Ntfs or Exfat ? - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello, new micro sd card 32gb class 10 i think
What is the best file system to format it?
Thanks!

I' a noob so weight my words but I went with NTFS and everythibg is still ok.
*except my typing

Format it with the original file system of the sdcard, so you surely won't have problems, but if you're using the CustomRom Cyanogenmod it won't work with exFat, cause CM doesn't support it because of licences!

Use the phone to format the card and you should be fine. If you want to select the file system yourself, FAT32 works on 32GB cards and is the most likely to work well.

Fat32 is best for compatibility. ExFat is best for performance
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Fat32 has a file size limit of 2^32 bytes (hence the name Fat32) which equivalents 4GB
If you have files (movies, ...) which are larger you need to use another filesystem.
Exfat support is very bad on linux and thus can lead to undesired results including data loss. Go with EXT4 (optimal choice) or NTFS but note that you will not be able to use a cardreader when choosing ext.
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Related

SanDisk 64GB Mobile Ultra MicroSDXC Class 6 Memory Card Works

Just wanted to report that the SanDisk 64GB Mobile Ultra MicroSDXC Class 6 Memory Card works fine in the Prime's micro SD slot.
I bought it from Amazon, which included a USB SD card reader for $149.99.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005V7WIA2/ref=oh_o03_s00_i00_details
The first hurdle I ran into is the fact that the card comes pre-formatted with the exFAT file system.
The Asus Transformer Prime does NOT support the exFAT file system.
At first the 16GB MKV file I copied to the card via the included card reader in Windows seemed to list and play the file in DicePlayer fine but seeking past 5 minutes would crash the player. When I copied more files to the card and explored the card via ES file explorer the file explorer listed all the directories as empty, even though when I put the card back into the card reader and read the data through Windows everything appeared and read OK.
However The Prime will read and write fine to an NTFS formatted card. NTFS format is preferable to FAT32 since you can't copy files to a FAT32 partition larger than 4GB. As I have several movie files much bigger than 4GB FAT32 would be unsuitable for my (and most people buying a card of this size) needs.
To format your card as NTFS in Windows:
1.) Put the card into the included full size SD card adapter
2.) Insert the card in a USB reader (one was included with my purchase from Amazon)
3.) Connect the USB reader into the computer and wait for windows to assign it a drive letter.
4.) Open up a command prompt (start menu->"Command Prompt")
5.) Type the following command (replace the x with the drive letter assigned to your SDXC card).
Code:
format /FS:NTFS x:
After I formatted the card as NTFS and copied my data to it everything read and played fine.
Asus licensed drivers from Tuxera, (link), but wasn't clear about exFat being included or not.
The manual does specifically call out NTFS ...
Wonder if exFat might be supported in ICS?
FWIW, exFat is potentially a bit more efficient for flash memory, but at least NTFS is supported.
Cheers, wasn't relishing converting my Fat32-formatted 64GB card to something else to test this out (BTW, Fat32 will take files up to 4GB, not two, but still restricting for HD video).
NZtechfreak said:
Cheers, wasn't relishing converting my Fat32-formatted 64GB card to something else to test this out (BTW, Fat32 will take files up to 4GB, not two, but still restricting for HD video).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, was noting the FAT32 file limitation from memory, corrected the OP.
Looks like the Amazon resellers raised their price to $199.99. Best price I can find now is here ($161.36 with tax/shipping) :
http://www.provantage.com/sandisk-sdsdqy-064g-a11a~4SNDK2YU.htm
Isn't there a convert tool to convert FAT to NTFS? Don't know if it works for FAT32 or not, but ...
Ah yes, here it is:
Code:
C:\Users\Me>convert /?
Converts a FAT volume to NTFS.
CONVERT volume /FS:NTFS [/V] [/CvtArea:filename] [/NoSecurity] [/X]
volume Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume name.
/FS:NTFS Specifies that the volume will be converted to NTFS.
/V Specifies that Convert will be run in verbose mode.
/CvtArea:filename Specifies a contiguous file in the root directory that will be the place holder for NTFS system files.
/NoSecurity Specifies that the security settings on the converted files and directories allow access by all users.
