Just recently, I installed 2 hardrives in RAID 1 array. However there seems to be plenty of slack. For example some files that are actually only 100megs, take up much more space than that. Does anyone know why? I'm running Windows ME using FAT 32.

Cheers

I'm running Windows ME...

Problem solved. :)

ok well i'm going to be upgrading to Windows XP. Should that fix the problem going to NTFS?

ye

me = microsofts bitch
get 2k
f*** xp.

Dunno.... I have win 2K and have stuck to FAT32, id be interested to here what other 2K users say to that.... Windows keeps trying to get me to convert to NTFS, but I dont trust windows any further than I can throw it, and given the extent to which my arm muscles have atrophied due to excessive levels of in-activity in my room on my comp, thats not far, hence FAT32 is it for the forseeable future... Well that dragged on, eh? :)

Do you need to format your drive to convert to NTFS? Cause I can't be bothered moving my files off and stuff.

but I dont trust windows any further than I can throw it

even though ntfs is a much stabler / faster / feature rich filesystem.

There is MUCH less chance of data corruption on ntfs then fat 32.

and no u don't need to format to convert just type:
convert c: /fs:NTFS in the run menu...

if u convert the drive that u have windows on u need to reboot

no a format shouldn't be necessary to convert to NTFS.

If i can remember correctly, when setting up the RAID, i think i set the cluster size to 64kb. Could that be why there is so much slack?

Cool I'll do that tommorow.

Try defraging your drive I've had large file size differences on non raided drives And moving it to another partition helped.

Ok i'll try the defrag.

ur cluster size is the prob
64k is f***ing huge

ok so is there a way to reduce the cluster size? or should i just install win2000 or XP with NTFS?

Partition Magic can change cluster size, 4k is normal for Fat32

for ntfs or other riads that i deal with usually have 16k clusters, but i run 128k clusters here at home, it cains with huge clusters :) but takes up alot of space and have to defrag often, but speed is good, btw gigabit network card soon :) SMC 1000/100/10 card and 4 port hub. Cards are $220 each and hub is $380, so if you have one of these babies fast leeching or all my demos :)

Fat16 is 16k as well.
Thats what happens Big clusters = fast but with space wasted.
small clusters = slow but with less space wasted.

oh ok, now i get it. It's just that when i was setting up the raid array, it asked me the cluster size, and just kept it at the default setting (64kb).

I still have plenty of free space, so it's not a big deal, but i was just concerned at the amount of wasted space. Thanks alot for the help!