T
twist
New member
What does the Z:64 command actually do?
Does formatting with z:64 automatically implement FAT 32?
Twist
Does formatting with z:64 automatically implement FAT 32?
Twist
ola
Newbie
it sets the cluster size on the HDD to 64k.
E
Emeric
New member
Actually it sets the cluster size to 32K. Each sector on a harddrive is 512 bytes, so if you want a 32K cluster it's 512 bytes x 64, which gives you 32Kilobyte. (1 kilobyte = 1024K, 512 x 64 = 32768. 32768 / 1024 = 32).
In otherwords, a cluster is a group of sectors. It's better for audio and video app's because your usually working with larger chunks of data. So, should give a bit better hard drive performance (not night and day, but every bit counts.)
You set up the FAT when you run FDISK, if you want FAT 32, select FAT 32, if you want FAT 16 partition accordingly.
In otherwords, a cluster is a group of sectors. It's better for audio and video app's because your usually working with larger chunks of data. So, should give a bit better hard drive performance (not night and day, but every bit counts.)
You set up the FAT when you run FDISK, if you want FAT 32, select FAT 32, if you want FAT 16 partition accordingly.
ola
Newbie
*slaps forehead* that's right
T
twist
New member
Thanks guys,
So what is a block? Is it another name for a cluster?
Twist
So what is a block? Is it another name for a cluster?
Twist
Slackmaster2K
Gone
In hardware terms, a block is a sector. In operating system terms, a block is usually a cluster, which in some operating systems might technically be equivalent to a sector!
In FAT16, you can specify sector size, cluster size (sectors per cluster), and block size (bytes per cluster). Confusing? Yes!
Clusters are actually an operating system thing. In DOS, they originated because a 16bit file system can only address 65536 physical locations (sectors) (30MB or so at 512K sectors). Therefore, grouping sectors into clusters at the OS level allows for the addressing of a larger *phyiscal* space. In other operating systems a cluster might be the same size as a sector.
Zonks. This is basically just a terminology argument. If you're a Windows guy, you should just say cluster and not worry about anything else....that'll keep ya out of trouble
Slackmaster 2000
In FAT16, you can specify sector size, cluster size (sectors per cluster), and block size (bytes per cluster). Confusing? Yes!
Clusters are actually an operating system thing. In DOS, they originated because a 16bit file system can only address 65536 physical locations (sectors) (30MB or so at 512K sectors). Therefore, grouping sectors into clusters at the OS level allows for the addressing of a larger *phyiscal* space. In other operating systems a cluster might be the same size as a sector.
Zonks. This is basically just a terminology argument. If you're a Windows guy, you should just say cluster and not worry about anything else....that'll keep ya out of trouble
Slackmaster 2000
R
RWhite
Well-known member
It's also worth noting that if you type format /? in the Win 98 DOS window, it will show you all the "valid" parameters to use with the format command. And Z: isn't one of them. I wonder if that is a deliberate or accidental ommision?
T
twist
New member
Hey-cool tip! Thanks RW. I love this stuff!
H
Havoc
New member
It is not an ommision, it's a feature. A lot of those more "obscure" commands are not shown when you type for help.
Can you imagine what you could do if you actually would have access to all possible registry entries?
Can you imagine what you could do if you actually would have access to all possible registry entries?
J
jdechant
New member
It is probably worth nothing that the format /z:64 feature is not available in either windows2000 or windows XP... if you wanna change cluster sizes in either of there OSes, there is no internal windows prog that will allow you to that I know of. 3rd party progs will allow you to such as parition magic...
but since I am under winXP I just use NTFS file system for my drives
but since I am under winXP I just use NTFS file system for my drives
T
Teej
New member
good stuff..
actually, there IS a Win2k command equiv to the /Z:64.. it took some digging, but i eventually found it.
what is it, you say? don't remember..
why am i posting this unhelpful information, you ask? no clue..
tj
actually, there IS a Win2k command equiv to the /Z:64.. it took some digging, but i eventually found it.
what is it, you say? don't remember..
why am i posting this unhelpful information, you ask? no clue..
tj
Slackmaster2K
Gone
When using the disk management tool in 2000 and XP to format a volume, you can specify the following allocation unit sizes:
512
1024
2048
4096
8192
16K
32K
64K
You don't have to use the command line, it's all on the cute little format window.
Now formatting a drive upon installation I'm not so sure about. I'm not going to reinstall just to check
Slackmaster 2000
512
1024
2048
4096
8192
16K
32K
64K
You don't have to use the command line, it's all on the cute little format window.
Now formatting a drive upon installation I'm not so sure about. I'm not going to reinstall just to check
Slackmaster 2000
J
jdechant
New member
slackmaster,
on my machine, I can pick the allocation size for NTFS (4 sizes, can't remember and too lazy to look); however, for FAT32 it only allows me to use the "default allocation size" and there is nothing else to choose from. Might be able to change the default size somewhere in the registry... i dunno.
on my machine, I can pick the allocation size for NTFS (4 sizes, can't remember and too lazy to look); however, for FAT32 it only allows me to use the "default allocation size" and there is nothing else to choose from. Might be able to change the default size somewhere in the registry... i dunno.
Slackmaster2K
Gone
I just checked on my Win2k machine (I was looking on an XP machine earlier) and I am able to select all of the above-mentioned allocation unit sizes.
NOTE: you have to use the disk management tool, you can't do this by right-clicking on a drive letter in My Computer and choosing "format". If you try to do this from My Computer, it won't give you the same options. The Disk Management tool is in Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Disk Management.
Slackmaster 2000
NOTE: you have to use the disk management tool, you can't do this by right-clicking on a drive letter in My Computer and choosing "format". If you try to do this from My Computer, it won't give you the same options. The Disk Management tool is in Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Disk Management.
Slackmaster 2000