/X Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary. All open handles to the volume will not be valid.
C:\Users\Me>
I could be wrong but I think convert.exe only works on FAT16 or FAT32, I don't think it works on exFAT. Regardless you're probably better off with a clean format to make sure everything is nice and clean with no unreadable (bad) portions.
I wonder how it would perform (if at all) if you formatted the card as ext4 instead of ntfs.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Does the card stick out of the side at all? I hear some cards are longer than others and create an annoying bump on the side of the tablet.
quantumalpha said:
Does the card stick out of the side at all? I hear some cards are longer than others and create an annoying bump on the side of the tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's raised out about the exact same amount the volume rocker extrudes from the Prime.
JanetPanic said:
I wonder how it would perform (if at all) if you formatted the card as ext4 instead of ntfs.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't test with ext4, ext4 is a much harder partition format to work with in Windows.
NZtechfreak said:
Cheers, wasn't relishing converting my Fat32-formatted 64GB card to something else to test this out (BTW, Fat32 will take files up to 4GB, not two, but still restricting for HD video).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You convert fat32 to ntfs with the windows command line " convert" . Did the same with my 32gb sd card
Anyone tried a SDXC in the SD slot of the dock?
TalynOne said:
The Asus Transformer Prime does NOT support the exFAT file system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FWIW I got a wild hair and formatted my new micro sd card with exFAT and I am able to read and write using my Prime with ICS
Edit: I also did some tests and it seems write speeds are increased a bit with exFAT over NTFS
I'd love to see some crystaldiskmark numbers from your card!
P.S. also really happy to hear that exFat is working via ICS ... it should be better than ntfs for those that want >4gb files.
can you test out how fast it works? Writing and Reading speed both.
Does anybody here have ubuntu? It supports formatting in all the above file systems, as well as the norm browsing/filetransfer/ and all the such.
I've bought the card a week ago and it worked fine on my Prime without ICS (only got ICS last night; German SKU). Write rates using the supplied SD card adapter on my PC were around 7.5 MB/s.
No need to convert unless you want to use it with a Linux box.
Yatyas said:
FWIW I got a wild hair and formatted my new micro sd card with exFAT and I am able to read and write using my Prime with ICS
Edit: I also did some tests and it seems write speeds are increased a bit with exFAT over NTFS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine also worked with exFat until I put a bunch of data on it. Try copying a 8GB+ mkv to it and see if you can seek/play the entire file. My experience in Honeycomb was that it failed to read the entire file and if I copied more data to the exFAT formatted card then my files started disappearing from any file explorer run on the Prime (though still visible in Windows when connected to a dedicated USB card reader). This was my experience in Honeycomb, haven't re-tested with ICS since everything works great when formatted as NTFS.
TalynOne said:
Just wanted to report that the SanDisk 64GB Mobile Ultra MicroSDXC Class 6 Memory Card works fine in the Prime's micro SD slot.
...
After I formatted the card as NTFS and copied my data to it everything read and played fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OH my god are you saying you can read and write all 64 gigs on the card? No issues at all? Is there any disadvantage over using a 32 gig card?

[Q] SD Card Format?

What is the best format for the SD card for our TFP's? I have 2 32gb class 10 SD cards that I want to use with my TFP and want to format it correctly the first time. Also would it be good of if I put it in my Evo3D and turned it to use either ext3 or 4 before using it in my TFP? Thanks in advance
Anyone know which wouldbe better, ntfs or fat32?
ext3 will be read by any android devices, but not natively if you mount it under windows (if you have that ... lol)with direct USB connection.
ext4 and ntfs kernel support is perhaps not natively implemented in all kernels, in custom ones and some stock ones for ext4 yes, but ntfs not sure at all..... (don't know for TFP still doesn't have mine).
that's why sdcards are still FAT32 formatted... you have heavy fragmentation, 4GB file limit, but you can read it in every OS.
If you use only network share (samba, Cifs) you can format as you want as long as the kernel support it.

