What is the primary advantage of the FAT32 file system compared to original FAT?

The primary advantage of the FAT32 file system compared to the original FAT is its more efficient use of disk space. FAT32 introduced a more effective method for managing disk clusters, allowing it to handle larger disks and supporting file sizes up to 4 GB. This capability reduces wasted space, particularly for small files, by minimizing the size of the clusters and thereby allowing a larger number of files to be stored without significant overhead.

In contrast, the original FAT system had larger clusters, which could lead to more disk space being wasted when dealing with small files. Since each file occupies at least one full cluster, if a file is smaller than the cluster size, the unused space within that cluster is essentially wasted. FAT32 mitigates this issue, leading to a better overall utilization of storage capacity.

The other options discussed improvements that may not be as directly related to the functional advantages of FAT32 over original FAT. For example, while performance and scalability can be perceived benefits, they do not specifically address the fundamental changes in space management implemented in FAT32 that make it more efficient for disk usage.