Re: Managing XP system space for the MFT
From: Bob Harris (rharris270[SPAM)
Date: 08/14/04
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Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2004 07:39:19 -0500
You may be confusing the MFT with system restore. The MFT is like a bigger
(maybe better) version of the FAT. It is used to keep track of where pieces
of files are on the disk. Unlike a FAT, it also keeps track of where the
files used to be, and that allows for some auto-repairs not possible with
FAT. For a number of reasons it is better if the MFT is contiguous, or few
pieces, instead of many fragments. Diskeeper can reduce the number of MFT
fragments via its boot-time defrag, but it rarely eliminates all of them.
That is OK/normal. The MFT usually has some extra space in it, maybe a lot
of extra space. That space is not really wasted, just reserved. It will be
the last place XP writes a file, only after all other sace has been used.
You do not need to do anything about the size of the MFT. Leave it alone!
If you feel that you are running out of space, buy a larger hard drive, or
install a seond hard and transfer your personal files to it. if you are
uncomfortable with opening the PC case, most shops that sell hard drives
will install them (in deckyop PCs), and will also transfer all files form
the old one to the new one.
As for system restore, that can eventually use several Gigs of space. You
need to decide whether having more than a few restore points is valueable.
In my case I delete all but the last restore point, via a right-click on C:
in windows explorer, properties, disk cleanup, more option, etc. However, I
do complete backups up the C: partition to an external USB disk before
installing new software, and periodically, even if ther have bee no changes
to the system. I retain these complete images for months, so I can
"restore" C: to last week, last month, or even last year in minutes. I do
this because system restore is less than 100% reliable, ad/or does not
backup all important files, and/or does not backup non-system files. Look
into a good ackup/restore program. Hint: Microsoft does not make one.
The system restore function
"Svend Cr" <nomail@mail.com> wrote in message
news:95455AD90FC0A471AE@127.0.0.1...
> 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.
>
> -----
>
> Is there a way I can see what system free space there is for use
> specifically by:
>
> (A) The MFT ?
> (B) System restore points in the System Volume Information folder ?
>
> Most importantly, how do I get the MFT into a single part and also
> give it enough space?
>
> I have used a reg hack (from
> http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak123951.aspx) to give the MFT a medium
> space allocation but it doesn't seem to have made a difference.
>
> I have never had to use XP system restore points as I back up whole
> partitions by making duplicates of them. So I don't mind if I have
> no space at all on any drive for system restore points.
>
> Svend
>
>
>
> ===========================================================
> Defragger data follows in case it helps.
>
>
> Volume 60_WinXP (C:):
> Volume size = 6,793 MB
> Cluster size = 4 KB
> Used space = 4,663 MB
> Free space = 2,129 MB
> Percent free space = 31 %
> Defragmentation method = Max Disk Performance
>
> Fragmentation percentage
> Volume fragmentation = 0 %
> Data fragmentation = 0 %
>
> File fragmentation
> Total files = 44,872
> Average file size = 151 KB
> Total fragmented files = 0
> Total excess fragments = 0
> Average fragments per file = 1.00
>
> Paging file fragmentation
> Paging/Swap file size = 100 MB
> Total fragments = 1
>
> Directory fragmentation
> Total directories = 3,660
> Fragmented directories = 0
> Excess directory fragments = 0
>
> Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
> Total MFT size = 92,523 KB
> MFT records In Use = 48,607
> Percent MFT in use = 52 %
> Total MFT fragments = 2
>
> -----
>
> Volume 60_DATA [39GB] (D:):
> Volume size = 39,942 MB
> Cluster size = 8 KB
> Used space = 25,030 MB
> Free space = 14,912 MB
> Percent free space = 37 %
>
> Fragmentation percentage
> Volume fragmentation = 0 %
> Data fragmentation = 0 %
>
> File fragmentation
> Total files = 58,992
> Average file size = 507 KB
> Total fragmented files = 0
> Total excess fragments = 0
> Average fragments per file = 1.00
>
> Paging file fragmentation
> Paging/Swap file size = 0 bytes
> Total fragments = 0
>
> Directory fragmentation
> Total directories = 5,018
> Fragmented directories = 0
> Excess directory fragments = 0
>
> Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
> Total MFT size = 125 MB
> MFT records In Use = 64,032
> Percent MFT in use = 49 %
> Total MFT fragments = 2
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
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