Transaction-Safe FAT File System: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:02, 17 January 2012

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'''Transaction-Safe FAT File System''' ('''TFAT''') and '''Transaction-Safe exFATExtended File System''' ('''TexFAT''') refer to two [[file system]]s used in [[Microsoft]] products to provide transaction-safety for data stored on a disk. The goal is to reduce the risk of data loss in cases of power loss or unexpected removal of the drive. The latter problem has become more common with the spread of [[USB]] drives.

== TFAT ==

The Transaction-Safe FAT File System (TFAT) is a driver layer modification to the original [[File Allocation Table|FAT]] file system that maintained two copies (FAT0 and FAT1) of the file allocation table instead of two identical ones. While performing a drive operation, changes would be made to FAT1. When the operation was complete, the FAT1 table would be copied to FAT0, updating the stable view of the file system.<ref name=MSTFAT>[http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa915463.aspx TFAT Overview]</ref>

== TexFAT ==

The '''Transaction-Safe Extended FAT File System''' (TexFAT), TexFAT provides similar functionality to TFAT using the [[exFAT]] file system as the base file system instead of FAT. Introduced with [[Windows Embedded CE 6.0]], it is sometimes referred to as ''TFAT'' as well, which can lead to confusion with the original TFAT described above.<ref name=MSTexFAT>[http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc907927.aspx Transaction-Safe Extended FAT File System]</ref>

The use of exFAT as the underlying file system allows for larger files and larger partitions. TexFAT requires a hardware-specific driver designed for the type of media on which the TexFAT volume resides.<ref name=MSTexFAT />