Protected-Mode FAT File System

The protected-mode FAT file system organizes data on fixed and floppy disks. Protected-mode FAT is compatible with the FAT file system, using file allocation tables and directory entries to store information about the contents of a disk. Protected-mode FAT also supports long file names, storing these names and other information such as the date and time the file was last accessed in the FAT structures.

Protected-mode FAT allows file names of up to 255 characters, including the terminating null character. This is similar to NTFS, which allows file names of up to 256 characters.

Protected-mode FAT allows paths of up to 260 characters, including the terminating null character.