Along with the release of Vista SP1, Microsoft introduced a new file system. ExFAT(Extended File Allocation Table) is the successor to the old FAT32 file system. So what are the main advantages and disadvantages of the exFAT file system. What are the differences between exFAT and FAT32? And when is it better to use exFAT over NTFS?

The FAT32 file system is quite an old and familiar file system, but it has a number of significant drawbacks: it does not support partitions larger than 2 TB, and files larger than 4 GB. To solve the described problems in FAT32, the exFAT file system was created. ExFAT is a Microsoft development designed primarily for mobile media (flash drives, SSD drives, smart cards). It should be noted right away that ExFAT is not used to format hard drives. All recent versions of Windows as well as Mac OS X support this file system. ExFAT is also often referred to as FAT64, which means it can handle larger drives and files.

The main advantages of the exFAT file system:

• Maximum cluster size increased to 32 MB
• The maximum file size in exFAT has been increased from 4GB to 2 64 bytes (16 EB).
• No limit on the number of files in a directory
• Support for file / directory permissions
• Write transaction support (if supported by the physical device)
• Efficient use of free space, which helps to significantly reduce disk fragmentation.

It should be noted that when formatting in exFAT, the amount of available space on storage devices is greater than when using FAT32. For example, if you format a 4 GB USB stick (nominal capacity 4023 MB) in different file systems, you get the following:

• FAT32 - 4014 MB
• HFS + - 3997 MB
• NTFS - 3974 MB
• exFAT - 4022 MB

ExFAT is optimized to work with flash drives, such as USB flash drives, memory cards and SSD drives, the cluster size of 32 KB is well suited for large cards and devices with increased wear and tear when performing read-write operations. The exFAT system also has the ability to manage access rights to files / directories, and the data access time has decreased. One of the main drawbacks of the exFAT system is that this technology is covered by the Microsoft licensing policy, and it cannot be used in any open source solutions. To use it in any operating system, you will need to make licensing fees to Microsoft (this rule does not apply to simple mobile devices such as cameras, players, etc.).

exFAT on modern operating systems

Windows 7

The new version of Microsoft Windows 7 fully supports the exFAT file system and all its functions in both 32- and 64-bit versions. In addition, external flash drives formatted in exFAT can be used to work with ReadyBoost technology (and there will be no more 4 GB limit).

Windows Vista

Windows Vista only supports exFAT starting with Service Pack 1. In addition, some features such as access control are also not supported. Unlike Windows 7, exFAT devices in Vista are not supported for ReadyBoost.

Windows XP

ExFAT is not supported in Windows XP, however, a driver can be downloaded from the Microsoft website (description in KB 9555704 - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955704), but it requires Service Pack 2 to be installed.

For older versions of Windows, there is no official support for exFAT.

Windows Server

ExFAT is fully supported in Windows Server 2008, and when the above driver is installed, in Windows Server 2003.

Snow leopard

Mac OS X supports exFAT since version 10.6.4 (June 15, 2010), but only on Macs with an SDXC card reader. Mac mini and iMac are exFAT compatible.

Linux systems do not support exFAT, although there are several solutions, but most of them are paid or inconvenient, in addition, Microsoft, with its proprietary license, puts a spoke in the wheels of independent developers.

ExFAT and FAT32

When tested on Windows 7, it showed the same performance as FAT32, but NTFS is still slightly faster. Will exFAT replace FAT32? This will probably only happen after a massive upgrade to Windows 7 or newer versions of Windows. For consumers, the main benefit of exFAT will be to overcome the FAT32 file limitations (increasing the file size in exFat).

We must also remember that the exFAT file system requires a newer OS version (hardware upgrade may be required), as well as the fact that exFAT may simply not be supported on older devices (cameras, mp3-players).

exFat or NTFS

ExFAT can be considered a competitor to NTFS on systems with limited processing power and memory. In addition, the NTFS file system on flash cards is very inconvenient and inefficient to use (the speed of work decreases and the lifespan of flash memory), and it is ExFAT that will be the ideal file system for such devices.

After purchasing a new USB drive, decided to format it? You are probably wondering which file system is the best available. There is no perfect file system for USB drives. However, depending on the purpose of their use, one way of storing data may be better than others. Below are some important considerations for each type.

The file system is the piece of software that controls the storage and retrieval of data on the media. It manages operations such as copying, moving, and deleting files from disk.

