● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
ReactOS now supports direct installation on NTFS partitions
Key points
- ReactOS now installs directly on NTFS partitions.
- Previously required FAT32 for installation.
- NTFS driver lacks caching, journaling, security.
- Moves project closer to Windows Server 2003 compatibility.
NTFS Installation Support Achieved
ReactOS, an open-source operating system designed as a Windows alternative, has reached a significant development milestone. The OS can now be installed directly onto an NT File System (NTFS) drive partition. This update eliminates the prior necessity of using a FAT32 partition for installation.
Addressing a Long-Standing Hurdle
The ability to install on NTFS addresses a long-standing technical barrier for the ReactOS project. NTFS, a proprietary file system developed by Microsoft, has been a standard in Windows operating systems since Windows NT 3.1 in 1993. ReactOS aims for binary compatibility with Windows Server 2003, and the previous FAT32 limitation hindered its progress towards fully replicating the Windows environment.
Current Limitations and Future Development
While direct NTFS installation is now possible, the new driver has limitations. It currently lacks caching, which affects performance, and does not include journaling or security support. The ReactOS team has also cautioned that there may be undiscovered bugs, advising users to proceed with caution.
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Reporting from
ReactOS, an open-source Windows alternative, can now be installed directly onto NTFS file system partitions, removing a previous requirement for FAT32. This development brings ReactOS closer to its goal of binary compatibility with Windows Server 2003, though the NTFS driver still lacks caching, journaling, and security support.