What is the Thinking Behind 32GB Windows Format Limit on FAT32?
The Real Thinking Behind 32GB Windows Format- The Engineer's Answer
Dave Plummer, a Microsoft engineer, decided on the 32GB limit for FAT32 in the 1970s, considering the future needs of Windows users and the existing maximum number of clusters in the FAT32 file system.
He thought that using FAT32 on large volumes was a waste of space. If he tried to increase the cluster size, it would also need a larger volume, which would be costly. So, he chose a 32-kilobyte cluster size, which would leave no small gaps, even when storing the smallest file with a few bytes.
Microsoft's decision to set a 32GB limit on FAT32 was not just a technical limitation, but rather a deliberate design choice to promote efficiency. By limiting the file system to 32GB, Microsoft aimed to minimize wasted space on the drive, making it more efficient and streamlined. This thinking is explained in more detail in a YouTube video by Dave Plummer.
What Is FAT32?
FAT32 is a version of the File Allocation Table (FAT) that uses 32 bits to identify data clusters, making it the most common version due to its compatibility with various devices.
- Smartphones
- Computers
- Digital cameras
- Cameras
- Gaming consoles, etc.
The file system, FAT32, is compatible with various operating systems, including Windows 11/10/8/7, Windows 95 OSR2, Windows 98, Windows XP, and Windows Vista. Its primary purpose was to enhance file system capacities and support longer character names, up to 255 characters.
If a drive failure occurs, FAT32 will move the root directory to a new location and use the backup copy, providing some redundancy. Additionally, FAT32 is efficient in using drive space, especially for smaller drives, by minimizing cluster waste due to its smaller cluster sizes.
The Influence of 32GB Windows Format Limit on FAT32
32GB was chosen as the maximum partition size for FAT32 to promote NTFS, which is more efficient with large partitions, but this limit has had a different impact on the file system.
- Maximum file size of 4GB. If you have a file larger than 4GB, the FAT32 file system won't allow you to save it, resulting in errors like "The Parameter Is Incorrect" or "The File Is Too Large for Destination File System."
- A maximum partition size of 2TB. FAT32 has a limitation of 3TB or less, making it impossible to partition hard drives larger than that. As a result, a third-party partition tool is required to format large partitions, as Windows Disk Management is only capable of partitioning up to 32GB.
- No journaling. FAT32 is more prone to file corruption due to its lack of file journaling, whereas NTFS has a journaling system that logs changes before writing, making it easier to recover in case of a power failure.
- Doesn't support file permissions. The main reason for file permission is to enhance the security of your data, allowing you to prevent a given program from being modified by different users and restrict user access to specific files. This is a key difference between FAT32 and NTFS file systems.
Despite the limitations of the 32GB Windows format on FAT32, there are workarounds using third-party tools or command prompts that can help you overcome these barriers.
The Real Reasons for 32GB Windows Format Limit on FAT32
Plummer claims that the 32GB Windows format limit on FAT32 was set at 32GB because he believed it was the maximum limit, based on the largest memory card he had at the time, which was 16MB, and he doubled it to be safe. He still thinks this decision was correct.
He used his knowledge as an engineer at Microsoft to test the FAT32 file system, and by multiplying the 16MB capacity by a thousand and doubling it, he determined that the maximum file size should be 32GB.
Plummer based his decision on the theory that 16TB is the maximum volume size for a file system, and changing this value could drastically override presets, including FAT32. Developers had to stick with his decision to avoid conflicts with existing file systems.
The 32GB Windows format limit on FAT32 is due to the limitations of the 32-bit addressing scheme used in FAT32, which restricts the total number of clusters to 2^32, resulting in a maximum volume size of 32GB. This is the fundamental reason for the limit, not any arbitrary or artificial restriction.
How Can You Break the FAT32 File Size Limit?
The command prompt, available on most Windows computers, offers a simple way to break the FAT32 size limit by converting it to NTFS. Using the command prompt, you can manage disks, execute batch files, and solve Windows boot issues. To do this, follow these steps: [insert steps here].
1. To open the run dialog box, press the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This will bring up a small window where you can type a command or path to open a specific app, file, or folder.
2. Type "cmd" to open the command prompt.
3. Next, type "help convert" and press the Enter key.
4. The command to rewrite the boot sector of a Windows NTFS partition is: convert (drive letter): /fs:ntfs. This command is used to convert a FAT32 partition to NTFS, and it overwrites the existing boot sector with a new NTFS boot sector. The "(drive letter)" should be replaced with the actual drive letter of the partition you want to convert, such as "C:" or "D:".
5. Once the conversion process is complete, type "Exit" to quit the process, allowing you to utilize the converted NTFS partition without any file size limitations, as the 32GB file size restriction is no longer applicable.
To convert FAT32 to NTFS, you can use the built-in command-line tool called `convert` in Windows. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator, navigate to the drive you want to convert (e.
Note: After the conversion process finishes, you may encounter an error message saying "Data Error (cyclic redundancy check)". Don't be alarmed, as this is expected and the conversion to NTFS has already been completed.
To convert a FAT32 drive to NTFS, you'll need to access Disk Management, where you can check for any errors. Please note that this conversion is irreversible, so proceed with caution.
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