After a lengthy fourteen-year wait, Microsoft has made a significant advancement by introducing boot support for the Resilient File System (ReFS) in Windows Server. This development allows insiders to boot the server operating system directly from a ReFS volume, marking a notable milestone since the file system’s inception in 2012.
The ReFS file system was initially launched alongside Windows Server 2012 but has historically lacked the capability for direct booting. The latest Windows Server Insider Preview build rectifies this limitation, enabling organizations to install and boot the server OS from a ReFS volume—a feature that has long been available with NTFS.
As Windows Server 2016 approaches its end of support, this enhancement may attract those looking to upgrade and establish a more secure server environment. For organizations transitioning to newer versions, the introduction of ReFS boot presents a viable alternative to the enduring dominance of NTFS.
Advantages over NTFS
Microsoft touts several significant improvements with ReFS boot compared to NTFS. One of the standout features is its ability to detect corruption at an early stage and address issues online, eliminating the need for the traditional chkdsk utility. This emphasis on data integrity positions ReFS as an ideal choice for critical operational environments.
Moreover, the integrity-first design of ReFS minimizes the risk of corruption resulting from system crashes. While NTFS has long supported large volumes, ReFS takes it a step further, accommodating volumes of up to 35 petabytes—equivalent to 35,000 terabytes—effectively alleviating capacity concerns for the foreseeable future.
Additionally, ReFS incorporates block cloning and sparse provisioning technologies, allowing enterprises to efficiently create and expand large fixed-size VHD(X) files. These innovations also significantly enhance the speed of copying large files, streamlining operations for businesses.
Long road to boot support
Since its debut in 2012, Microsoft has progressively enhanced ReFS. An update in 2013 introduced improved performance, tiered storage, and expedited metadata operations. The release of Windows Server 2016 brought features such as block cloning for virtual machines and databases, sparse VDL for quicker virtual disk creation, and enhanced Hyper-V integration. Subsequent versions, including Windows Server 2019 and 2022, further refined performance, repair, and integrity capabilities.
Organizations eager to explore ReFS boot can do so by installing the latest Windows Server vNext Insider Preview. Builds from February 11, 2026, with a minimum build number of 29531.1000.260206-1841, include the ReFS boot feature in the setup process.
During installation, users will format the system partition (C:) as ReFS through the installation interface. It is important to note that ReFS boot necessitates UEFI firmware and does not support legacy BIOS boot. After installation, administrators can verify the file system through the properties of the C drive.
