Windows 11 Retains 30-Year-Old 'Temporary' Disk Formatting UI

Despite numerous updates, Windows 11 still uses a disk formatting dialog box designed as a temporary solution in 1994, showcasing the enduring nature of 'temporary' fixes in software development.

In 1994, Microsoft developer Dave Plummer created a 'temporary' disk formatting UI for Windows NT, which remains in use in Windows 11 today.
The UI was designed hastily as a stopgap until a more elegant solution could be implemented, which never happened.
Plummer's design choices, including a 32GB limit for FAT volumes, have persisted through multiple Windows versions.
The enduring presence of this UI highlights the challenges of updating deeply integrated software components.
Despite significant UI overhauls, some parts of Windows' interface, like the Format dialog box, have remained unchanged for decades.