jsin@island.SEAS.UCLA.EDU (01/05/89)
I have a problem I hope some one can help solve:
Setup: 25 Original IBM ATs (running at 6MHz).
IBM PC-DOS 3.2
20 MB hard disk, 5 MB of which is partitioned off as
a non-DOS partition, to be used for Minix.
Problem: Since DOS partition is less than 20MB, format program
uses 8K cluster size for allocating files.
I also have a (commercial) program that generates/utilizes
over 1,000 files that are less than 2KB each. Because of
this, I run out of disk space rather quickly. Seems to me
there must be a way to reclaim the "lost" 6 MB or so of disk
space.
Question: Is there any way that I can change the cluster size to 2K?
Is this even possible or advisable? Please tell me whether
or not this is possible, and if so, how? (yes, I can take the
techie talk. I can also use Norton utilies fairly well :-)
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
John (Jonghoon) Sin (Above opinions are my own and etc, etc, etc...)
UCLA SEASnet Facilities InterNet: jsin@seas.ucla.edu
2567 Boelter Hall UUCP: ...!(uunet,ucbvax,rutgers)!seas.ucla.edu!jsin
Los Angeles, CA. 90024 Voice: (213) 206-6864 */Real Men Don't Use Icons/*seg@smsdpg.uu.net (Scott Garfinkle) (01/06/89)
From article <19317@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>, by jsin@island.SEAS.UCLA.EDU: > > I have a problem I hope some one can help solve: > ... > Problem: Since DOS partition is less than 20MB, format program > uses 8K cluster size for allocating files. > I also have a (commercial) program that generates/utilizes > over 1,000 files that are less than 2KB each. Because of > this, I run out of disk space rather quickly. Seems to me > there must be a way to reclaim the "lost" 6 MB or so of disk > space. > > Question: Is there any way that I can change the cluster size to 2K? Funny you should ask. Just today I sent a copy of my pdisk program to the moderator for posting to comp.binaries.ibm.pc. This program will even allow you to choose one sector per cluster. When you get it, just run "part." Delete your current DOS partition, then add it back and say you want a cluster size of 1 or 2. As I mention in the accompanying readme, it's usually a good idea to use the manafacturer's fdisk to get a good boot program on the master boot record; in your case, you've already done this, and probably wouldn't need to, anyway, with an original PC-AT. I hope you enjoy the program. by the way, it's public domain and source is included. Scott E. Garfinkle SMS Data Products Group, Inc. uunet!smsdpg!seg
thaler@speedy.cs.wisc.edu (Maurice Thaler) (01/13/89)
Small clusters is the ONLY reason that I switched to DOS4.01. ANY size
hard disk has 2K clusters. I am running a Miniscribe w/ an Adaptec RLL
card which ends up being 108Meg, but still has 2K blocks all on drive C:
If you create a small partition, you can still have the 2K blocks.
I saved at least 4-5 Meg because of this cluster size, which is why I am
using DOS 4.01 instead of Compaq DOS 3.31 which also supports large
drives.
Maurice Thaler SYSOP Audio Projects BBS (608) 836-9473
SYSOP Power Board BBS (608) 222-8842