How to allocated Windows storage space on disc...

On Microsoft windows systems, the storage allocated to a folder is entirely dependant on the folders contents.

Disk storage is allocated in blocks of a specific size. The size is dependant upon the file system type, FAT32, NTFS, etc. So every file stored, regardless of its size, unless it is a perfect multiple of that block size, will have some amount of wasted space in the last block allocated to the file.

This is insignificant until you try storing a large number of relatively small files.

Hello Guest,

In addition to nemonics Post above:

<"....Justification: I need to off-load and save a very large number of pictures and video clip files on camera's 2-Gig card - this could be done in several sessions - and would like the files not to be separated on the hard disc.....">

When files are added to the HDD Storage, the data is written to the first randomly available cluster, then the next first randomly available cluster, which means that a large file is scattered in many places on the HD Platter/s.

The reason this happens is that writing the data in this manner is far more efficient, as "the first randomly available space is used".

The Windows^® Operating System keeps track of each part of the file, in the File Address Index of (New Technology File System = NTFS) (In earlier Windows Operating Systems was called: "File Allocation Table" = FAT), so that when the file is later accessed, the File Address List is followed to locate all parts of the file as needed.

If the file is wanted to be "Contiguous" = all together in sequential order on the HDD, then the Disk Defragmenter Utility is used.

The Disk Defragmenter Utility built into the Windows Operating Systems is a slower method than some specialized Utilities, but those cost a small amount extra, and for many users, are not needed.

In saying the above, the Registry does, over time get fragmented also, and there are Utilities which can defragment the Registry Hives etc.

The Graphic is from my own system, and I have this Utility set up to automatically defragment HDD while the computer is "idling" or otherwise using little resources. Registry Hives etc are automatically defragmented at each re-boot of the computer, which is done each day. (The system here runs 24/7 for longevity of the HDD's).

Information on the above Utility is available from: http://www.iolo.com/

Free Trial Download of "System Mechanic Professional" is from: http://www.iolo.com/downloads.aspx

If you do want all your graphics <"....not to be separated on the hard disc....">, and need to add further graphics on an ongoing basis, just place all the graphics into the same Folder which you make in the normal way.

That way, you just add your files to that single folder, and when the Defragmenter Utility runs, it places all those graphic files contiguously in order, inside that Folder.

Kind Regards....

The files in a hard disk, as explained by Sparkstation and nemonics, are stored in "the first available space". A folder's contents, therefore, can be all over the disk, not necessarily in one place. The folder's data merely has information on the files that are in it and where it is in the disk.

The best way I can think of to keep the files together in the disk is to perform a defragment before you create the folder and save the files. The idea is that the defrag will put all other files next to each other so that there will be no spaces in between. That way, when you create your folder and save your pictures, the files will be in one big chunk.

Unfortunately, today's defragmentation softwares (including Windows), don't seem to defrag that way anymore. I remember Windows 95 and 98 where all the files would be in clustered in the "top" of the disk after defragging (at least that was how the software showed them). Today's defraggers still leave spaces in between clusters, probably because it's faster to defrag that way.

All in all, I would say that worrying about clustering your files in one chunk in your hard disk is not really necessary. The software will find them easily anyway. My advice, if you're really keen on keeping them together is to save them to a CD or DVD. That's what I do. It's safer too.

regards,

Vulcan

I do not understand? You'll try to modify, Windows has not restrictions in the management of the size or quantity of images, I also have installed XP – Prof.

Windows program uses hard disk space with two options; the first is the "System Restore" in case of error in the installation of new programs, deleting files by mistake, or virus infection (It is very useful), and the second is "Virtual Memory" to drive onto the hard disks to emulate RAM.

Both can activate or shut down, to manage the consumed size and available for use from "Control Panel - System".

My machine has structured for more available space, and this way will not loss speed in the processes, if a disk exceeds 50% of capacity, I'll plan to add a new hard drive.

In addition to all that's been said, I might suggest creating a new partition only for the images you want to store contiguously on the disk. This might not be at all easy in an existing installation of windows, although there are several tools that you can use to this end (PowerQuest's Partition Magic, for instance). Hope this helps.