Hacking Best backup file system?

[aldableep3]

So If I'm already on WBFS is it worth changing over to Fat32,
I could transfer evverything on myHDD to my PC reformat then transfer back, will I benefit?

In my particular case games stopped working out of nowhere. A few deletes and file transfers here and there and I'm sure my WBFS partition got corrupted somehow. Since I'm starting from scratch, there's no way I'm going back to WBFS. Seems like FAT32 is the best FS to use now based on the fact that you can have all your software, games, apps, etc. on one partition because the majority of Wii software supports FAT32. In my personal opinion I would start from scratch with FAT32 and re-rip or re-transfer all your stuff back. The only problem I've had so far with FAT32 is the speed. Now it could be all in my head because I'm using a different loader than usual. It seems like games load a little more slowly. I only transferred five games so far, so I don't know how much fragmentation could be. Like I said it could just be all in my head. I'll take the stability of my backups over a little speed any day.

 

[FIX94]

The only problem I've had so far with FAT32 is the speed. Now it could be all in my head because I'm using a different loader than usual. It seems like games load a little more slowly. I only transferred five games so far, so I don't know how much fragmentation could be. Like I said it could just be all in my head. I'll take the stability of my backups over a little speed any day.

The speed in wbfs, ntfs and fat32 is the same, there is no difference. You could check fragmentation, after I transfered all my games to ntfs the parition had a fragmentation level of 70 percent! Also the stability is the same.

 

[aldableep3]

The only problem I've had so far with FAT32 is the speed. Now it could be all in my head because I'm using a different loader than usual. It seems like games load a little more slowly. I only transferred five games so far, so I don't know how much fragmentation could be. Like I said it could just be all in my head. I'll take the stability of my backups over a little speed any day.

The speed in wbfs, ntfs and fat32 is the same, there is no difference. You could check fragmentation, after I transfered all my games to ntfs the parition had a fragmentation level of 70 percent! Also the stability is the same.

Maybe I should check how fragmented my drive is, then. I don't believe for a second that the stability of WBFS is anywhere near that of FAT32 or NTFS. There is no way some abstract file system used for Wii homebrew and backup can be as stable as a file system like FAT32 or NTFS developed by Microsoft and used for almost limitless different applications. FAT32 is pretty damn old and a bit sketchy by today's standards, but it seems to be my best choice for the Wii, especially after my experience with WBFS.

 

[Nintendo_Chick]

If you have a large drive you use for other things on windows I suggest using ntfs for your games, that way you're not wasting space on a fat32 partition when it's not full, and you don't end up filling it up and having to make a new partition. I have a 1tb hdd formated to ntfs, but I keep a 10gb fat32 partition on it for other things.

I just read that and it doesn't make much since, but I already typed it, and I'm a little drunk so I'm posting it anyways.

 

[XFlak]

FAT32 is the way to go!!!

...but here are the FACTS, and everyone can choose the format that best suits their needs

 

[Wiimm]

@XFlak:
You have forgotten 1 WBFS pro: Fragmentation makes FAT really slow. WBFS has no problems with fragmentation because of the large chunks (>=2MiB).

 

[PsyBlade]

fat defragers are readily available and have been since mid 90s

plus since there are virtually no file resizes a good allocation algorithm should be able to avoid most fragmentation

 

[CarbonX13]

I'm still with WBFS, no problems for me yet, but people seem to be preferring FAT32. I guess it's the better choice, but I usually stick with something as long as its not broken.

 

[dexter222]

I'm still with WBFS, no problems for me yet, but people seem to be preferring FAT32. I guess it's the better choice, but I usually stick with something as long as its not broken.

As long as it's a small drive/partition and you don't use the drive for anything else, good for you

Honor the past... I still have an old model T ford that I drive in parades sometimes so I understand the nostalgia of sticking with WBFS...

... as long as you don't plan on ever storing more than 500 games on it. You can't. WBFS has a strict 500 file limit. That means any WBFS drive/partition over 850-900 gigs is automatically wasted space.

 

[Wiimm]

WBFS has a strict 500 file limit.

This is definitive wrong!

 

[r-win]

FAT32 is the way to go!!!

...but here are the FACTS, and everyone can choose the format that best suits their needs

Why is only CFG listed there as being able to support stuff from NTFS? Wiiflow had that before CFG did!

