User Guide

• On the «Cluster/Block size» sheet:

• Cluster size (for FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS) or block size (for Linux

Ext2/Ext3). This parameter is usually set automatically, but sometimes it

is necessary to define it manually.

• Allows the creation of a partition that is larger than the file system (only

for FAT16). When this mode is on, Disk Administrator can create

partitions that exceed the size of the file system by a cluster or more.

This mode allows for more economic use of the disk space, but some

software (such as MS-DOS installation program, Norton Utilities, etc) can

corrupt such partitions.

• Allows the creation of partitions with 64-kilobyte clusters (only for

FAT16). Not all the operating systems understand such partitions, for

example Windows 95/98/ME cannot boot from them.

• On the «Other» sheet:

• Number of FAT copies (only for FAT16 and FAT32). The majority of

operating systems incorrectly work with partitions for which the number

of FAT copies is other than 2.

• Size of root folder (only for FAT16). The usual size of the root folder is

512 items. This number may be increased if necessary.

• Size of disk space corresponding to one i-node (only for Linux

Ext2/Ext3). This parameter is approximately the lower estimation of the

average assumed file size for the partition, and in fact defines the

number of i-nodes on the partition. The lower these parameters the

more i-nodes there will be on the partition.

• Sparse superblock (kernels 2.0.39+) (only for Linux Ext2/Ext3). When this

checkbox is checked, Ext2/Ext3 superblock is stored in a more optimal

way.

• Filetypes in folders (kernels 2.0.39+) (only for Linux Ext2/Ext3). When this

checkbox is checked, the information about the types of files, which is

usually stored in i-nodes, is also mirrored in folders (directories), thus

significantly reducing the numbed of accesses to disk during certain

operations. It should be noted that setting this flag for a partition that

previously worked without one will make fsck report errors, since for the

earlier-stored files will not be mirrored in the folders. This is a non-fatal

error.

• Files larger than 4G (kernels 2.4.0+) (only for Linux Ext2/Ext3). When this

checkbox is checked, it is permitted to use files with sizes that do not fit

into a 32-bit integer, thus avoiding the 4 GB per file size limitation.

Naturally, this flag makes no sense for a partition less than 4 GB in size.