File system is a set of rules which decide how data is stored and organized on the storage system e.g., hard drive, flash drive, CD-ROM etc. Windows supports three popular formats FAT32, exFAT and NTFS. All three formats have their own advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we will discuss about each of the file system and where it should be used for maximum performance and compatibility.
Quick Summary
FAT32 (File Allocation Table)
FAT32 is probably the most compatible file system as it can be read by almost all Operating Systems including all versions of Windows starting Windows 95, Mac OSX, Linux, Unix etc. It has its limitations like it supports file size of maximum 4 GB and a volume size of 8 TB. Its performance also slows down if there are large number of files on one volume. That is why it is most suitable for storage devices with less space and where cross platform compatibility is needed.
Supported Platforms
Windows XP, Windows 7/8/10/Vista, Mac OS Leopard, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3, Xbox
Pros
Cross platform compatibility, lightweight
Cons
Very limited file size, very limited partition size, performance degraded in case of large no. of files.
Ideal Use
Removable storage drives
exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
exFAT was introduced to overcome the limitations of FAT32 file system. While everything else is similar as compared to FAT32, the maximum file size for exFAT file system is 16 EB and the maximum volume size is 24 ZB. exFAT is not compatible with Linux by default but you can run it using FUSE.
Compatible Platforms
Windows XP, Windows 7/8/10/Vista, Mac OS X, Linux (using FUSE).
Pros
Larger file size limitations as compared to FAT32
Cons
Performance degradation in case of larger drives and large no. of files.
Ideal Use
USB, flash drives or other external drives when saving files of size more than 4 GB are required.
NTFS (New Technology File System)
NTFS is the best file system when it comes to performance and security. But since it is proprietary to Microsoft, it is not compatible with all Operating Systems. Mac OSX and Linux can read NTFS partitions but can’t modify or write any data on the system. The maximum file size you can store on NTFS file system is 16 EB while the maximum volume size is also 16 EB.
Compatible Platforms
Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 7/8/10/Vista, Linux (Read-only), Mac (Read-only).
Pros
Security, Performance, Speed
Cons
File path is limited to 255 characters only, Incompatible with other major Operating Systems other than Windows.
Ideal Use
Use with Windows everywhere to enable better performance and enable security features.
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