What format is ExFat? New exFAT file system

From time to time, my work colleagues ask me: “Which file system to choose when formatting a new flash drive?”

Usually I answer that you need to select NTFS, and everything will be fine. But sometimes you come across meticulous users, and they want to know why NTFS and not FAT32 or exFAT.

In this article I will try to explain the difference between these file systems from the point of view of the average user.

Today, the current file systems for flash drives (and other external media) are: NTFS, FAT32, exFAT.

These systems allow you to store files and additional information about them on media in different ways. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you need to choose the one that is most suitable for your tasks and files.

For example, FAT32 has a 4GB file size limit. Therefore, if you want to save a DVD image to a flash drive as one 4.7 GB file (or 8.5 GB for a double-layer DVD), then FAT32 is not suitable for this operation.

On the other hand, due to its simplicity, FAT32 can provide greater speed than NTFS or exFAT. But, again, this results in less reliability in case of accidental loss of communication or power failure of the external storage device.

If a flash drive is used to transfer various small files (for example, office documentation), then it is better to use NTFS;

If a flash drive is used to transfer large files (for example, photos or video files), then it is better to use exFAT.

In such variants, these systems provide higher speed of the flash drive.

This is clearly seen in the example of memory cards, which are mainly intended for photo and video equipment. In modern devices, the files are large, so manufacturers immediately format memory cards in the exFAT system.

An exception to the use of FAT32 can only be in the case of using a flash drive for household appliances - TV, DVD, car FM modulator. If, for example, your TV can only work with flash drives in FAT32 format, then there is nothing you can do - to view photos or videos from a flash drive on TV, you will have to format the flash drive in the FAT32 system.

The latest models of household appliances can already work with different systems, but earlier models “understand” only FAT32.

Testing.

I now have 2 USB 2.0 flash drives - 16 and 8 GB. A 16 GB flash drive is a Corsair Voyager. The 8 GB flash drive is Silicon Power (aluminum case, code D33B29 on the flash drive itself).

I tested both flash drives in NTFS, FAT32, exFAT systems. First I copied a folder with different files, and then an archive of the same folder. For example, I took the folder of the game "World of Tanks" - there are a lot of files in it, and they are different in size.

In its original (not compressed) form, the folder has the following parameters: 3002 files, 391 folders, volume 11.1 GB.

The compressed form produces 3 files (to be written to FAT32) – 2 x 3500 MB and 1 x 48 MB, total volume 6.88 GB.

I carried out the test as follows: I formatted the flash drive into the desired system, then wrote to the folder, measured the recording time, removed the flash drive, read the folder, measured the reading time, formatted it again, similarly recorded and read archives, measured the writing and reading time.

Then he moved on to the next file system. I wrote the uncompressed folder onto a Silicon Power flash drive until the 8 GB flash drive was completely full.

As a result of the tests, I received the following average speed values:

Then I found a website on the Internet (http://usbflashspeed.com/), which collected test results for various flash drives, and downloaded the testing utility from there USB Flash Benchmark.

I also tested three file systems on each flash drive with this utility. This utility tests a flash drive with data blocks of different sizes.

On data blocks from 16 MB to 64 KB, I saw approximately the same speed indicators. On smaller blocks the speed drops noticeably, but files of 64KB or less are now rare.

And even if they do, they are still written to the flash drive quickly. The utility shows the results of the last 2 tests, possibly for comparison.

Here is an example of a Silicon Power flash drive test:

Thin dotted line results for the system are shown NTFS, fat solid line- For FAT32.

These data are almost identical to those from my tests. You can use this utility to test your flash drives and understand their real operating speed without waiting for a long time to write/read large amounts of data.

As can be seen from the tests, the file system FAT32 can sometimes have an advantage in writing speed, but still lag behind in reading. In general, I think that it is worth adhering to the recommendations indicated above.

If you have any questions, ask them in the comments.

Did you know that Windows Phone uses NTFS? Why do most memory cards and almost all USB drives still use good old FAT? Why can you store full-length HD movies on some flash drives but not others? Why do some devices only support SDHC memory cards up to 32GB, and what can be done to force them to use 64GB SDXC? These and many other questions are related to the type of file system used by a particular storage device. But how does this relate to Windows?

In the early history of personal computers (I think the era of DOS text boxes and floppy disks), the only file system in use was FAT12. With the advent of hard drives capable of storing several megabytes of data (yes, megabytes, not gigabytes!), a new version of FAT called FAT16 was developed. Windows 95 was developed for this file system, receiving only an “upgrade” in the form of support for longer file names. In Windows 98, Microsoft added support for another new version of FAT called FAT32 to support large hard drives (yes, by then we had already started measuring disk space in gigabytes).