8gb+ microsd cards & 4gb fat32 limit

just wondering how ppl have got around the fat32 limit on their 8gb+ cards? anyone got ntfs-3g or some other file system working to be able to use 4gb+ files on their phones?
Tried formatting the card with ext2/3/4?
Fat32 is limited to 4GB files, end of story. You could try ext4 but you might havve some trouble copying files.
But i have my micro SDHC 8GB formated at fat 32
Trying ext* was my initial thought but wanted to avoid getting into a situation where I have to install ext drivers on a windows host (netcafe/library- or friends-computer-type situation), hence the ntfs question.
I realise fat32 is limited to 4gb files, that was the point of the post.
Just wondering what others have tried already.
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Bumpin'
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

which FS for 64GB microSDXC card?

I know this is technically a question, but I was hoping to spark some discussion on filesystems in android.
I just got a 64GB microSDXC card and I know that the LGOG is compatible with it. I just checked and noticed that:
a. it comes preformated with exfat and
b. my ubuntu install is not cool with that.
I'm all linux over here, so I'd actually prefer something like ext4, or something more flash-storage specific (forget, but there were several flash-friendly FS's in the works way back) and I'm just fine with the 'other OS's' not being able to mount my microsd card.
The primary concern, of course, is what the LGOG is gonna require. At first I thought this would have to be exFAT, but seeing as FAT32 supports up to 2TiB, maybe FAT32 is still the only option? I tried ext4 in my xperia ION, and it wouldn't mount unless it was FAT32.
If you want mount it in CWM , I'm pretty sure it has to be FAT32.
Sent from my LG-E970 using Tapatalk 2
JasonJoel said:
If you want mount it in CWM , I'm pretty sure it has to be FAT32.
Sent from my LG-E970 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good point, though at this point I'm unlikely to use CWM on this device, though, that could change. I've just read that many people are opting for NTFS on their sdcards in android to avoid the 4GB file-size limit of FAT32. I had no idea android supported NTFS, though linux support is quite good at this point apparently, so that makes sense....
I formatted NTFS (in linux, tho) and the stock LGOG firmware refused to mount it, so I guess I'm stuck with FAT32....
razholio said:
I formatted NTFS (in linux, tho) and the stock LGOG firmware refused to mount it, so I guess I'm stuck with FAT32....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can format the SD cart to ext4 using Gparted and it should be usable and much faster than FAT32. I've formatted my SanDisk 64 SDXC to two separate partitions so that I can utilize the primary partition for storage and the secondary partition for apps synced with Link2SD. Works quite nicely formatted into two 29GB partitions.
Fracto said:
You can format the SD cart to ext4 using Gparted and it should be usable and much faster than FAT32. I've formatted my SanDisk 64 SDXC to two separate partitions so that I can utilize the primary partition for storage and the secondary partition for apps synced with Link2SD. Works quite nicely formatted into two 29GB partitions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does this work with stock firmware? I tried ext4 on my ion and it would not mount the external SD card formatted with ext4.
Fracto said:
You can format the SD cart to ext4 using Gparted and it should be usable and much faster than FAT32. I've formatted my SanDisk 64 SDXC to two separate partitions so that I can utilize the primary partition for storage and the secondary partition for apps synced with Link2SD. Works quite nicely formatted into two 29GB partitions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to download a live CD and try that out.
I'm also primarily a linux user. I have been using fat32 on my 64gb class 10 card and recommend it for convenience.
I did try exfat and although I did not run benchmarks, I think exfat is slightly faster (and I'm sure ext4 would be faster that fat32). However, you cannot beat the convenience of downloading a zip file straight to your card and installing via CWM all in just a few minutes.
It's no ext4 and so I lose a tiny bit of peace of mind, but it's worth it.
razholio said:
I know this is technically a question, but I was hoping to spark some discussion on filesystems in android.
I just got a 64GB microSDXC card and I know that the LGOG is compatible with it. I just checked and noticed that:
a. it comes preformated with exfat and
b. my ubuntu install is not cool with that.
I'm all linux over here, so I'd actually prefer something like ext4, or something more flash-storage specific (forget, but there were several flash-friendly FS's in the works way back) and I'm just fine with the 'other OS's' not being able to mount my microsd card.
The primary concern, of course, is what the LGOG is gonna require. At first I thought this would have to be exFAT, but seeing as FAT32 supports up to 2TiB, maybe FAT32 is still the only option? I tried ext4 in my xperia ION, and it wouldn't mount unless it was FAT32.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fracto said:
You can format the SD cart to ext4 using Gparted and it should be usable and much faster than FAT32. I've formatted my SanDisk 64 SDXC to two separate partitions so that I can utilize the primary partition for storage and the secondary partition for apps synced with Link2SD. Works quite nicely formatted into two 29GB partitions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone else tried this?
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DeathmonkeyGTX said:
Has anyone else tried this?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I formatted mine into one 50 Gb partition (User) and another 9 GB partition (apps) and Link2SD works great. However, for apps that download additional data into the obb folder it doesn't move that over. Another thing to note is the highest app that I linked only saved about 50 MBs. Not really saving that much space but after I linked several 50 MB and under apps, I recovered about 1 GB of space on the Internal. It's worth it and not that complicated.
I you want to try: Backup your SD, format it to Fat32, use MiniTool to resize the first partition, then create a second partition (FAT 32 and make sure it is Primary, Don't use ext4 it didn't work for me) using the remaining space.
EDIT: Even 9 GBs is too large. Anyone who is gonna try this, you would only need about 3 to 6 GBs for Link2SD. I also tried using GL to SD in combination with Link2SD and had some issues.
Okay, in the morning I'll make a 50gb the exfat partition for use in android and a 9gb FAT32 for recovery.
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda premium
DeathmonkeyGTX said:
Okay, in the morning I'll make a 50gb the exfat partition for use in android and a 9gb FAT32 for recovery.
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you misunderstood. The first partition will be used for files and recovery in android and must be FAT32. You can use another format but I haven't tested any others. I also know the recovery won't recognize any other format besides FAT32. The second partition can only be used for link2sd and the only one I got to work was FAT32.
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I don't use Link2SD. Just exfat for music, videos, and map data and FAT32 for Android crap and recovery.
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64GB FAT32 format

