

When data is later added to a file, NTFS increases the file's allocation in multiples of the cluster size. When a file is created, it consumes a minimum of a single cluster of disk space, depending on the initial file size. The cluster size is determined by the partition size when the volume is formatted.įor more information about clusters, see Default cluster size for NTFS, FAT, and exFAT. A cluster is a collection of contiguous sectors. These files and folders consume all the file space allocations by using multiples of a cluster. Only files and folders that include internal NTFS metafiles like the Master File Table (MFT), folder indexes, and others can consume disk space. The following information can help you to optimize, repair, or gain a better understanding of how your NTFS volumes use disk space. Other NTFS features may cause file-allocation confusion.NTFS corruption causes free space to be reported as in use.Files or folders contain alternate data streams.NTFS metafiles (such as the Master File Table) have grown, and you cannot de-allocate them.Folders or files contain invalid or reserved file names.The folder path exceeds 255 characters.File attributes or NTFS permissions prevent Windows Explorer or a Windows command prompt from displaying or accessing files or folders.The NTFS volume's cluster size is too large for the average-sized files that are stored there.The disk space allocation of an NTFS volume may appear to be misreported for any of the following reasons: This behavior may also occur after a computer malfunction or power outage occurs that cause volume corruption. These files then have their NTFS permissions removed or restricted. This may occur if malicious or unauthorized access to an NTFS volume where large files or a high quantity of small files are secretly copied has occurred.
S5fs disk map full#
For example, an NTFS volume may suddenly appear to become full for no reason, and an administrator cannot find the cause or locate the offending folders and files. NTFS supports many volume and file-level features that may lead to what appear to be lost or incorrectly reported free disk space.
S5fs disk map how to#
This article discusses how to check an NTFS file system's disk space allocation to discover offending files and folders or look for volume corruption in Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computers.Īpplies to: Windows Server 2003 Original KB number: 814594 Summary