In the parallel universe of Windows NT, Microsoft has always used the New Technologies File System, or NTFS. Windows NT 4, Windows 2000, and then Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and the new Windows 10 use NTFS.

In another parallel universe, the universe of removable storage, you can choose between the universal FAT32 (while facing its 4GB file size limitation) and the newer, but not as widely supported (due to licensing restrictions) exFAT. By the way, exFAT is used as the file system of choice on all SDXC cards 64GB or larger.

So, we currently have three different families of file systems: the ancient but still widely used FAT32, the new NTFS, and the newly developed, optimized Solid ExFAT. Which of these file systems should I use, and when? And what are the differences between them?

FAT32: The obvious choice

FAT32 is still the only file system used in Windows 98 or Windows ME. FAT32 is the de facto file system of choice for SD memory cards up to and including 32GB. Finally, FAT32 is often used to format USB drives, including those with a capacity of 64GB and larger.

Old man FAT32... Its main limitations are well known. FAT32 supports files no larger than 4 GB. If this seems like a lot for one file, remember that one video in HD format takes up from 4.5 to 10 GB, and it will immediately become clear how significant this limitation is in modern realities. Its other limitations include no reliable support, absolutely no access control, no encryption, compression or fault tolerance.

In other words, it is a completely simple and lightweight file system that is suitable for almost any low-performance portable electronics, such as digital cameras and camcorders, simple smartphones, MP3 players and similar devices. Due to its venerable age and widespread popularity in Windows since 1997, FAT32 is supported by almost all appliances, including refrigerators and coffee makers. In other words, if you want to carry one removable storage device with you and be sure that it can be used with any plug-in, FAT32 is the way to go.

NTFS: system disk

However, the limitations of FAT32 prevent it from being used effectively in modern computing environments. Lack of access control is one thing, absolute lack of logging and any hint of fault tolerance is another. The limited file size is also a huge disadvantage. As a result, Microsoft introduced a new file system they called New Technologies File System, or NTFS.

NTFS has everything that FAT lacks. Powerful access control options? Please. Fault tolerance and logging? Get it. Instant compression and encryption of individual files, folders and entire disk volumes? Certainly. Alternative data streams, enhanced security measures, backup of the file system itself and important system files, and many other features... Since its initial release in 1994, NTFS has received new updates, including those that increase its compatibility. Its stunning design and simple implementation are still unparalleled by any other file system even today. It is versatile enough to be used even on entry-level smartphones running Windows Phone 8 and 8.1. But if it's such a great file system, why isn't everyone, everywhere using it?

As you might expect, NTFS is not without its drawbacks. Developed back in 1994 for server operations, this file system has always required a lot of computing power to maintain its numerous structures. Its system records grow rapidly, occupying precious space and adding additional load to these storage devices using NAND flash memory. Finally, if you use anything other than large hard drives, its overhead would be too high, so the system has not yet gained widespread acceptance. Last but not least, NTFS is patented by Microsoft, who do not want to open up licenses for this file system to competitors.

exFAT: best if supported...

To overcome the limitations of FAT32 and reduce the additional load NTFS places on NAND-based media, Microsoft developed another file system called Extended FAT or exFAT. This file system is largely based on the same concept as the original FAT, only now it is a true 64-bit file system without the file size limitation that exists in FAT32. This is why exFAT is used as a standard for large SD cards (the SDXC standard requires all SD cards 64 GB or larger to be formatted with exFAT). So if you buy a 64GB microSDXC card, it will be exFAT based... and for this reason it may not be recognized by your smartphone or tablet.

The reason exFAT has not replaced the ancient FAT32 everywhere is due to paid licensing. Unlike FAT32, which is free for everyone with no royalties, Microsoft charges manufacturers who want to use exFAT on their devices a licensing fee. As a result, makers of Android phones, low-end Android tablets, and cheap cameras are choosing to save a few cents of device cost (on a per-unit basis) in licensing fees by choosing to exclude exFAT from the list of supported file systems. As a result, if you insert a new 64GB micro SD card into such a device, the card will most likely not be recognized.

Can you overcome this limitation yourself? In most cases yes, and quite easily. Simply connect your SD card to your PC via a card reader and format it with... you guessed it... FAT32! Thus, you will lose the ability to store files larger than 4 GB on it, but your memory card will most likely be recognized and will work smoothly on an Android device, which, according to technical characteristics, should not support SD cards with a capacity of more than 32 GB .

