• 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.
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