File Systems and Windows Versions Comparison and Contrast
Joel D. Belew
University of Phoenix

There are many different versions of Windows operating systems and software. Each has a different ability or use as the technology for each was increased and or changed over time as each was used. Some of the major versions of Windows include: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows 200, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. These versions all have some similarities as well as differences that make them separate from each other. The following paragraphs will lists some of the comparisons and contrasts that make each individually different. The common file system used for most all of Windows versions including: Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and all successors to these versions are the New Technology File System or NTFS. This file system has taken the place of the File Allocation Table or FAT file system and the High Performance File System or HPFS. The NTFS allows for better metadata support as well as advanced data sets giving the versions more performance, space, and security extensions. These upgrades have become the standard for today’s use until the release of better technology. The current version of NTFS commonly used is an on-disk format v3.1 created for use with Windows XP. This version is included with all versions of Windows operating systems following XP. Other filing systems that were used during releases of NTFS include: FAT, A FAT file system contains good performance that has been used by almost all existing operating systems for home or personal computers. This file system is current enough to support sharing of many different devices and data formats from as early as the 1980’s and up current use. FAT file systems are used in and on many portable devices, floppy disks, and memory cards whether solid state or flash. Some of the devices that support FAT file systems for removable media are PDAs, media players, mobile phones, and digital cameras and camcorders. There are three major versions of FAT and they are numbered by the bits contained within each. They are FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32. FAT 12 is generally found on floppy disks and smaller media where FAT16 and FAT32 are normally found on larger media. The use of NTFS is far more than that of a FAT file system because of the technology advancements and upgrades. The NTFS is more reliable and contains more features to support the operating systems used in today’s market allowing for better control and management. Both file systems contain needed elements to control and maintain data for use by the computers operating system allowing for retrieval and manipulation. The major difference is the increase in load capacity and ability of the file system in whole. FAT file systems work by incorporating a number per cluster used and each cluster makes up a table. The cluster is determined by the number for execution and is determined which FAT version to use based on number of clusters to be contained as well as file space allotted. The NTFS filing systems were built with corporate infrastructures in mind. This filing system was created to improve organization, security, compatibility, and control. The NTFS has four sections containing: a partition boot sector, master file table (MFT), filesystem data, and a backup copy of the MFT. These sections determine the flow of data and file disbursement throughout the system. To conclude, NTFS is a better choice in filing systems as it contains reliability, access control, encryption, disk quotas, and mount points. These features are a step above FAT which can be converted to NTFS files if needed for more control. NTFS supports larger volumes with the use of virtual cluster numbers (VCN) or logical cluster numbers (LCN). These numbers are used to find the data of a file contents that contained volume too large for the MFT. This allows for more control and organization among files within the system. This in turn makes this form of file system best used for all from corporate needs to personal use.

References
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File Allocation Table. (). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Allocation_Table
NTFS. (). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS
Shapiro, J. R. (2008). Windows server 2008 bible. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.