I've always used extFAT on my SanDisk 64GB MicroSDXC UHS-1 Class 10 memory card. A few times I tried FAT32 but the S3 still had issues with it so I went back to extFAT. If I was to format the card now to FAT32 would any of the following happen.
1. Card could die sooner because it's FAT32?
2. Are there known bugs with having it be FAT32?
3. Does the speed or performance of the card drop any?
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FAT32 vs exFAT (aka FAT64)
DarkMenace said:
I've always used extFAT on my SanDisk 64GB MicroSDXC UHS-1 Class 10 memory card. A few times I tried FAT32 but the S3 still had issues with it so I went back to extFAT. If I was to format the card now to FAT32 would any of the following happen.
1. Card could die sooner because it's FAT32?
2. Are there known bugs with having it be FAT32?
3. Does the speed or performance of the card drop any?
Sent from my Rooted Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. No
2. Windows will not allow you to create a filesystem larger than 32GB with FAT32, you can use 3rd party programs to accomplish this.
3. FAT32 filesystem performance depends on the size and number of files contained on the fileysystem, many small files will cause FAT32 to be slower than exFAT.
ExFAT also supports ACLs (file permission attributes) and does not have a 4GB single file size limitation.
There is no practical reason to use FAT32 over exFAT unless the devices you are using are incapable of reading an exFAT filesystem (i.e. pre-XP versions of Windows).
-Mike
I was only thinking this because of being stuck on CWM making a nandroid backup and such since I can't remove the recovery.
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