Domain 1 of 4 · Chapter 3 of 3

File Systems & Updates

Unlock the complete study guide + 1,040 practice questions across 16 full exams.

Bundled into the existing CompTIA A+ Core 2 premium course — no separate purchase.

14-day money-back guarantee — no questions asked.

Included in this chapter:

  • The two questions behind every format
  • Limits, journaling, and cross-OS reach
  • Share permissions versus NTFS permissions
  • Patching Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Upgrade paths, compatibility checks, and end of life
  • How the exam frames file systems and updates

Common file systems compared

AttributeNTFSFAT32exFAText4APFS
Native / default OSWindowsLegacy Windows, universalFlash and removable mediaLinuxmacOS
Max single file8 PB4 GB16 EB16 TB8 EB
Max volume8 PB2 TB (32 GB via Windows tool)128 PB1 EB8 EB
JournalingYesNoNoYesYes (copy-on-write)
Permissions / encryptionACLs + EFSNoneNonePOSIX permsPOSIX + FileVault
Cross-OS read/writeWindows RW; macOS/Linux readAll OSes RWWindows/macOS/Linux RWLinux onlymacOS only
Best forInternal Windows driveFirmware/legacy, small mediaLarge cross-platform removableLinux systemsModern macOS SSD

Decision tree

Internal drive for one OS?YesNoWhich operating system?Single file 4 GB or larger,or general cross-OS use?NTFSWindowsext4LinuxAPFSmacOSYesNoexFATlarge files, cross-OSFAT32only if firmware needs itInternal file systems journal (NTFS, ext4, APFS);removable FAT32 and exFAT do not, and carry no permissions
Cheat sheet

Cheat sheet

  • FAT32 cannot hold a single file of 4 GB or larger
  • Windows will not format a FAT32 partition larger than 32 GB
  • Format large cross-platform removable media as exFAT
  • NTFS is the Windows system-drive default and the only listed file system with permissions
  • macOS reads NTFS but cannot write it without extra software
  • ext4 is the Linux native journaling file system
  • APFS is the macOS default, built for flash, and replaced HFS+
  • Journaling file systems recover cleanly from a crash; FAT does not
  • Share permissions apply only over the network; NTFS permissions apply everywhere
  • Over the network, effective access is the most restrictive of share and NTFS
  • Copy inherits destination permissions; move within a volume keeps them
  • Copying to FAT32 or exFAT strips a file's NTFS permissions
  • Quality updates are monthly cumulative fixes; feature updates change the OS version
  • Windows Update for Business defers quality updates 30 days, feature updates 365
  • Update rings roll a patch out in stages, not all at once
  • Update Debian systems with apt, Red Hat systems with dnf
  • Never interrupt a firmware update
  • In-place upgrade keeps apps and settings; a clean install wipes and starts fresh
  • Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, not just more memory
  • An end-of-life OS still runs but stops getting security updates
  • convert upgrades FAT32 to NTFS in place, but the change is one-way
  • chown user:group sets owner and group in one command
  • Read Linux permissions as three rwx sets, and as octal 4-2-1
  • macOS updates and upgrades come from Software Update in System Settings
  • Standalone PCs update straight from Microsoft; managed fleets use WSUS

Unlock with Premium — includes all practice exams and the complete study guide.

References

  1. CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) Certification Exam Objectives (V15, Document Version 3.0)
  2. File System Functionality Comparison (NTFS, exFAT, UDF, FAT32)
  3. NTFS overview
  4. exFAT file system specification
  5. Access Control Lists (DACLs and ACEs)
  6. Overview of Windows as a service (quality vs feature updates)
  7. Configure Windows Update client policies (deferral windows)
  8. Windows 11 requirements
  9. Windows 10 Home and Pro lifecycle (end of support October 14, 2025)