Microsoft has released the exFAT file system format support for Windows XP. The exFAT file system incorporates several improvements over FAT32. However, it keeps the simplicity of FAT-based file systems.
exFAT includes the following key advances:
- Support for very large files and storage devices
- Support for performance improvements
- Support for extensibility features for future innovation
- Added compatibility for flash media
exFAT adds the following features:
- Support for volumes that are larger than 32 GB, the theoretical maximum volume size for FAT32 in Windows XP
- The theoretical maximum volume size is 64 ZB.
- The recommended maximum volume size is 512 TB.
- Support for files that are larger than 4 GB, the theoretical maximum file size for FAT32 in Windows XP
- The theoretical maximum file size is 64 ZB.
- The recommended maximum file size is 512 TB.
exFAT incorporates advanced structures to improve performance:
- A cluster bitmap for fast allocation
- A per-file contiguous bit for fast file access
- Better contiguous on-disk layout (useful for recording movies)
- Support for Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) time stamps
