220-1102 Question 113
Single answerformatA small office uses Windows 11 Pro PCs. A technician is preparing a USB drive that will be used to move large video files between workstations and occasionally with older Mac systems in the office. The users report that files larger than 4 GB fail to copy to the current USB drive. The technician needs a format that supports large files and is readable and writable by modern Windows systems without additional software, while still being more broadly compatible than NTFS for occasional use with macOS. Which file system should the technician choose for the USB drive?
- A
FAT32
- B
NTFS
- C
exFAT
- D
ext4
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The best answer is exFAT. In A+ Core 2 scenarios, technicians are expected to select file systems based on practical requirements such as maximum file size, operating system compatibility, and intended device usage. FAT32 is commonly recognized as having a 4 GB maximum file size limit, making it unsuitable for large video files. NTFS is ideal for Windows features such as file permissions and reliability, but it is not the best choice when regular cross-platform write access with macOS is needed. exFAT was designed for flash storage and removable media, supports very large files, and is broadly supported by modern versions of Windows and macOS. This aligns with common vendor documentation from Microsoft and Apple regarding removable media compatibility and file system support.
- A. Incorrect.
FAT32 is incorrect because it has a maximum individual file size limit of 4 GB, which directly matches the reported problem. Although FAT32 is widely compatible across operating systems, it is not suitable for storing large video files that exceed this limit.
- B. Incorrect.
NTFS is incorrect in this scenario because Windows fully supports NTFS, but macOS does not provide the same level of native write support in typical A+ exam contexts. NTFS is a strong choice for Windows-only environments, especially when permissions, compression, or journaling are needed, but it is less appropriate when broader cross-platform write compatibility is required.
- C. Correct.
exFAT is correct because it supports files larger than 4 GB and is natively supported by modern Windows and macOS systems for common removable media use. In real-world technician scenarios, exFAT is often the preferred format for USB flash drives and external drives that need cross-platform compatibility without the FAT32 file size limitation.
- D. Incorrect.
ext4 is incorrect because it is primarily associated with Linux systems and is not natively supported as a standard writable removable-drive format in Windows or macOS. A technician choosing ext4 for a mixed Windows and Mac office would create accessibility problems rather than solve them.