Such a system is different from an operating system - in a sense, it runs on top of it and is dependent on many operations with the underlying equipment. Each major OS (e.g. Windows, macOS, Linux) is capable of dealing with different file systems (natively or via third party tools).

Determining the purpose of using the USB storage device

Note! The most important considerations regarding individual choice of file system for a USB drive are the type of operating system installed and the size of the transferred files.

If you will be using a USB flash drive on Windows devices, then you can use file systems such as FAT32, exFAT or NTFS. FAT32 and NTFS work with Linux, but exFAT requires additional tools. When using the drive only on Linux devices, you can choose EXT 2, 3, or 4. For MacOS, the system is capable of running FAT 32 and exFAT. That being said, for NTFS you will need additional tools and the default is HFS + (and the latest APFS), not EXT.

As you can see, FAT 32 and to some extent NTFS are present in all major operating systems. They are not interchangeable and differ. The size of the files you will transfer plays a major role, since FAT 32 is limited to 4 GB and cannot transfer larger data.

Characteristics of file systems

There are a lot of file systems, and if you are interested, you can try several of them, and only then settle on the familiar types.

However, the main options for file systems mainly boil down to the following:

Comparison of the main types of file systems

Let's now take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of basic file systems.

Most of these file systems work with multiple operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, etc. Typically, users are not limited to just one type of data storage. If you do not have large work files, then there are many options to choose from. Their number increases if the transmission speed is not a priority.

Note! When the selected file system is not suitable, you can always reformat the flash drive if there is no valuable data on it.

Video - How to choose a file system for a flash drive

Let's analyze the types of file system for a flash drive, which one is better. One user sent me a photo with the error "The file is too large for the final file system" and decided to write an article in what cases one should use FAT32, NTFS and exFAT systems. He moved a file larger than 4 GB to an 8 GB stick. The fact is that the FAT32 system cannot process information over 4 GB, if your flash drive has a volume of 32 GB and its file system is FAT32, then you cannot write a file over 4 GB to it. Let's take a look at all three file systems in windows, let's look at their pros and cons.

FAT32

The old file system mode, which is usually used when buying a USB flash drive from a store, and the reason for this is compatibility. The compatibility lies in the fact that FAT32 can be used on any computer running MAC, Windows, Linux, old PCs. The biggest limitation is that it has a 4GB file size limit, which today has problems with formats such as 4k video, Blu-ray. In short, if you are going to work with files that are less than 4 GB in size and the flash drive is used on different computers with different operating systems, then the FAT32 file system is very suitable.

exFAT

Updated file system created by microsoft to replace FAT32. Started with Windows Vista SP1 and has a maximum file size of 16 exabytes (EB), which is 1 EB = 1018 bytes. Compatible with Mac OS and Windows, it is a very good system for sharing large files.

Minuses:

• It does not have any kind of logging functionality in which all changes to files on disk are logged before they are actually performed.
• Not supported by Apple's Time Machine. In short, you won't be able to back up from Apple using Time Machine software.
• A very complex structure that requires more computing power.

Pros:

• Overwrites the same sector fewer times, which is important for flash drives, extending the life of memory cells. As you know, flash drives have N-number of rewrites, then fail.
• Large file size limit of 16 exabytes.
• The cluster size is 32 megabytes.
• Improved allocation of free space, which reduces disk defragmentation.

NTFS

The newest file system created by microsoft is the modern structure of today for almost any modern internal hard disk, flash drive or ssd disk. NTFS is a new file system technology. Windows can only be installed on NTFS. It is the default for operating system disks due to its versatility. It has all microsoft technologies: logging, none file size limit, file compression support, long names, file access control for server admins and much more. At home, this is the best option for using this system on disks and flash drives. There is one catch, when you insert a USB flash drive into Mac OS, you can copy information from a USB flash drive, but no change.

Output:

For USB sticks, you must use exFAT, if you are constantly in the Mac OS, Windows environment, moving the USB flash drive from one operating system to another. If you only use windows then NTSF perfect solution.

This article will discuss the use of various file systems on external storage media: flash drives, memory cards, external hard drives, etc. So, today the following file systems are used for drives: ...

* FAT32
* NTFS
* exFAT

Let's go through each of them in detail and consider the advantages, disadvantages and features of use on various devices.

A file system created by Microsoft to replace the dying FAT16. Currently the most common system. Most memory cards and flash drives are shipped in FAT32. In addition, when formatting a medium in a consumer device, such as a camera, it will work in this file system. This is its main advantage - compatibility. By inserting such a drive into a household DVD player, media player or photo printer, you can be sure that all files are available and can be read normally. This is where the pros end.

