Re: Managing XP system space for the MFT

Tech-Archive recommends: Speed Up your PC by fixing your registry

From: Alex Nichol (alexn.mvpdts_at_ntlworld.delete.com)
Date: 08/15/04 

Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 11:21:43 +0100

Svend Cr wrote:

>Executive Software's Diskeeper 8 shows me two unexpected things
>about my XP Pro system:
>
>(1) The MFT on the system partition (called C) is in SIX parts.
>
>(2) On another NTFS partition (called D) there is a surprisingly
>large amount of space (12% of total partition space) reserved for
>system requirements. However I switched off XP's "system
>monitoring" for this drive long ago.
>
>Defragging with Diskeeper 8 from within XP and at boot-time does
>not get the MFT into fewer than 2 parts. And the defragging does
>not reduce the excess space allocated to the system.

NTFS keeps a fairly large auxiliary area next to the MFT (if possible)
to use for MFT purposes - don't forget each file gets its own block in
there, enough to hold the whole of some small files. This is called the
MFT area. In Perfect Disk, the defrag I decided I prefer to Disk Keeper,
it shows up as its own color. Disk keeper may just be calling it
'system required'. Space used by restore points does not require
special treatment by a defragmenter 

-- 
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K.  Alexn@mvps.D8E8L.org (remove the D8 bit)

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Managing XP system space for the MFT
    ... >>does not get the MFT into fewer than 2 parts. ... >>defragging does not reduce the excess space allocated to the ... Do you know what is in the area which Perfect Disk calls ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Master File Table (MFT)
    ... > A few True or False questions regarding the MFT in a NTFS formatted partition ... > The MFT is created during the formatting of a NTFS partition ... Do you mean a quick format? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Managing XP system space for the MFT
    ... Does it specifically say that 12% of the partition is used for the MFT? ... By default it reserves 10% of each Partition. ... If you turn off system restore, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Managing XP system space for the MFT
    ... Does it specifically say that 12% of the partition is used for the MFT? ... By default it reserves 10% of each Partition. ... If you turn off system restore, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Managing XP system space for the MFT
    ... When an NTFS partition is created, ... The MFT is used to hold the critical index structures ... > The MFT on the system partition is in SIX parts. ... > Fragmentation percentage ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)