(Please note that some devices may be too old to recognize SDXC memory cards purely physically. Yes, they have been out of production for several years, but older devices may still not support an SDXC card regardless of what file system it is supplied)

Wait a minute though... Windows Phone is Microsoft's OS, so wouldn't Windows Phone devices support exFAT by default? This is true! Windows Phone 8 and 8.1 do come with built-in exFAT support, free for manufacturers who want to make devices for the Windows Phone platform. Microsoft is offering a free exFAT license as part of its "incentive package" designed to encourage more manufacturers to join the Windows Phone platform.

Finally, all or almost all tablets running Windows RT and a full version of Windows 8 or 8.1 support exFAT and recognize 64GB and larger SD cards without difficulty.

Recovering Windows file systems

Almost every Windows-based data recovery tool offers support for FAT32 and NTFS. Tools that support exFAT are much less available due to Microsoft licensing restrictions. One of the tools to support all three Windows file systems is RS Partition Recovery.

Finally, if you only need support for one of the file systems, you can save money by choosing

Today, external media, such as flash drives, memory cards or external hard drives, can use different file systems:

exFAT;
FAT32;
NTFS.

Users most often do not know which one to choose among these systems, so it is initially better to 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 user requirements. At the moment, FAT32 is the most common, despite the fact that the exFAT file system is more modern and often superior in characteristics.

It is worth noting that today the vast majority of flash drives and various memory cards are supplied in this standard. In addition, in the process of formatting the media in household devices, such as, for example, a camera, it begins to function in this particular system. This is precisely the main advantage of FAT32, thanks to which it has not yet been overtaken in popularity by the exFAT file system - compatibility. You can use this drive in any household player, printer or other devices and still 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 desktop 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 to simply 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 that are accessed from other versions of the OS must also be formatted under FAT32. Other operating systems can access network partitions or NTFS-formatted volumes exclusively, while partitions on the local computer remain inaccessible.

What are the disadvantages?

The most important disadvantage that FAT32 has, but not the exFAT file system, is that there is a file size limit of 4 GB. It is for this reason that recording large files, such as, for example, a backup copy of a system disk or some kind of long 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 the Windows operating system itself has a limit on the partition size, which is 32 GB. Of course, you can try to get around 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 write such large files, and also if you are using small media, then you can not hesitate for a long time and calmly format it in FAT32, since the file system support You don't need exFAT.

NTFS

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

How to do it?

In Windows, exFAT or NTFS is quite easy to make as 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. This way, you can replace the file system without any loss of data contained on the drive.

How does this work on flash drives?

However, on flash drives and other external devices, NTFS may not work the same way as on computers. When you try to copy to such a device, the operating system automatically turns on the caching procedure, when any file is initially copied to special memory, and only then moved to the final media. In stationary drives, this allows you to achieve a significant gain in data copying speed, as well as smooth out delays.

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

If you compare the copy speed with and without cache, it actually turns out that it is almost the same. That is, if files and the NTFS file system are the main one, then we lose almost nothing except 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 only result in a waste of precious nerves.

Are there any benefits?

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

exFAT

Microsoft recently released a new file system - the exFAT format. This system was originally designed for flash drives, and in essence 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 disadvantages?

Of course, the exFAT file system also has its disadvantages. Android supports this system in almost all cases, but, on the other hand, it is not supported by many household devices, and at the same time, media running the Windows XP operating system will not be able to see these devices. 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 accept 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 OS is installed, then in this case it is better for you to find some additional flash drive that will have drivers. But this option is unlikely to be acceptable for 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 such a large number of PCs, then the exFAT file system will be ideal for you.

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

If you are using a flash drive that does not have such a large capacity, 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 quite large, 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 quite large in capacity and at the same time have fairly high performance (this is especially true for those devices that use the USB 3.0 interface), and therefore it is best to format them exclusively in NTFS.

Let's look at the types of file systems for a flash drive, which one is better. One user sent me a photo with the error “The file is too large for the target file system” and decided to write an article in which cases it is necessary to use the FAT32, NTFS and exFAT systems. It was moving a file over 4 GB in size to an 8 GB flash drive. The fact is that the FAT32 system cannot process information larger than 4 GB; if you have a flash drive with a capacity of 32 GB and its file system is FAT32, then you will not be able to write a file larger than 4 GB to it. Let's look at all three file systems in Windows, and look at their pros and cons.

FAT32

The old file system mode, which is usually used when buying a flash drive from a store and the reason for this is compatibility. Compatibility is 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 has problems with formats like 4K video and Blu-ray these days. In a word, if you are going to work with files whose size is less than 4 GB and the flash drive is used on different computers with different operating systems, then the FAT32 file system is very suitable.

exFAT

An updated file system created by Microsoft to replace FAT32. Began to be used in Windows Vista SP1 and has a maximum file size of 16 exabytes (EB), which is equal to 1 EB = 10 18 bytes. Compatible with Mac OS and Windows, it is a very good system for sharing large files.