The main drawback of this system is the 4 GB file size limitation. Therefore, it will not work to write a large file (for example, a backup of the system disk or a video overwritten from a camera). In addition, Windows has a 32 GB partition size limit. You can bypass the last limitation by downloading the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool, which will allow you to format at least an external hard drive in FAT32.

However, if you do not need to record and transfer such large files, and also if you have a small media size: 4, 8 or even 16 GB, you can format it in FAT32 without hesitation.
By the way, the company Transcend, which produces mobile data carriers, formats its external hard drives in FAT32.

A modern, reliable file system that dates back to Windows NT.
In stationary computers and laptops, it replaced FAT32. Check if you still have FAT32 installed (right click on the drive in My Computer and select Properties), I highly recommend replacing it with NTFS.

How to convert FAT32 to NTFS without data loss

This can be done as follows. In the command line (Start-Run) type

convert e: / fs: ntfs

Instead of e: you can substitute the required disk. This will change the file system to NTFS no data loss.

However, NTFS works somewhat differently on flash drives and external hard drives. When copying to such a drive, Windows turns on the caching mechanism, when files are copied first to special memory (the so-called cache), and then to the final medium. In stationary hard drives, this allows you to get a gain in copy speed and smooth out delays. On mobile devices, it will look like this. At first, the copying speed will be very high and can reach 100 MB / s (theoretically equal to the read speed of the hard disk from which you are copying), then when the cache memory runs out, the speed will drop to a critically low value. Moreover, before proceeding to copying the next file, the system must add the current one from the cache. Therefore, it may appear that the copy is stuck at 99 percent, although the hard disk indicator will show activity. If we compare the copying speed with and without a cache, it turns out that it is almost identical. That is, when using NTFS, we almost do not lose anything, except for the incorrect copying speed and information about the time of its completion. Although some of this "informational content" can fray nerves.

This is the copy speed that \ "develops \"
USB 2.0 hard drive in NTFS system

NTFS \ "works wonders \", copying to a 512 MB flash drive,
the real write speed of which is several MB / s

On the other hand, NTFS is an extremely reliable file system that can withstand many sudden resets. This reliability is provided by journaling. This will cause the system to access certain areas of the drive more often. For flash drives and memory cards, this approach is critical. They will wear out faster.

New file system from Microsoft. Designed primarily for flash drives. Exaggerating, we can say that this is FAT32 with removed restrictions. The sizes of files and partitions can reach cosmic values, and the number of files in one folder is no longer limited. In my opinion, ideal for flash drives and memory cards.

But this system also has a drawback. Many consumer devices do not support it, and computers with Windows XP will not see such media either. However, Microsoft has released the KB955704 patch to allow exFAT to be used on Windows XP. Windows Vista and Windows 7 are friends with this system without any additional manipulation.

But if you often use a flash drive on different computers using Windows XP, then you will have to carry an additional flash drive with drivers. This is just ridiculous.

But if you only have computers with Windows 7 or you carry a USB flash drive / disk in only 2-3 places where it is possible to install the above update, then exFAT is perfect.

Addition
The article is taken from open sources: http://winitpro.ru/index.php/2011/06/20/fajlovaya-sistema-exfat/
ExFAT file system

Along with the release of Vista SP1, Microsoft introduced a new file system. ExFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) is the successor to the old FAT32 file system. So what are the main advantages and disadvantages of the exFAT file system. What are the differences between exFAT and FAT32? And when is it better to use exFAT over NTFS?

The FAT32 file system is quite an old and familiar file system, but it has a number of significant drawbacks: it does not support partitions larger than 2 TB, and files larger than 4 GB. To solve the described problems in FAT32, the exFAT file system was created. ExFAT is a Microsoft development designed mainly for mobile media (flash drives, SSD drives, smart cards). It should be noted right away that ExFAT is not used to format hard drives. All recent versions of Windows as well as Mac OS X support this file system. ExFAT is also often referred to as FAT64, which means it can handle larger drives and files.

The main advantages of the exFAT file system:

* Maximum cluster size increased to 32 MB
* Increased the maximum file size in exFAT from 4GB to 264 bytes (16 EB).
* No limit on the number of files in a directory
* Support for file / directory permissions
* Transaction support on write (if supported by physical device)
* Efficient use of free space, which helps to significantly reduce disk fragmentation.

