What is "Reserved System Space" and what can I do with it?

Gerry wrote:
> NTFS Master File Table (MFT) Expansion
> When an NTFS volume is created and formatted, NTFS metafiles are
> created. One of these metafiles is named the Master File Table (MFT). It
> is very small when it is created (approximately 16 KB), but it grows as
> files and folders are created on the volume. When a file is created, it
> is entered in the MFT as a File Record Segment (FRS). The FRS is always
> 1024 bytes (1 KB). As files are added to the volume, the MFT grows.
> However, when files are deleted, the associated FRSs are marked as free
> for reuse, but the total FRSs and associated MFT allocation remains.
> That is why you do not regain the space used by the MFT after you delete
> a large number of files, .
>
> To see exactly how large the MFT is, you can use the built-in
> defragmenter to analyze the volume. The resulting report provides
> detailed information about the size and number of fragments in the MFT.
>
> For example:
> Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
> Total MFT size = 26,203 KB
> MFT record count = 21,444
> Percent MFT in use = 81 %
> Total MFT fragments = 4
>
> However, for more complete information about how much space (overhead)
> the whole NTFS is using, run the chkdsk.exe command, and then view the
> output for the following line:
> In use by system.
>
> Currently, only third-party defragmenters consolidate unused MFT FRS
> records and reclaim unused MFT allocated spaceNTFS MFT Expansion
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315688
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814594
>
> Reserved space. Further reading:
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365230(VS.85).aspx
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/174619
>

My MTF files is 77MB. Just curious as to how large that is compared to
others' MTF size.

Richard

foppe de Haan is complaining about the amount of reserved space ( 12.5%
of the six=ze of the partition / drive) not the amount actually being
used by the MFT.

The MFT on my Windows partition is 79 mb. However, I have a number of
partitions, each with it's own MFT. There is a direct correlation
between the number of files and folders and the size of the MFT.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

richard wrote:
> Gerry wrote:
>> NTFS Master File Table (MFT) Expansion
>> When an NTFS volume is created and formatted, NTFS metafiles are
>> created. One of these metafiles is named the Master File Table
>> (MFT). It is very small when it is created (approximately 16 KB),
>> but it grows as files and folders are created on the volume. When a
>> file is created, it is entered in the MFT as a File Record Segment
>> (FRS). The FRS is always 1024 bytes (1 KB). As files are added to
>> the volume, the MFT grows. However, when files are deleted, the
>> associated FRSs are marked as free for reuse, but the total FRSs and
>> associated MFT allocation remains. That is why you do not regain the
>> space used by the MFT after you delete a large number of files, .
>>
>> To see exactly how large the MFT is, you can use the built-in
>> defragmenter to analyze the volume. The resulting report provides
>> detailed information about the size and number of fragments in the
>> MFT. For example:
>> Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
>> Total MFT size = 26,203 KB
>> MFT record count = 21,444
>> Percent MFT in use = 81 %
>> Total MFT fragments = 4
>>
>> However, for more complete information about how much space
>> (overhead) the whole NTFS is using, run the chkdsk.exe command, and
>> then view the output for the following line:
>> In use by system.
>>
>> Currently, only third-party defragmenters consolidate unused MFT FRS
>> records and reclaim unused MFT allocated spaceNTFS MFT Expansion
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315688
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814594
>>
>> Reserved space. Further reading:
>> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365230(VS.85).aspx
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/174619
>>
>
> My MTF files is 77MB. Just curious as to how large that is compared to
> others' MTF size.