Minuses:

It does not have any logging functionality, in which all changes to files on disk are logged before they are actually made.
Time Machine is not supported by Apple. In short, you won't be able to make a backup from Apple using Time Machine software.
A very complex structure that requires more computing power.

Pros:

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

NTFS

The latest file system created by Microsoft and is the modern structure of today for almost any modern internal hard drive, flash drive or SSD drive. NTFS is a new file system technology. The windows system can only be installed on NTFS. It is the default for disks with the operating system, due to its versatility. It has all Microsoft technologies: logging, no file size restrictions, support for file compression, 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 flash drive into Mac OS, you can copy information from the flash drive, but you cannot change it.

Conclusion:

For USB flash drives you should use exFAT, if you are constantly in a Mac OS, Windows environment, moving a flash drive from one operating system to another. If you only use Windows, then NTSF is a great solution.

Sometimes, reading information, playing music and movies from a flash drive or external hard drive on all devices, namely a computer, a household DVD player or TV, Xbox or PS3, as well as in a car radio, can cause some problems. Here we’ll talk about which file system is best to use so that the flash drive can be read everywhere and always without problems.

What is a file system and what problems can be associated with it

A file system is a way of organizing data on storage media. As a rule, each operating system uses its own file system, but it can use several. Given that only binary data can be written to hard drives, the file system is a key component that provides translation from physical records into files that can be read by the OS. Thus, when formatting a drive in a certain way and with a certain file system, you decide which devices (since even your radio has a unique OS) will be able to understand what exactly is written on a flash drive, hard drive or other drive.

In addition to the well-known FAT32 and NTFS, as well as somewhat less familiar to the average user HFS+, EXT and other file systems, there are dozens of different file systems created for various devices for specific purposes. Today, when most people have more than one computer and other digital devices at home, which can use the operating systems Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Android and others, the question is how to format a flash drive or other portable drive so that it read in all these devices, is quite relevant. And there are problems with this.

Compatibility

Currently, there are two most common file systems (for Russia) - NTFS (Windows), FAT32 (old Windows standard). Mac OS and Linux file systems can also be used.

It would be logical to assume that modern operating systems would work with each other's file systems by default, but in most cases this is not the case. Mac OS X cannot write data to a drive formatted with NTFS. Windows 7 does not recognize HFS+ and EXT drives and either ignores them or reports that the drive is not formatted.

Many Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, support most file systems by default. Copying from one system to another is a common process on Linux. Most distributions support HFS+ and NTFS out of the box, or support for them is installed in one free component.

In addition, game consoles such as the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 provide only limited access to certain file systems, and only allow data to be read from a USB drive. To see which file systems are supported on which devices, take a look at this table.

	Windows XP	Windows 7/Vista	Mac OS Leopard	Mac OS Lion/Snow Leopard	Ubuntu Linux	Playstation 3	Xbox 360
NTFS(Windows)	Yes	Yes	Only reading	Only reading	Yes	No	No
FAT32(DOS, Windows)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
exFAT(Windows)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes, with ExFat package	No	No
HFS+(Mac OS)	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
EXT2, 3(Linux)	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes

It is worth noting that the tables reflect the OS capabilities for working with file systems by default. On both Mac OS and Windows, you can download additional software that allows you to work with unsupported formats.

FAT32 is a long-standing format and, thanks to this, almost all devices and operating systems fully support it. Thus, if you format a flash drive in FAT32, it is almost guaranteed to be readable anywhere. However, there is one important problem with this format: the size limitation of an individual file and an individual volume. If you need to store, write and read huge files, FAT32 may not be suitable. Now let's talk more about size restrictions.

File size limits on file systems

The FAT32 file system was developed a long time ago and is based on previous versions of FAT, which was originally used in DOS. Disks with today's volumes did not exist at that time, and therefore there were no prerequisites for the file system to support files larger than 4GB. Today, many users have to face problems due to this. Below you can see a comparison of file systems based on the sizes of supported files and partitions.

Modern file systems have expanded file size limits to limits that are still difficult to imagine (we'll see what happens in 20 years).

Each new system outperforms FAT32 in terms of the size of individual files and a separate disk partition. Thus, the age of FAT32 affects its ability to be used for various purposes. One solution is to use the exFAT file system, support for which appears in many operating systems. But, one way or another, for a regular USB flash drive, if files larger than 4 GB are not stored on it, FAT32 will be the best choice, and the flash drive will be read almost anywhere.