It should be noted that when formatting in exFAT, the amount of available space on storage devices is greater than when using FAT32. For example, if you format a 4 GB USB stick (nominal capacity 4023 MB) in different file systems, you get the following:

* FAT32 - 4014 MB
* HFS + - 3997 MB
* NTFS - 3974 MB
* exFAT - 4022 MB

ExFAT is optimized to work with flash drives, such as USB flash drives, memory cards and SSD drives, the cluster size of 32 KB is well suited for large cards and devices with increased wear and tear when performing read-write operations. The exFAT system also has the ability to manage access rights to files / directories, and the data access time has decreased. One of the main drawbacks of the exFAT system is that this technology is covered by the Microsoft licensing policy, and it cannot be used in any open source solutions. To use it in any operating system, you will need to make licensing fees to Microsoft (this rule does not apply to simple mobile devices such as cameras, players, etc.).

exFAT on modern Windows 7 operating systems

The new version of Microsoft Windows 7 fully supports the exFAT file system and all its functions in both 32- and 64-bit versions. In addition, external flash drives formatted in exFAT can be used to work with ReadyBoost technology (and there will be no more 4 GB limit).

Windows Vista

Windows Vista only supports exFAT starting with Service Pack 1. In addition, some features such as access control are also not supported. Unlike Windows 7, exFAT devices in Vista are not supported for ReadyBoost.

Windows XP

ExFAT is not supported in Windows XP, however, a driver can be downloaded from the Microsoft website (description in KB 9555704 - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955704), but it requires Service Pack 2 to be installed.

For older versions of Windows, there is no official support for exFAT.

Windows Server

ExFAT is fully supported in Windows Server 2008, and when the above driver is installed, in Windows Server 2003.

Snow leopard

Mac OS X supports exFAT since version 10.6.4 (June 15, 2010), but only on Macs with an SDXC card reader. Mac mini and iMac are exFAT compatible.

Linux systems do not support exFAT, although there are several solutions, but most of them are paid or inconvenient, in addition, Microsoft, with its proprietary license, puts a spoke in the wheels of independent developers.

ExFAT and FAT32

When tested on Windows 7, it showed the same performance as FAT32, but NTFS is still slightly faster. Will exFAT replace FAT32? This will probably only happen after a massive upgrade to Windows 7 or newer versions of Windows. For consumers, the main benefit of exFAT will be to overcome the FAT32 file limitations (increasing the file size in exFat).

We must also remember that the exFAT file system requires a newer OS version (hardware upgrade may be required), as well as the fact that exFAT may simply not be supported on older devices (cameras, mp3-players).

exFat or NTFS

ExFAT can be considered a competitor to NTFS on systems with limited processing power and memory. In addition, the NTFS file system on flash cards is very inconvenient and inefficient to use (the speed of work decreases and the lifespan of flash memory), and it is ExFAT that will be the ideal file system for such devices.

In conclusion, here are some general guidelines for choosing the most suitable file system. If you have a small flash drive, format it to FAT32. Format large flash drives exFAT, as "speed jumps" will be especially noticeable on them. External hard drives are usually large and high performance (especially those with USB 3.0 ports), so it is best to format them to NTFS.

The article is taken from open sources: http://pc-hard.ru/softarticles/1-fat32-ntfs-exfat-comparsion.html

Today, on external media, such as flash drives, memory cards or external hard drives, a different file system can be used:

• exFAT;
• FAT32;
• NTFS.

Most often, users do not know which one to choose among these systems, so it is better to initially consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

FAT32

This file system was created by Microsoft in order to replace the FAT16 system, which at that time was no longer relevant and could not meet the requirements of users. FAT32 is by far the most widely used file system, although exFAT is more modern and often superior in performance.

It should be noted that today the majority of flash drives and various memory cards are supplied in this standard. In addition, in the process of formatting a medium in household devices, such as, for example, a camera, it begins to function in this system. This is precisely the main advantage of FAT32, thanks to which the exFAT file system has not yet surpassed it in popularity - it is compatibility. You can use this drive in any home player, printer or other devices and at the same time be confident that you will have access to files and they will be read normally. But this is where the advantages end and the disadvantages begin.

The main reason why in some situations it is worth using FAT32 not only on flash drives, but also on stationary computers is that it will be possible to run almost any operating system on the computer, such as Windows 95 and others. To create such a configuration, it will be enough just to install the previous version of the OS on a partition that is formatted for this file system, and then make it the main one. Other partitions accessed from other OS versions must also be formatted for FAT32 without fail. Other operating systems can only access network partitions or NTFS volumes, while the partitions on the local computer will remain inaccessible.

