## Removable Media Preparation

**Removable media** is used for:

- **Installing certificates** and licenses
- **Base ENC sets** and their updates
- **Routes** in RTZ exchange format
- **Recording any available information** from ECDIS

```{tip}
For correct operation with removable media, the software manufacturer recommends dedicating a separate medium or multiple media to be used exclusively for these purposes.
```

```{important}
ECDIS supports operation with removable media formatted with the **FAT32** file system.
```

### Formatting Requirements

Any newly purchased removable media must be **formatted to FAT32** before use.

```{warning}
Formatting media is recommended to be performed using specialized software. Formatting media with default system utilities is not recommended.
```

### Recommended Formatting Procedure

It is recommended to format removable media using the **Gparted** application ([https://gparted.org](https://gparted.org)) as follows:

1. **Delete** the existing partition on the removable media
2. **Create** a new partition on the removable media
3. **Format** the created partition to FAT32
4. **Assign a volume label** to the partition (e.g., `ECDIS`)

### FAT32 File System Limitations

When selecting a medium, consider the following limitations of the **FAT32** file system:

#### Media Size
- **Maximum size** of a removable medium that can be formatted under the Windows operating system must not exceed **32 GB**

#### File Size
- **Maximum file size** that can be written to a removable medium formatted as FAT32 must not exceed **4 GB**

```{note}
These limitations are related to the nature of the FAT32 file system and do not depend on ECDIS capabilities.
```