Anyway, your point is a valid one:

NTFS and FAT32 are preferred. FAT32 is a bit more preferred, if you want to run other homebrew than a USB Loader from it. If you're using the correct forwarder, you can launch the USB Loader itself from NTFS.

 

[oggzee]

Why is only CFG listed there as being able to support stuff from NTFS? Wiiflow had that before CFG did!

Um, what?
No it didn't.

 

[XFlak]

FAT32 is the way to go!!!...but here are the FACTS, and everyone can choose the format that best suits their needsWhy is only CFG listed there as being able to support stuff from NTFS? Wiiflow had that before CFG did!

I gotta agree with oggzee, configurable had it first. Configurable also was the first loader to support FAT32, which was EPIC and was what initially convinced me to switch to cfg usb loader.

However, you're point is also valid as in my list in pros and cons I single out CFG usb loader, the reason for this is because it is the only usbloader ModMii has available for download and because it is my preferred loader.

But I actually say:
QUOTE

CFG USB-Loader can access games, covers and music stored on NTFS

Can wiiflow and usb-loader gx access covers and music on NTFS? If so, I will change it to read "USB-Loaders can..." instead of "CFG USB-Loader can..."

On a sidenote, while I prefer cfg usb loader, I have mad respect for the devs of ALL usb-loaders (and all apps for that matter). So while I advertise (for lack of a better word) cfg usb loader, I'm still very glad there are alternatives out there (as they say, variety is the spice of life!). So keep up the good work, all of you!

 

[r-win]

I gotta agree with oggzee, configurable had it first.
In r177 cfg loader added NTFS write support, with a library fix from dimok and Mugotu. Any chance that library update was already used in wiiflow? I think CFG was the first to release a loader with NTFS, but it was not the first who added it (I know,, I know...weak argument, but still

).

Configurable also was the first loader to support FAT32, which was EPIC and was what initially convinced me to switch to cfg usb loader.
True that. Thanks to oggzee FAT32/NTFS support was possible, so that it could be added to both GX and Wiiflow. Indeed EPIC!

However, you're point is also valid as in my list in pros and cons I single out CFG usb loader, the reason for this is because it is the only usbloader ModMii has available for download and because it is my preferred loader.

But I actually say:
QUOTE

CFG USB-Loader can access games, covers and music stored on NTFS

Can wiiflow and usb-loader gx access covers and music on NTFS? If so, I will change it to read "USB-Loaders can..." instead of "CFG USB-Loader can..."

Wiiflow can, USB GX cannot (yet).

 

[oggzee]

I gotta agree with oggzee, configurable had it first.

In r177 cfg loader added NTFS write support, with a library fix from dimok and Mugotu. Any chance that library update was already used in wiiflow? I think CFG was the first to release a loader with NTFS, but it was not the first who added it (I know,, I know...weak argument, but still

).

Oh you're talking about write support then?
Sorry I misunderstood you, yes wiiflow was the first to have proper ntfs write support and thanks guys for fixing that!

Just to nitpick a little, the statement by xflak was:
"CFG USB-Loader can access games, covers and music stored on NTFS"

So for these things listed CFG was indeed the first.

 

[r-win]

Just to nitpick a little, the statement by xflak was:
"CFG USB-Loader can access games, covers and music stored on NTFS"

So for these things listed CFG was indeed the first.

That's not nitpicking, you are right, and I read that wrong

 

[Jakob95]

I was wondering what I should format my new harddrive 120GB to and just chose WBFS. If I ever need it for something else I will just split it up.

 

[Yuan]

I was wondering what I should format my new harddrive 120GB to and just chose WBFS. If I ever need it for something else I will just split it up.

Why not using FAT32 and if you ever need NTFS split it?

 

[air2004]

Im not gonna read all the comments on here , read some , stick with wbfs it shrinks the games down to the right size when its storing them , fat and ntfs cant do that , and use wbfs manager to add and remove games

 

[jefffisher]

Im not gonna read all the comments on here , read some , stick with wbfs it shrinks the games down to the right size when its storing them , fat and ntfs cant do that , and use wbfs manager to add and remove games

the games are all shrunk to the same size regardless of file system, wbfs is obsolete now. use fat32 if you want wii games and wii homebrew use ntfs if you wont be using homebrew and want to use the hdd for other things that will need larger files