Hi, I suggest you format this External HDD with NTFS file system while you are using Windows system. More reference, File System Functionality Comparison http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ee681827(v=vs.85).aspx Hope this helps Vincent Wang TechNet Community Support

I am a technician that needs to have programs and files on me at all times when servicing. I have an 200gig sata hdd in usb 3.0 - external enclosure (the type that you can slip hdds in and out). but when i format the hdd on my win7 computer, the only option i have is exFat or NTFS, if i format in exFat i cannot see the drive in a XP computer the only options i have is NTFS. this is ok, but i have read at microsoft.com that NTFS is unreliable on external hdd. So if I Format it Fat32 in the xp Computer, will i be able to see it in a win7 64 bit. And even if there is a patch to fix this, i'd have to run it on every xp computer i service ,which is time consuming.

Thanks guys reference to ntfs is only on a indep site so may be insufficient information. anyway can have a look. http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2801/exfat_versus_fat32_versus_ntfs/but but reference to the link you gave me Milos. this is ok but best off using NTFS as when service computers at different locations, some may have sp3 and some may not. so at this present time i have no other choice but to use NTFS. thanks guys.

Hi, As i checked with my PC .it's working. Yes it's will show in windows xp and as well as windows 7. Mohammed Imtiyaz Ali

1. Could you give the reference on the information on NTFS not being reliable? 2. For Windows XP support exFAT, look here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955704/en-us 3. exFAT is response to the evolution of capacity of simple devices behind 32GB 4. I would prefere NTFS. Regards Milos

I am a technician that needs to have programs and files on me at all times when servicing. I have an 200gig sata hdd in usb 3.0 - external enclosure (the type that you can slip hdds in and out). but when i format the hdd on my win7 computer, the only option i have is exFat or NTFS, if i format in exFat i cannot see the drive in a XP computer the only options i have is NTFS. this is ok, but i have read at microsoft.com that NTFS is unreliable on external hdd. So if I Format it Fat32 in the xp Computer, will i be able to see it in a win7 64 bit. And even if there is a patch to fix this, i'd have to run it on every xp computer i service ,which is time consuming. The max size for a FAT32 partition is 4G. Bill

Hi, I suggest you format this External HDD with NTFS file system while you are using Windows system. More reference, File System Functionality Comparison http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ee681827(v=vs.85).aspx Hope this helps Vincent Wang TechNet Community Support