(Optional) use of Container Expansion on Container Creation (create using expansion/expanding container)

[JustMyGithub]

Desired behavior

It should be possible to create a container in constant time. Because of the way the Windows API works this is not currently possible for containers even though it is possible for partitions. The reason is basically that VeraCrypt uses an "lower level" API for partitions than for containers. As discussed in #388 there is a workaround: Create a small container and use the Expander with quick expand option activated. This option should be available in volume creation directly (with the corresponding warnings, of course). I am not aware whether other OS are affected by this issue.
Edit: As Volume creation can expand the volume before formating it or even format it a second time after expanding it (as there are no files stored in the container yet) this should not be limited to NTFS file systems in contrast to the workaround. (Yes, you can manually reformat after using the workaround -- just another unnecessary step)

VeraCrypt version: 1.24-Update7 @ Windows 10 64bit

[fzxx]

We recommend that when the volume is larger than 1 G, use the small volume + extension method to create it. Achieve the desired effect of creating volumes quickly. @idrassi

[idrassi]

The desired behavio can be achieved by launching "VeraCrypt Format.exe" with the /FastCreate switch:
"c:\Program Files\VeraCrypt\VeraCrypt Format.exe" /FastCreateFile

Then choose "Quick Format" in the Volume Format step of the wizard:

I didn't want to add a new checkbox for the Fast Create in the UI because it is already too crowded. And I didn't want to trigger Fast Create automatically when Quick Format is selected because of its security implications.

I will think of a good way to allow fast creation of file container from UI.

[fzxx]

The desired behavio can be achieved by launching "VeraCrypt Format.exe" with the /FastCreate switch: "c:\Program Files\VeraCrypt\VeraCrypt Format.exe" /FastCreateFile

Then choose "Quick Format" in the Volume Format step of the wizard:

I didn't want to add a new checkbox for the Fast Create in the UI because it is already too crowded. And I didn't want to trigger Fast Create automatically when Quick Format is selected because of its security implications.

I will think of a good way to allow fast creation of file container from UI.

The UI suggests that security questions alert the user rather than block it, ensuring that the choice is always in the user's hands.

[idrassi]

Interesting!!
Thank you for the UI suggestion 👍 This is a good way to add functionality without increasing UI cluter.
I will implement it and share a version for testing.

[JustMyGithub]

I think this is related to https://sourceforge.net/p/veracrypt/tickets/312/ and https://sourceforge.net/p/veracrypt/tickets/386/