# ReactOS reaches NTFS install milestone, edges closer to beta

> **Key takeaway:** ReactOS's built-in NTFS driver has matured enough to install and run the operating system, and now supports formatting NTFS volumes.

**Published:** 2026-10-17T22:01:16+00:00 
**Source:** Phoronix Linux Gaming & Graphics Drivers 
**Category:** open-gaming 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/reactos-reaches-ntfs-install-milestone-edges-closer-to-beta.html 

## Summary
The ReactOS open-source Windows-compatible operating system has achieved a long-standing goal: its native NTFS file-system driver can now handle installation and daily use. NTFS formatting support has also been added. This milestone brings the project closer to its first beta release, though significant limitations remain including the lack of caching, journaling, and security features.

## What the NTFS driver milestone means
- **No caching layer**: disk I/O is slower than other NTFS implementations
- **Journaling unimplemented**: crash recovery for metadata transactions is absent
- **Security support missing**: NTFS ACLs and permissions not yet handled
- **Formatting support newly added**: can now create NTFS volumes, not just read/write existing ones
- **Undiscovered bugs likely**: project notes potential unknown issues remain

## Why it matters
NTFS support removes a significant barrier for ReactOS adoption in Windows-dominant environments where dual-booting or file exchange with existing installations is essential. The milestone is particularly notable given the project's 25-plus year history without reaching beta status.