Changing Cluster Size

[KingFish]

I have an NF7-S with the onboard Highpoint Raid controller. I have my two main disks set up with raid-0. I made a noninformed decision at the time and set my cluster size to 128k. After reading articles on raid I believe a cluster size of 32k would more suit my rig. Would changing cluster size nuke all the files/OS already present on the disks or can it be changed with the files remaining intact? Thanks

KingFish

[shwaip]

changing cluster size requires a reformat.

[KingFish]

That's what I was afraid of, thanks.

KingFish

[MediaMan]

I "think" you can use Partition Magic to change cluster size but I don't know if it will actually do the C:/ drive though.

What I'd do is ghost your hard drive partitions ....back up your data...transfer all that to DVD-R...then reformat and ghost back from the DVD-R.

[floppybootstomp]

You can change cluster size non-destructively with paragon partition manager.

Here's a link to a freebie I got off one of those magazine disks, version 5.0 Paragon (http://www.bitbenderforums.com/users/floppybootstomp/misc/paragon.zip)

Unzip the file, load all contents to a floppy, then boot with it. Should be fairly obvious once you're into the program how to do it.

I've used this many times. It works well with FAT32 & NTFS.

You can't change stripe size though, that needs a reformat.

[KingFish]

I meant stripe size across my two disks in the raid-0 array. I'll hold off on making any drastic changes until my next scheduled major upgrade at the end of this summer. I'll likely back up my pertinent data and start with a fresh install of everything and use a stripe size of 32k with the new setup. Thanks for the help all.

KingFish

[Guyute]

I just noticed my new 120GB drive has a "Allocation size: 4096 bytes". There is a drop-down menu that lets you select different volumes down to 512 bytes. If I change that, will the drive re-format? Does that mean that all of the games I have loaded on it wil be erased? 4096 seems a tad large...

[paroxym]

I just noticed my new 120GB drive has a "Allocation size: 4096 bytes". There is a drop-down menu that lets you select different volumes down to 512 bytes. If I change that, will the drive re-format? Does that mean that all of the games I have loaded on it wil be erased? 4096 seems a tad large...

4096 is actually a cluster size of 4KB and is the default your NTFS drive is formatted with when you install Windows. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but there is no problem with this allocation size and your best to leave it as is.

[KingFish]

It is the standard size. I'd leave it as is. :)

KF

[Guyute]

Thanks...at 1:00 AM I interpreted that as 4MB- too late in the day to be friggin with my PC, I think. hmmmm..basic math skills, where are youuuuuuuuuuuu LOL.

Man, this forum is awesome.

[Spinner]

Thanks...at 1:00 AM I interpreted that as 4MB- too late in the day to be friggin with my PC, I think. hmmmm..basic math skills, where are youuuuuuuuuuuu LOL.

Man, this forum is awesome.
You could still change it if you wished to. Though like the other nice fella's have said (;)), you really wouldn't want to. The latest version of Partition Magic I believe can change the cluster size non-destructively on any partition, including Drive C, as well as Paragon Disk Manager. They should be able to change it from 512b up to as large as 64K.

But like folk have said. 4K is optimal for your setup.

Cheers

[Mt_Goat]

I meant stripe size across my two disks in the raid-0 array. I'll hold off on making any drastic changes until my next scheduled major upgrade at the end of this summer. I'll likely back up my pertinent data and start with a fresh install of everything and use a stripe size of 32k with the new setup. Thanks for the help all.

KingFish

To change stripe size you [U]WILL LOOSE EVERYTHING[U]. If it was just cluster size, Partition Magic works great. I use it every time I reformat an array.

[Spinner]

To change stripe size you [U]WILL LOOSE EVERYTHING[U]. If it was just cluster size, Partition Magic works great. I use it every time I reformat an array.
Now wouldn't it be great if someone manufactured a RAID controller that could change the stripe size on the fly. That would be great. That would something. That would be... (drum roll) Splendid!

/me goes to grab another whisky

[Mt_Goat]

Now wouldn't it be great if someone manufactured a RAID controller that could change the stripe size on the fly. That would be great. That would something. That would be... (drum roll) Splendid!

* Spinner goes to grab another whisky
You mean?

Magnifique

Ducky

A stick in the pants

Or just plain....."the sheeeetz"

[Spinner]

You mean?

Magnifique

Ducky

A stick in the pants

Or just plain....."the sheeeetz"
Don't say stuff like that when I'm this hammered. ROFL ;D. But yeah... all of the above. ;D