In a nostalgic turn of events that will surely delight tech enthusiasts, Microsoft recently rectified a long-standing limitation surrounding disk formatting. The latest Windows 11 Insider Canary Preview Build unveiled a significant change that allowed the maximum FAT32 partition size to increase from a meager 32GB to a whopping 2TB when using the command line. This long-awaited adjustment comes after 28 years, surprising many who believed the status quo would endure indefinitely.
Despite the monumental shift, FAT32 is not as prevalent in today’s tech landscape, with even SD cards, the last bastion of FAT32, transitioning to exFAT. The constraints of FAT32, such as the 4GB file size limit, make it less practical for modern usage. Consequently, Microsoft’s decision to lift the partition size limit seems more like an act of reconciliation, akin to pardoning a historical figure long past their time, rather than a functional alteration that will impact users significantly.
The fact that the Windows GUI partitioning tool still maintains the 32GB partition cap further diminishes the immediate impact of this modification. It begs the question of whether many will actually derive tangible benefits from this change, given the prevailing trends in disk formatting technology.
A fascinating insight into the origins of the 32GB partition cap comes from retired Microsoft system engineer Dave Plummer, who shared his rationale in a video on his “Dave’s Garage” YouTube channel. Plummer revealed that the decision to set the limit was made hastily in the mid-90s without anticipating its longevity. His choice of 32GB as the threshold was made on a whim, with the expectation that it would be swiftly revised in the future. However, the advent of 32GB SD cards years later brought unforeseen consequences, prompting Plummer to reflect on his decision.
Dispelling the notion that the 32GB cap was a ploy to promote Microsoft’s NTFS format, Plummer clarified that NTFS was already widely adopted by the time the limit was imposed. Contrary to popular belief, he asserted that Microsoft did not push NTFS for financial gain as they did not profit from its licensing. Instead, the restriction on FAT32 was primarily aimed at minimizing wasted space, particularly with smaller files, rather than serving any ulterior corporate motives.
For those intrigued by the intricacies of ’90s disk formats, Plummer’s in-depth video sheds further light on the arbitrary choice that inadvertently persisted for nearly three decades. It serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of decisions made in the past that continue to impact technology advancements today.
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