NTFS x MFT x CLUSTER
Hello! (plz, don't note my bad writing, I'm Brazilian - I don't speak English) I'm looking for some information. I have a 40gb quantum Plus AS 7200 running win2ksp2 (256 ram). All professional defragmentation programs I tryed (~4) dont defrag NTFS partitions cluster greater than 4kb NTFS > 4kb cluster - good - f ...
Hello!
(plz, don't note my bad writing, I'm Brazilian - I don't speak English)
I'm looking for some information.
I have a 40gb quantum Plus AS 7200 [ATA 66] running win2ksp2 (256 ram).
All professional defragmentation programs I tryed (~4) dont defrag NTFS partitions cluster greater than 4kb [mine's 16Kb]
------ NTFS > 4kb cluster ---------
good - fast speed
good - less fragmentation
bad - don't defrag
bad - lost some disk space
------ NTFS <= 4kb cluster ---------
good - can defrag
good - don't lost disk space (relative)
bad - lower speed (relative)
bad - more fragmentation.
============================
C : FAT32 : 32KB CLUSTER : 2GB
D : FAT32 : 32KB CLUSTER : 10GB
E : NTFS : 16KB CLUSTER : 20GB <---
F : FAT32 : 32KB CLUSTER : 4GB
G : FAT16 : 64KB CLUSTER : 2GB
============================
What cluster size should I set for NTFS part? And about MFT? What's the MFT function? What percent of the disk should I set for MFT size (12,5%? 25%?)? Plz, post your comments!
Thanks!
(plz, don't note my bad writing, I'm Brazilian - I don't speak English)
I'm looking for some information.
I have a 40gb quantum Plus AS 7200 [ATA 66] running win2ksp2 (256 ram).
All professional defragmentation programs I tryed (~4) dont defrag NTFS partitions cluster greater than 4kb [mine's 16Kb]
------ NTFS > 4kb cluster ---------
good - fast speed
good - less fragmentation
bad - don't defrag
bad - lost some disk space
------ NTFS <= 4kb cluster ---------
good - can defrag
good - don't lost disk space (relative)
bad - lower speed (relative)
bad - more fragmentation.
============================
C : FAT32 : 32KB CLUSTER : 2GB
D : FAT32 : 32KB CLUSTER : 10GB
E : NTFS : 16KB CLUSTER : 20GB <---
F : FAT32 : 32KB CLUSTER : 4GB
G : FAT16 : 64KB CLUSTER : 2GB
============================
What cluster size should I set for NTFS part? And about MFT? What's the MFT function? What percent of the disk should I set for MFT size (12,5%? 25%?)? Plz, post your comments!
Thanks!
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It's a limitation of the MS API that's being used by the defrag apps (Norton's defrag app isn't affected since they use their own APIs, but it is sensitive to service packs and patches from MS) and not the apps themselves. WinXP and .NET server don't have these issues because they have an updated API. Until you can go to either, I would suggest you stay with 4K, it's what I do.
Firstly, there is no patch to address this limitation for the time being (unless you classify upgrading to WinXP or .NET Server a patch ). Second, Norton's Defrag util (Speeddisk) is the only one that will do what you are looking for. Personally, I would just backup all the data, delete the partition, then format the drive again but in 4K clusters, then restore the data.
