|
3.569 bytes |
Service Hints & Tips |
Document ID: DETR-3UFNU6 |
Aptiva-PS/1 - Optimizing Hard Drive Space Through Drive Partitioning
Applicable to: United States
In DOS, every file stored on a disk gets at least one allocation unit (called a "cluster") no matter what the size of the file is. The size of the cluster grows incrementally with the size of the partition. For example, if you have a 1.08 GB (gigabyte) partition, the cluster size will be 32K.
This means that even a 62 byte file is going to consume 32K of storage space on your disk. A typical mix of application and data files can include thousands of files. If each file contains a few KB (kilobytes) of wasted space, this can add up to several MB (megabytes) of wasted space.
The only way to reduce the cluster size is to reduce the partition size.
The breakdown for DOS 4 and above is as follows:
FDISK Partition Size* Cluster Size
0 - 127 MB 2K
128 - 255 MB 4K
256 - 511 MB 8K
512 - 1023 MB 16K
1024 - 2047 MB 32K
* 1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes
Partition sizes are allocated in your setup (FDisk, etc.) program. Repartitioning an existing drive destroys all the data. If repartitioning an existing drive, be sure to create a backup of the drive before starting. To maximize usable disk space we recommend you partition your drive at 127 MB, 255 MB or 511 MB.
|
Search Keywords |
| |
|
Hint Category |
Hard Drives | |
|
Date Created |
23-04-96 | |
|
Last Updated |
08-12-98 | |
|
Revision Date |
07-12-99 | |
|
Brand |
IBM Aptiva | |
|
Product Family |
Aptiva, Laptop L40, Notebook N33, Notebook N45, Notebook N51, PC 300, PC 700, PS/1, PS/2, PS/Note, ThinkPad 300, ThinkPad 340, ThinkPad 500, ThinkPad 700, ThinkPad 701, ValuePoint | |
|
Machine Type |
2011, 2121, 2123, 2133, 2155, 2168 | |
|
Model |
C01; C34; M01; NEA; T35; U35; A62; A82; A94; B82; C42; C92; G42; M82; S92; 081; 087; 131; 137; K37; N31; N81; 11E; 13T; 14C; 16E; 17A; 18A; 18T; 19C; 21C; 23C; 28A; 46M; 51D; D50; G11; G13; G43; G46; G49; G50; G53; M40; M46; P11; P13; P43; P50; P53; R04; R05; R06; R09; R38; R42; R43; R44; R84; R86; R87; RO3; S11; S13; S43; S45; S47; S48; S50; S53; W11; W13; W42; W43; W45; W50; W53; 20E; 22T; 24C; 24M; 28V; 39E; 41T; 43C; 45V; 48E; 50T; 52C; 55V; 72E; 74T; 76C; 78C; 79C; 81A; 82E; 84T; 86C; 87C; CC1; D53; G14; G44; G52; G54; G72; G76; G78; G82; NM1; P14; P44; P57; P71; P74; P76; P78; P84; R14; R15; R16; R17; R18; R51; R52; R57; R58; R62; R63; R67; R71; R89; R93; R96; R97; S14; S44; S54; S70; S75; S76; S78; S80; W14; W44; W48; W54; W67; W76; W77; W78; Z33; 31E; 33T; 37C; 38C; 51E; 54T; 56C; 57C; 88V; BB1; G57; G87; OR1; OR3; OR4; OR5; P89; R28; R29; R31; R74; R78; R82; R98; S55; S85; SR1; US1; W52; W82 | |
|
TypeModel |
| |
|
Retain Tip (if applicable) |
| |
|
Reverse Doclinks |