Description of the exFAT file system driver update package

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Introduction

This article discusses the key features and benefits of the extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) file system drivers for Windows XP and for Windows Server 2003.

The exFAT file system is the successor to FAT32 in the FAT family of file systems. The exFAT file system is a new file system format that addresses the growing needs of mobile personal storage on different operating systems. The exFAT file system handles large files, such as those that are used for media storage, and it enables seamless interoperability between desktop computers and devices, such as portable media devices. Because of this functionality, you can easily copy files between the desktop and external devices or between the desktop and other operating systems.

After you download the file that is described in the "More Information" section, you will be able to format external media in the exFAT format. Additionally, you will be able to format external media that is larger than 32 GB, and exFAT-formatted media will be recognized on the computer. More improvements of the exFAT file system are described in the "More Information" section.

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Download information

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Update for Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and for Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, ia64-bsed version

Download the WindowsServer2003-KB955704-ia64-ENU.exe package now.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

More information

The exFAT file system incorporates several improvements over FAT32. However, it keeps the simplicity of FAT-based file systems. These improvements include 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

The exFAT file system driver brings file system support parity to the following operating systems:

Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows CE

The exFAT file system driver incorporates advanced structures for future scalability. The exFAT file system uses 64 bits to describe file size. This allows for applications that depend on very large files. The exFAT file system also allows for clusters as large as 32 MB, effectively enabling very large storage devices. Specifically, 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.

The exFAT file system driver incorporates the following 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

The exFAT file system driver is designed for extensibility to enable the file system to keep pace with innovations in storage and changes in usage and to enable OEMs and ISVs to add extensions seamlessly. Specifically, exFAT adds the following features:

Adds template-based metadata structures to enable custom extensions
Enables implementations to persist these extensions without having to know their format

The exFAT file system driver adds increased compatibility with flash media. This includes the following capabilities:

Alignment of file system metadata on optimal write boundaries of the device
Alignment of the cluster heap on optimal write boundaries of the device

Update information for Windows XP Service Pack 3 systems

Important If you install this update on a computer that is running Multilingual User Interface (MUI), the user interface changes to English.

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

Download the update for the language that you want to use by clicking the link earlier in this article.
Unpack the hotfix to a folder by using the /x command-line option. To do this, type the following command at a command prompt: WindowsXP-KB955704-v3-x86- LanguageCode.exe /x

Note LanguageCode represents the letters in the file name that indicate the language.
When you are prompted for a target folder, select the folder, and then click OK.
In the SP3QFE folder in the target folder, copy the following files to the %systemroot%\System32\Mui\ nnnn folder:
- ulib.dll
- ifsutil.dll
- format.com
- fmifs.dll
- uexfat.dll
- shell32.dll
Notes
- The SP3QFE folder contains the correct binaries for Service Pack 3 systems. For Service Pack 2 systems use folder SP2QFE as source, instead of SP3QFE.
- nnnn is a code that indicates the language. This code is the same as in the %systemroot%\System32\Mui\ nnnn folder.
Repeat these steps for any other language that you use on the computer.