Format partition with custom cluster size

[Guest]

Hello!

I need to format my HDD with custom cluster size, for example, 128 kb or
64kb.

I know how to do it using "format D: /A:8192" for example.

But how to format during clean install?

During install XP format drive using "default" alloc. size (32 kb) for my HDD.

Is it possible to boot from XP installation CD and exit usual install
programm and start stand-alone format programm directly using "/A:131072" ?
Or it impossible from CD and better to choose installation set from floppy ?
Don't suggest to pre-format HDD using XP interface, and install fresh XP
after... using, leave current file system no changes...

Any help or suggestions?

With best regards, Alexandr.

 

[Richard Urban]

You do realize that by using other larger clusters than the recommended 4 k
size, you will not be able to defrag your hard drive with the supplied
optimizing program, right!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[R. McCarty]

Are you planning to install XP to this partition with custom cluster
size ?, If so your best solution is create the partition with the default
4k cluster size then resize the clusters with a 3rd party product, such
as Partition Magic. I've seen cases where XP will not install properly
on 32-64 Kbytes cluster partitions.
As Alex will note - deviating from the 4k Cluster to Page block size
on an XP partition isn't recommended. I generally only use these 32+
sizes only on Music or other Multimedia use partitions.

 

[Frank]

Hello!

I need to format my HDD with custom cluster size, for example, 128 kb or
64kb.

I know how to do it using "format D: /A:8192" for example.

But how to format during clean install?

During install XP format drive using "default" alloc. size (32 kb) for my HDD.

Is it possible to boot from XP installation CD and exit usual install
programm and start stand-alone format programm directly using "/A:131072" ?
Or it impossible from CD and better to choose installation set from floppy ?
Don't suggest to pre-format HDD using XP interface, and install fresh XP
after... using, leave current file system no changes...

Any help or suggestions?

With a W98 bootdisk, partition, then FORMAT D: /Z:8192
Then install WXP to this partition.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Are you planning to install XP to this partition with custom cluster
size ?, If so your best solution is create the partition with the default
4k cluster size then resize the clusters with a 3rd party product, such
as Partition Magic. I've seen cases where XP will not install properly
on 32-64 Kbytes cluster partitions.
As Alex will note - deviating from the 4k Cluster to Page block size
on an XP partition isn't recommended. I generally only use these 32+
sizes only on Music or other Multimedia use partitions.

Which may of course be his intention. In such a case the partition will
usually be a FAT 32 one, bigger than 32GB, and will need partitioning
in a different OS, eg using a Win98 startup disk, or using BootIT NG
which will create large FAT partitions and allow you to specify the
cluster size (as long as it is not too *small* at the size concerned).

The partitions for system and pagefile (if different) should be 4K for
optimal performance. That allows program loads and paging operations to
take place directly between the cluster on disk and the corresponding 4K
page of the CPU's hardware memory management without the need for
intermediate buffering