ParbreastionCluster SizeWasted Space 2212

Bruce

Yes, that's true. The term is called slack space. Files must be allocated at least 1 cluster, and files cannot share clusters (It's called cross-linking, and it's bad). So a small text file containing "Hello World.", even though it's only 12 bytes long will still take up 512 bytes, Or however many bytes the cluster size happens to be. Leaving 500 bytes of slack.

Don't worry overmuch about it, you have LOTS of room. Since most files will take up multiple clusters anyway. Very few people bother with cluster size. Radio show hosts should avoid scaring people into reformatting their drives just to "recover" the couple megabytes total a smaller cluster size would save. :)

For example. My "Program Files" Folder is 2,471,894,576 Bytes, but is taking up 2,489,942,016 Bytes. Leaving 18,047,440 Bytes in "slack" This works to be 17.21MB out of 2.31GB, or 0.73% slack.

I may have misunderstood, but I did

Larger average file size will take up more clusters. And therefor more clusters will be 100% full. Reducing "slack".

The part about multi-parbreastioned hard drives filling slower is also true, but.... it's a bit weak, the effect would not be enough to notice. And, each parbreastion would lose some space to the File Allocation Table, or the NTFS equivlent. So the effect would be partially cancelled out.