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fat32 cluster size too small
From: |
D. Hugh Redelmeier |
Subject: |
fat32 cluster size too small |
Date: |
Mon, 30 Dec 2002 02:56:24 -0500 (EST) |
I used parted to create a 60g fat32 partition on a hard disk. When I
used MS Win98's scandisk on the partition, it said:
ScanDisk could not continue because your computer does not have enough
available memory
I was rather shocked since I wasn't running any other applications
(except the stuff that has managed to start itself) and I have 256M of
RAM.
According to
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q229154>
the problem is that the cluster size is too small for this size of
partition. The cluster sizes are supposed to be:
Hard disk size Cluster size
-------------------------------
512 MB to 8 GB 4 KB
8 GB to 16 GB 8 KB
16 GB to 32 GB 16 KB
32 GB and larger 32 KB
I think that parted gave this partition a 4k cluster size.
I didn't actually check. For one thing, I don't know how to check.
For another, I immediately broke the partition into three of 20g to
avoid the problem (before I found the MS Knowledge Base article).
I had the same problem with the 20g partitions. In this case, I have
evidence that the partition given by parted was 4k.
I'd say that this is a bug in parted: it should conform to the rules
outlined in q229154.
Once parted gave them a 4k cluster size, Win98's format (quick or
full) would not change it. Even if I deleted the partitions and
recreated them!
I eventually solved the problem by dd'ing 10 megs of /dev/zero over
the start of each partition and then using Win98's format (full).
What a hack!
I'd say that this behaviour is a Win98 bug. But I'll never convince
Microsoft.
It might be nice to be able to specify a desired cluster size in the
mkfs command (for fat32 file systems).
It would also be nice to have a command that would display the cluster
size.
Hugh Redelmeier
address@hidden voice: +1 416 482-8253
PS: I was using parted 1.6.3 on KNOPPIX GNU/LINUX 3.1 of 2002-12-12.
PPS: thanks very much for creating parted! A very useful tool.
- fat32 cluster size too small,
D. Hugh Redelmeier <=