WinXP install / system partition: custom NTFS unit allocation size

hi,

1. can windows xp setup be run to perform formatting of the system partition
using a custom unit allocation size?

2. can windows xp be installed on a NTFS partition having non-default unit
allocation size (!= 4KB)?

i already tried the following WITHOUT success:
1a) install
- before running windows setup, format desired system partition using
acronis disk director (unit allocation size = 16KB, also set active)
- run windows setup, keeping existing file system
- after the reboot (files copied, should boot from hdd) windows cannot start
from C:\
1b) try to fix boot
- started recovery console from xp cd.
- run fixmbr and fixboot c:
- also copied ntldr and ntdetect.com from cd to C:\
- after reboot windows cannot start, error message changed somewhat

does fixmbr / fixboot work with unit allocation size != 4KB?!

this is the only way i HAVE managed so far to have the windows system
partition to have a non-default NTFS unit allocation size (checked with
NTFSINFO):
- perform regular complete xp install
- make backup using acronis true image
- format system partition with different unit allocation size
- restore installation using "files and folders" mode.
- xp bootes!

thanks, volker

You can set a custom allocation size,its harder to do if you run only one hd,
using another as slave,formatting as one desires is easy,just go to run,
type:diskmgmt.msc For specific details on the matter,read #814594 And #
307889

"volker.badziong" wrote:

> hi,
>
> 1. can windows xp setup be run to perform formatting of the system partition
> using a custom unit allocation size?
>
> 2. can windows xp be installed on a NTFS partition having non-default unit
> allocation size (!= 4KB)?
>
> i already tried the following WITHOUT success:
> 1a) install
> - before running windows setup, format desired system partition using
> acronis disk director (unit allocation size = 16KB, also set active)
> - run windows setup, keeping existing file system
> - after the reboot (files copied, should boot from hdd) windows cannot start
> from C:\
> 1b) try to fix boot
> - started recovery console from xp cd.
> - run fixmbr and fixboot c:
> - also copied ntldr and ntdetect.com from cd to C:\
> - after reboot windows cannot start, error message changed somewhat
>
> does fixmbr / fixboot work with unit allocation size != 4KB?!
>
> this is the only way i HAVE managed so far to have the windows system
> partition to have a non-default NTFS unit allocation size (checked with
> NTFSINFO):
> - perform regular complete xp install
> - make backup using acronis true image
> - format system partition with different unit allocation size
> - restore installation using "files and folders" mode.
> - xp bootes!
>
> thanks, volker

hi,

i think you refer to the following MSKB
814594 - How to Locate and Correct Disk Space Problems on NTFS Volumes
307889 - How to create and use NTFS mounted drives in Windows XP
140365 - Default cluster size for FAT and NTFS

these do not address my question.

formatting a partition using a different unit allocation size is not the
problem (using fomat /A:... or diskmgmt.msc) - but installing / running the
system partition with a non-default unit allocation size.

could you please go into details about "its harder to do if you run only one
hd, using another as slave,...". this is what i am interested in.

thanks