matter of fact anyother system (pc,360,mac, etc) can also read that, but none of them will read the NTFS except for my windows pc.

the 4gb limit is a flaw of the fat32 format not somin sony or any other company made up. and that is why you cant get files larger than 4gb into any fat32 formated hdd. Its not that the ps3 will not accept anything bigger, its because the fat32 hdd cant carry anything bigger than 4gb.

ways to get around the 4gb limit with a fat32 hdd is too not use one. If you have a dl dvd-rw or tversity, you can get files larger than 4gbs into your ps3.

i personally have 3 files one 4.6gb, 6.6gb, and 10.1gb in my ps3. i just stream the files through tversity and then use the copy option on the ps3 to put them into the system.

hope that helps, anything is possible just investigate and all the answers are there.

Have anyone tried connecting a USB external HDD (32GB to 160GB) to the PS3 and use the PS3 to access images, music and videos from the HDD?

I've been trying to connect my 2.5" portable USB HDD (60GB) to the PS3 via USB but it won't recognise the drive. I've tried formatting the HDD in FAT32 with different sector sizes (from 1 to 128) but still my PS3 won't see it when connected.

Anyone had any idea?

recce5

after formatting to fat32, are you creating folders MUSIC, VIDEO, PICTURES ????, if you are not creating those folders and then storing the right files in the right folders, the ps3 will not find them. BUT if your too lazy to create the folders in the external hdd, just go on the xmb to what your looking for (i,e pics, to go pictures on the xmc) press triangle on the external hdd and select display all.

My question is whether the PS3 supports a portable HDD (formatted in FAT32) connected to it via USB as I can't seem to get it to work.

So you're saying it works? When I slot in a media card, the XMB will appear an icon under Music, Video Pictures etc but connecting the HDD to it does not show any icon so no way to access the content in the HDD.

After formatting to fat32, are you creating folders MUSIC, VIDEO, PICTURES ????, if you are not creating those folders and then storing the right files in the right folders, the ps3 will not find them. BUT if your too lazy to create the folders in the external hdd, just go on the xmb to what your looking for (i,e pics, to go pictures on the xmc) press triangle on the external hdd and select display all.carterhc

You don't need to create said folders. I have a HDD based media player and when set it to removable disk mode and connect to the PS3, the PS3 is able to recognise it and by choosing display all files I'm able to play the videos/music/photo etc.

The problem is that connecting a purely portable HDD to the PS3 it doesn't recognise the HDD at all, no icon appear under the respective folders etc.

It's quite puzzling that a HDD media player can be recognised by the PS3 whereas a portable HDD (formattedto FAT32) can't. I don't see any logical explanation unless there is a bug in the PS3 firmware.

heh... you mean "Windows NT kernel" should be able to read both formats. Windows does not entirely equal PC, nor PS3 for that matter. It's all based on the Operating System....

In you're case you are catering to the PS3. If you refuse....then the PS3 will refuse, too

Threesixtyci

As the same goes for windows. Oh ok yea I see thats wha you did say :/

I just reformatted an 80 GB HDD to FAT32 in WinXP. Of course there is a 32 GB partition size limit so first you have to repartition the drive, once there is a partition size of 32 GB or smaller then you are offered the option to use FAT32. To do this in WinXP, go to Start-> Run: enter "compmgmt.msc" and then click OK. In the console tree, click Disk Management.
To create a new partition, right-click unallocated space on the basic disk where you want to create the partition, and then click New Partition. Specify 32000 MB or less if you intend a FAT32 format. This is described more fully here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000/

If you have a dl dvd-rw or tversity, you can get files larger than 4gbs into your ps3. I personally have 3 files one 4.6gb, 6.6gb, and 10.1gb in my ps3. i just stream the files through tversity and then use the copy option on the ps3 to put them into the system.carterhc

I would very much like to do this, with some larger .m2t files (1080i MPEG2 from my HDV camcorder). TVersity is working and I was able to stream a small .m2t around 1 GB size. All of my larger files, 8 or 9 GB do appear in the PS3 display as a filename at first, but when I try to play them I see "data corrupt" and they become inaccesible. Until reading your post I assumed it was a PS3 limitation to 4 GB on all files.

So, what file type did you get to work at > 4 GB? Is there something specific about my HDV .m2t MPEG2 format? Is there some TVersity or PS3 setting I have wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

If FAT32 has a max file size of 4GB limit, then how is Devil May Cry 4 downloading a 5GB pre-load file to the HDD???

I just reformatted an 80 GB HDD to FAT32 in WinXP. Of course there is a 32 GB partition size limit so first you have to repartition the drive, once there is a partition size of 32 GB or smaller then you are offered the option to use FAT32. To do this in WinXP, go to Start-> Run: enter "compmgmt.msc" and then click OK. In the console tree, click Disk Management.
To create a new partition, right-click unallocated space on the basic disk where you want to create the partition, and then click New Partition. Specify 32000 MB or less if you intend a FAT32 format. This is described more fully here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000/

BealeCorner

You're right. I forgot about that. The reason I had the issue was because my external HDD is 160GB and it was partitioned to use the entire 160GB and that's why I had to use a program similar to partition magic in order to get that maximum 32GB that XP allows. From that point I was able to copy my PS3 data to the HDD.

If FAT32 has a max file size of 4GB limit, then how is Devil May Cry 4 downloading a 5GB pre-load file to the HDD???

YourDaddy88

Because the PS3 doesn't use the FAT32 file system internally. It can however read and write to a FAT32 drive due to Microsoft's release of the specification free for the purposes of interoperability. They have not, however, released the NTFS spec in a similar manner; you need to licence (i.e. pay for) that.

I'm not sure that it matters which is superior. Both file systems are adequate and have their own advantages and disadvantages. But Sony made the PS3 to only support FAT32, so that's what you have to use.

I guess my question for you is why do you want to use NTFS? Are you trying to use your external HDD on both your PS3 and your PC? If so you're going to need to reformat it to FAT32.

Actually i have a Iomega 500gb external HDD, with the NTFS format, and the PS3 recognized it, so I started the back up data utility, and it works fine so far, I don't understand, I thought the ps3 only supported FAT32 format?!kluzing

[QUOTE="danger-oz"]i recently converted my external HDD to ntfs so that i could transfer a file bigger than 4gig to it and now want to play it on the ps3. How do i easily convert it back to fat32 so that i can put it on my ps3 internal HDD? Cheers

Connect the External to your PC

Find it in My computer

Right click and select 'Format'

Select FAT 32

P.S FAT32 is used in PS3 so that you can't illegally DL games (which would be larger than 4GB)

[QUOTE="danger-oz"]i recently converted my external HDD to ntfs so that i could transfer a file bigger than 4gig to it and now want to play it on the ps3. How do i easily convert it back to fat32 so that i can put it on my ps3 internal HDD? CheersFlamuel

Connect the External to your PC

Find it in My computer

Right click and select 'Format'

Select FAT 32

P.S FAT32 is used in PS3 so that you can't illegally DL games (which would be larger than 4GB)

The FAT32 selection was not found in my Windows Vista. I bought a 500GB External HDD and only saw NTSF and exFAT.

I was able to use my NTFS external WD passport usb drive on my PS3 Slim 250GB, and then today it wont recognize my drive. I was able to transfermovies, play directly from the drive, etc, I just did the latest update two days ago so I am wondering if something was changed by Sony. And dont reply and say that its FAT32. I hooked up another NTFS drive and PS3 doesnt see it either.