It's not going to happen. Anyone dealing with large files (> 4GB) is
already using NTFS (for the partition containing such files), and this
avoids the legacy problems introduced by introducing such a new format that
is not backwards compatible. In short, there is little value to it.
Even if your main C: boot drive is currently using FAT32, you have a couple
of other more sound choices:
1) convert that partition to NTFS (but make a backup first, of course), and
join the rest of the XP world.
NTFS has some obvious advantages
here.
I'm not sure how problematic the conversion can be for a boot drive, though.
(better yet, do a fresh install of XP on NTFS, and then reinstall your apps)
OR
2) use another partition formatted as NTFS to store and work with such large
files, say like a partition named "Video". (which I think is principally
where you need to work with such large files)
No, it's not going to happen. I agree. It's a stop-gap. But remember,
us techie types know NTFS is the way to go. But joe and jane user who
bought their computer from HP or Dell and their C: drive came out of
the factory as FAT32, exFAT is more for them *until* someone can
convert their C: or removable volumes to NTFS for them, which is easy
as pie. I did this for someone recently who's removable backup drive
and C: drive were FAT32.
If everyone was on NTFS, there'd be no need for exFAT. But think about
this, when joe or jane user buys a flash drive, it comes out of the
package FAT32. Any drive I've bought has been at least. And now we're
seeing flash drives at 64GB, soon 128GB, 256GB, etc. When you plug
them in, you only get the option to format FAT32 or exFAT(on 4GB or
greater, 2GB or less can be formatted FAT or FAT32 / exFAT), no NTFS.
Sure you can probably format it to NTFS too. Plug in an external USB
or Firewire drive and the story changes as far as formatting options
go as well. exFAT, on the surface, is intended for removable media
really but you can format other stuff with it. Of course, plug it into
a computer that doesn't have an exFAT driver and it's useless. And
there's also the question of support for other OSes and NTFS. Correct
me if I'm wrong but plug any NTFS formatted device into Linux, it'll
just stare at you. You'd need NTFS3G. Plug an NTFS formatted device it
into a Mac and you can read it, but no write access. FAT32, no problem
on either.
So in the end, exFAT fixes a limitation in FAT32 but no one is going
to use it unless it gets support. It's a niche file format. Those who
do use it will find themselves very alone for now. I kind of hope that
MS pushes it out via Windows update so everyone at least has support
for it and because I can see the one guy showing up in my computer lab
with a formatted exFAT device and the computers not being able to read
the data and him complaining to my department. Never mind all the
other OSes that will now have to get the specifications for exFAT and
add support for it. It's nuts.
- Thee Chicago Wolf (MVP)
