Open-Source Windows Clone ReactOS Finally Gets NTFS Support

ReactOS, the open-source Windows-compatible operating system, has reached two major milestones with improved NTFS support and the beginning of its transition toward Windows NT 6 architecture.

According to the ReactOS team, users can now install and run the operating system on NTFS-formatted partitions, moving beyond its previous reliance on older FAT file systems.

The changes follow nearly a decade of NTFS driver development and mark another step toward modern Windows compatibility. ReactOS also celebrated its 30th anniversary in January 2026, although the operating system remains experimental.

ReactOS finally gets usable NTFS support

One of the biggest improvements is the ability to install ReactOS directly on an NTFS partition, bringing its storage capabilities closer to those of modern Windows systems.

ReactOS can also format partitions using NTFS, giving users an alternative to the FAT file systems traditionally used during installation.

The milestone represents years of development work on the operating system’s NTFS driver and removes a longstanding limitation.

ReactOS begins transition toward Windows NT 6

Beyond storage improvements, ReactOS has started modernizing its directory structure as part of its transition toward Windows NT 6 compatibility.

The operating system has replaced the legacy Documents and Settings directory with the Users folder, matching the change Microsoft introduced with Windows Vista.

This marks another move away from the Windows XP-era architecture toward newer Windows technologies.

However, ReactOS still has a long way to go before it can offer full compatibility with Windows 10, Windows 11, or modern Windows applications.

Nevertheless, these developments show that work on the open-source Windows alternative continues, even three decades after the project began.

Microsoft recently introduced Quick Machine Recovery to Windows Server 2025 with update KB5126646. The company also claimed its Web IQ AI search is 2.5 times faster than competing solutions, while confirming that the October 2026 Patch Tuesday updates are causing problems for Exchange Servers.

Via Neowin