Should I format USB sticks and SD cards to FAT, FAT32, exFAT or NTFS? (Windows files, live Linux distors)

Posted by superuser on Super User See other posts from Super User or by superuser
Published on 2013-01-13T09:28:42Z Indexed on 2014/08/24 10:23 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 222

Filed under:

linux

|

usb-flash-drive

|

fat32

|

liveusb

|

fat16

Does it depend on the media size which one to chose or on some other parameters? In Windows 7 FAT16 is the default. In pendrivelinux.com's Universal USB Installer FAT32. Which one to chose? How about NTFS for Windows use?

How about exFAT? It is tne Microsoft designed filesystem for removable media. Is there a difference in USB sticks and SD cards in this regard?

Edit: seeing developments in the other thread, should I still use something like exFAT if I don't want Recycle bins created on every single machine I plug my USB thumb drive in?

© Super User or respective owner

Related posts about linux

apt-get install and update fail

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I've got a problem with apt-get update and apt-get install ... commands . every time update or installing fails and errors are : Get:1 http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg [198B] Ign http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable/main Translation-en_US Get:2 http://dl… >>> More
kernel module compiling error

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
sh@ubuntu:/home/ccpp/helloworld$ make gcc-4.6 -O2 -DMODULE -D_KERNEL_ -W -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes -Wmissing-prototypes -isystem /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build/include -c -o hello-1.o hello-1.c hello-1.c:4:0: warning: "MODULE" redefined [enabled by default] <command-line>:0:0: note: this is… >>> More
Build-Essentials installation failing

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I am having trouble accessing the several critical header files that show to be a part of the build process. The "Ubuntu Software Center" shows "Build Essentials" as installed: Next I did the following two commands, which did not improve the problem: ~$ sudo apt-get install build-essential [sudo]… >>> More
Updating Debian kernel

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I'm trying to update my Debian machine to 2.6.32-46 (which is the new stable). However, after doing apt-get update my apt-cache search linux-image shows me: linux-headers-2.6.32-5-486 - Header files for Linux 2.6.32-5-486 linux-headers-2.6.32-5-686-bigmem - Header files for Linux 2.6.32-5-686-bigmem linux-headers-2… >>> More
Serial connection over a single USB cable (Windows to linux, or linux to linux)

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I'm helping out with a project for an embedded device that only has USB and no serial. This device is running Linux. These days, when we need to connect to a serial port on a device we typically use a USB to serial adapter (on something like a phone system or a load balancing device, etc). I would… >>> More

Related posts about usb-flash-drive

16GB Usb Flash Drive shows as 16MB and is unusable

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
i have a sandisk Cruzer 16GB usb flash drive but it started to show up as 16MB. and i cant use it , it tells me that i need to format the drive or "Please insert a disk into drive X" does anyone have any recommadation for any software so i can check the flash drive? Edit: i cant format it since… >>> More
How to boot Linux from a 16gb USB flash drive

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I'm trying to install Linux on a single partition of a USB flash drive that's larger than 4gb. The first place I went to is http://pendrivelinux.com. I can follow these instructions for installing Xubuntu 9.04 perfectly, which unfortunately break down when I try to scale it up beyond 4gb. There… >>> More
Create a Bootable Ubuntu 9.10 USB Flash Drive

as seen on How to geek - Search for 'How to geek'
The Ubuntu Live CD isn’t just useful for trying out Ubuntu before you install it, you can also use it to maintain and repair your Windows PC. Even if you have no intention of installing Linux, every Windows user should have a bootable Ubuntu USB drive on hand in case something goes wrong in Windows… >>> More
Create a Persistent Bootable Ubuntu USB Flash Drive

as seen on How to geek - Search for 'How to geek'
Don’t feel like reinstalling an antivirus program every time you boot up your Ubuntu flash drive? We’ll show you how to create a bootable Ubuntu flash drive that will remember your settings, installed programs, and more! Previously, we showed you how to create a bootable Ubuntu flash drive that would… >>> More
How does a hard drive compare to Flash memory working as a hard drive in terms of speed?

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
Some experiment I did with hard drive read/write speed was 10MB/s write and 40MB/s read, and with a USB Flash drive, it can be 5MB/s write and 10MB/s read. Also, if I put a virtual hard drive .vhd file in a hard drive or in a USB Flash drive and try a Virtual Machine using it, the one using the hard… >>> More