Windows XP includes new features that are available only with the NTFS file system. This topic outline the features and benefits of altering to the NTFS file system with Windows XP.

The new attributes in Windows XP need on-disk data structures that create these volumes not accessible to Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 based PCs. In expectation of dual-boot situations, Microsoft suggests that you improve Windows NT 4.0 to SP4 (Service Pack 4) before you initiate the Windows XP installation. The edition of NTFS contained with Windows XP cannot be deduced correctly by Windows NT 4.0. However, there is an updated Ntfs.sys driver in Windows NT 4.0 SP4 that allows Windows NT 4.0 to read from and write to NTFS volumes in Windows XP. Circumstances of the NTFS 3.1 file system contain:

• Disk quotas: Administrators can bound the quantity of disk space users can put away on a per-volume origin. The three quota levels are: Tracking, Enforced and Off.

• Encryption: The NTFS 3.1 file system is read and written to the disk that it can automatically encrypt and decrypt file data.

• Reparse points: Programs can catch open operations next to objects in the file system and execute their own code before recurring file data. This characteristic can be employed to expand file system features such as rise points, which you will be able to utilize to redirect data that is read and written from folder to physical drive or volume.

• Sparse files: This characteristic allows programs to make very large files, but to put away disk space only as required.

• USN journal: This characteristic presents a constant log of all adjustments made to files on the volume. This is one of the causes that Windows domain controllers have to utilize an NTFS 3.1 division as the system volume.