What are the disadvantages?

The most important disadvantage that FAT32 differs, but not exFAT file system, is that there is a limitation on the file size, which is 4 GB. It is for this reason that recording large files, such as, for example, a backup copy of the system disk or some lengthy video, will be impossible in this case, since the system will simply respond with an error in the form of "Not enough disk space" when trying to record. even if in fact there is still enough space.

In addition, do not forget that in the Windows operating system itself there is a limit on the size of the partition, which is 32 GB. Of course, you can try to bypass it by using additional utilities, but with current drives it is often pointless to do this.

If you do not have any need to transfer or record such large files, and also if you use a small media, then you can not hesitate to format it in FAT32 for a long time, since the file system support exFAT is not required.

NTFS

A more modern file system compared to the previous one, which was able to completely replace it in modern personal computers, as well as laptops. If you still have files and the FAT32 file system, then it is strongly recommended to change it to NTFS as soon as possible. This will greatly expand the capabilities of your computer.

How to do it?

In Windows, exFAT or NTFS is quite easy to make the main file system. At the command line, you will need to enter "convert e: / fs: ntfs", where instead of e: the disk that you will format is installed. Thus, you can replace the file system without any loss of data contained on the drive.

How does it work on USB sticks?

However, NTFS may work differently on USB sticks and other external devices than on computers. When trying to copy to such a device, the operating system automatically turns on the caching procedure, when any file is initially copied into special memory, and only then is it moved to the final medium. In stationary drives, this allows you to achieve a significant gain in the speed of data copying, as well as smooth out delays.

In mobile devices, it looks something like this: initially, the data processing speed will be quite high and periodically will even reach 100 Mb / s, but after the cache memory runs out, the speed will simply drop incredibly, reaching critically low values. In this case, before starting to copy the next file, the system will have to initially append the existing file from the cache. In this regard, situations often arise when copying simply freezes at 99%, although the hard disk indicator is still lit as active.

If you compare the copy speed with and without a cache, in fact, it turns out that it is almost the same. That is, if NTFS is the main one, then we almost do not lose anything, except for the maximum copying speed, as well as providing us with information about how long the data will be copied. Although for many people, such "information" can ultimately turn out to be only a waste of precious nerves.

Are there any benefits?

On the other hand, choosing between which file system is better - exFAT or NTFS, it should be noted that the latter is distinguished by good reliability, which allows it to withstand more than one sudden reboot without any damage to the data. This reliability is ensured through the use of logging technology. Thus, the system more often refers to different areas of the drive, and for flash drives or various memory cards, this approach is critical. In other words, they just start to wear out more quickly.

exFAT

Microsoft recently released a new file system, the exFAT format. This system was originally intended for flash drives, and in fact we can say that it is a traditional FAT32, but without any restrictions. The sizes of partitions and files in this case can reach the maximum possible values, and the amount of data in one folder is practically unlimited. It is for this reason that the most common system where exFAT is used is Android and others that are used in modern gadgets.

Are there any downsides?

Of course, the exFAT file system also has its drawbacks. Android almost in all cases supports this system, but, on the other hand, it is not supported by many consumer devices, and at the same time these devices will not be able to see the media on which the operating system Windows XP is used. The only solution to this situation is to download the KB955704 patch, which was recently released by Microsoft and which allows you to use the system in Windows XP. More modern operating systems easily perceive this file system and actively cooperate with it without any additional procedures.

However, if you often use a flash drive on different computers on which XP is installed, then you better find some additional flash drive with drivers. But this option is unlikely to be acceptable to anyone, because in this case the most important feature of such devices is lost - their compactness and ease of transportation.

If you have computers exclusively with Windows 7, or the flash drive will not be used on so many PCs, then the exFAT file system will be ideal for you.

In conclusion, there are some general tips on how to choose the most up-to-date file system.

If you have a flash drive that does not have such a large volume, then you can format it to FAT32 without hesitation. If, on the contrary, we are talking about a flash drive, the volume of which is large enough, then in this case it can be formatted in exFAT, since "speed jumps" on such devices will be especially visible. External drives in the majority of cases are characterized by a fairly large volume and at the same time have a fairly high performance (especially for those devices that use the USB 3.0 interface), and therefore it is best to format them exclusively in NTFS.