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Cross-platform filesystem

I want to reformat a my 2 Gb flash drive for cross-platform compatibility, but I don't know the difference between all the file systems. I know that FAT32 is compatible with Windows and Linux, but I believe NTFS is, as well.

  • Which file system has the widest compatibility?
  • Which file system is least likely to damage my files if the drive is removed unsafely?
  • If I want to secure my drive with a password, must I use a specific file system?

My knowledge of file systems is sorely lacking; I would appreciate an explanation.

Community
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Evan Kroske
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1 Answers1

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I would go with FAT32. If there was a need for large files, maybe I would opt for something else. But on a 2 Gb USB, there is really no problems in that view. Pretty much everything can read from it, and write to it, it being a rather old nowadays system.

I've never experienced any loss of files, but if you really wish to be sure just safely remove/unmount regularly. File corruption is not so much related to the filesystem itself, but rather to the operations pending in the moment of the forced removal (so to speak).

Rook
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