Can I copy files from NTFS to FAT32, and then open them using a FAT32 OS?

Question

I have a Windows XP operating system disk that is NTFS formatted. The problem is that it is damaged but I can still access some of the files and data, only as a slaved drive. I have a Windows XP operating system that is FAT32 formatted that I can use to store the data on.

Using the NTFS operating system, can I copy the files from the NTFS formatted disk to the FAT32 disk, and when done open them using the FAT32 formatted operating system?

Solution

Yes, you can. But be aware that FAT32 has a limited file size: one single file can be no more then 4 GB, while NTFS has a way bigger limit. So if you try to copy a file which has more than 4 GB from NTFS to FAT32, it will fail.

Similar limitations apply to the number of files in a single directory.

Comments

[Arjan]

Are you wondering about disk formats (not a problem; compare to copying files from an ISO cd to your FAT32 or NTFS hard disk, or from a Linux machine to Windows), or about NTFS access rights?

[Louis]

I need to be able to access the files on the Fat32 operating system once the files are copied and stored from the NTFS formatted disk.

[Arjan]

So you would put them on the FAT32 disk using the NTFS OS, right? And only switch to the FAT32 OS after copying? (If you can use the FAT32 OS to do the copying, then all is fine, obviously.)

[Louis]

I will use an NTFS operating system to copy them to a FAT32 formatted drive. Then try to use a FAT32 operating system to open them.

[vinnief]

Fat32 stores dates and other meta info differently. A way to not lock up your data in a computer and be dependent on its oprating system is to buy a usb drive and store it there, in NTFS format.

[phuclv]

there's nothing called "NTFS operating system" or "FAT32 operating system"

[Louis]

Thanks, now I know why they call these things confusers.

[and31415]

There are other possible issues: extended file attributes and Alternate Data Streams (ADS) will be stripped out entirely when moving from NTFS to FAT32. Encrypted files will need to be decrypted too. The Windows explorer will warn you about that. NTFS compressed files will be decompressed on the fly.