In the FAT32 file system, what is the maximum number of clusters?

In the FAT32 file system, the maximum number of clusters is indeed 2^28. FAT32 uses a 32-bit addressing scheme for clusters, but not all bits are usable for cluster addressing due to reserved bits and other usage within the filesystem structure. Out of the 32 bits, 4 bits are reserved for special purposes, leading to the usable maximum of 2^28 clusters. This allows for a maximum cluster count of 268,435,456, which accommodates the needs of larger storage devices while maintaining compatibility with older FAT file systems.

Understanding this limitation is critical when working with storage formats and managing file systems, especially in digital forensics scenarios where data recovery from different file systems may be required. The other choices represent lower limits and do not accurately capture the capabilities of the FAT32 file system. Thus, recognizing the correct maximum number of clusters aids in appreciating the design and constraints of FAT32 in practical applications.