FAT32 offers the best compatibility for PC and Mac operating systems, including cross-platform compatibility with the MAC OS X. However, FAT32 has inherent limitations in regards to file size, partition size, and performance.
Limitations under Windows, Mac OS 9, and Mac X:
- A file cannot be transferred to a FAT32 partition if the file is larger than 4GB.
- Apple’s Time Machine backup utility will not store data on FAT32 partitions.
Limitations under Windows 2000/XP/Vista:
- A FAT32 partition cannot be created that is larger than 32GB.
- A file cannot be transferred to a FAT32 partition if the file is larger than 4GB.
- FAT32 file system performs more slowly than NTFS (Windows) or Mac OS Extended (HFS Plus, Mac).
Using an external hard drive with Windows:
Note: When using an external drive with Windows 2000/XP/Vista it is recommended that you reformat the drive to the NTFS file system.
Using an external hard drive on a Mac:
Note: It is recommended that you format the drive in the Mac OS Extended file system (HFS Plus).