Windows 11 expands FAT32 partition size limit to 2TB

[Redaktion]

Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update significantly expands the maximum partition size for the FAT32 file system, now allowing up to 2TB to be formatted. This change aims to provide users with more flexibility when working with larger storage volumes using the aging but widely-supported FAT32 standard.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Windows-11-expands-FAT32-partition-size-limit-to-2TB.877322.0.html

[NikoB(+)]

What is more important is not this antique crap, which no one needs today, but the fact that M$ has quietly enabled Bitlocker disk encryption by default in new W11 builds (if you do not disable it forcibly before installation). This means that those who do not urgently backup encryption keys and do not backup data risk losing everything at once in case of disk problems.

Moreover, since hardware encryption acceleration is not enabled by default (and is not available on all SSDs), the slowdown of SSD operation with Bitlocker software enabled by default can be several times (up to 10 times) compared to the normal operation of SSDs without Bitlocker software disk encryption.

Although, given the stupid warranty policy of most SSD manufacturers (and the same stupid consumer laws in most countries) - if the SSD suddenly switches to "read only" mode (the worst case scenario when returning the SSD to the seller/manufacturer) or is not readable or detected at all - then if the SSD is not encrypted entirely, there is an absolute leak of private data, if they were on this SSD (or SD card, for example) in unencrypted form. And then the owner has only 2 options:
1. Refuse warranty support so that there is no leak of private data from the failed SSD transferred to the seller/manufacturer.
2. Force the manufacturer/seller in his presence or by agreement to destroy such a disk under video recording. As practice has shown - even companies like Samsung only after a public scandal resolve the problem in favor of the buyer and agree to the destruction of such an SSD under video recording by the owner.

And this is a growing critical global problem - the risk of leaks of private data on failed warranty SSD/HDD/SD cards, completely unaware of 99% of buyers.