So should I FAT32 my memory card? or not? [Archive]

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Saad Al Haddad

01-28-2006, 04:15 PM

A memory card is almost like a hard disk. The space on the memory card must be divided into clusters for further data storage. The smaller the cluster, the more efficient the storage process will be. The cluster size of a memory card formatted in the FAT system is bigger than that of a FAT32.

What is that related to me http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/question.gif http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/crazydude.gif Imagine each cluster as a brick (which has fixed storage capability of 20). In FAT system, that brick is divided into 4 parts and each part can store 5 totaling a sum of 20. In FAT32 system, each brick is divided in to 10 parts and each can store 2 totaling 20 as well. A piece of info needs to be stored in that brick. The size of that info is 6. In the FAT system, the sequence of filling goes like this: The 1st part is filled with 5 and the 2nd part will be filled with 1. When the next info needs to be stored, it will start filling in the 3rd part, because the 1st and 2nd parts are already allocated for info 6. What does that mean http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/question.gif Part 2 has a remaining waste space of 4(unusable since it is allocated for info 6) and the remaining storage space of the brick is 10 only. Storing the same bit of info (size 6) in a
FAT32 system yields in allocating 3 parts for that info and leaving the remaining 7 parts for further use. So the remaining storage space of the brick will be 14.

That is the meaning of efficient storage http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/exclaim.gif

In order to convert your memory card from FAT to FAT32, you must insure both the memory card and the device you intent to use in, support FAT32 system. Handheld devices like PPCs support FAT32, so its up to the memroy card. If you insert your memory card in a memory card reader that is connected to your desktop, from within the desktop environment right click the corresponding letter of your memory card and chose "Format...". If your memory card supports FAT32, then you can format it in a FAT32 system.

DISCLAIMER! FORMATTING YOUR MEMORY CARD WILL ERASE ALL DATA ON THE CARD! SO BE SURE TO EMPTY THE MEMORY CARD BEFORE CONVERTING IT FROM FAT TO FAT32. ANY LOST OF DATA,DAGAMGE TO THE MEMORY CARD OR PDA IS NOT THE RESPONSSIBLITY OF PPCD OR ANY ADMINSTRATION MEMBER!

You will really feel the effect if you have a lot of small size files (like agenda fusion icons); which leads us to another important issue...IS IT WISE TO STORE THOSE ICONS ON A MEMORY CARD? OR TRY TO INSTALL THEM IN THE ROM (WHERE THERE ARE NO CLUSTERS)? I tried it and you will be shocked http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/crazy2.gif about the results http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/bonk.gif

Docc

01-28-2006, 04:36 PM

Head....spinning....going to....faint...http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/grin.gif

That was a very interesting read Saad. You also made me realise how glad i am to have taken up medicine. Math was NEVER my strong point http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/smile.gif

Docc.

Mohammed Alfalasi

01-28-2006, 11:40 PM

Moved to: Thoughts

Asrar

01-29-2006, 03:10 AM

Great info Saad. So, is there a defrag for memory cards in the offing then?

Saad Al Haddad

01-29-2006, 04:17 AM

Thanks Docc and Asrar,
Well there is this program called Pocket Mechanic (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&jid=8A3FFC167XAF41A31B92X3X97D85D9E6&platformId=2&N=96806%2095884&productId=92570&R=92570) that does it all, but I haven't tried it. I hope it os what you are looking 4. http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/wink.gif

Docc

01-29-2006, 04:32 AM

You can even defragment in using a memory card reader-writer. When you plug in a memory card into one of those suckers, an extra drive shows up on your computer. You can then perform all the actions similar to your inbuilt hard-drive including clean-up, scan-disk, defragmentation etc etc.

Docc.

Asrar

01-29-2006, 05:09 AM

I was talking about a device resident defragmenter so that you can defrag on the fly, considering 1+GB cards in use now and all kinds of files we cram up on cards, ever hungry for more space; without having to zip 'em. Will take a look at Pocket Mechanic as Saad suggested.

Docc

01-29-2006, 05:18 AM

Oh ok. But i am not sure, if the PPC will be efficient enough for defragmentation. Normally defragmentation takes a considerable amount of time. Well, i guess we wont know till we try it! http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/smile.gif

Docc.

Saad Al Haddad

01-29-2006, 09:39 PM

I was suprized no one asked me how much space I have managed to free off after I converted my 2GB FAT to FAT32.

Don't be shocked, it all depends on how many files you store on the memory card. And the effect will be much more noticable if you have a huge number of very small sized files. Which is exactly what I have on my memory card.

I have 1861 agenda fusion icons (12X12,10X9) sized @ 300-500 bytes and 4500 photo pictures (240X320) sized at 15-50kb. and another 8 progrmas.

After the conversion, I managed to free upto 66MB of space...Isn't that amazing???
Moreover, if you have any icon sets for agenda fusion like Designedbybert (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&jid=8A3FFC167XAF41A31B92X3X97D85D9E6&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=143493&R=143493) or comoqi (http://www.comoqi.com/products/ppc/ppcultimate.html). If you decided to install them on your memory card, check the free space on your memory card before you install one of them, and write down how much will be the space required popup screen from Active sync, and after you finish installing them, check the free space on your memory card.
Notice the difference. http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/crazy2.gif

Now do the same experiment, but instead of installing them to the memory card, install it in your device's ROM if you have the space. and see the results yourself http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/shocked.gif

Saravana Kumar Paulraj

01-30-2006, 12:00 AM

Nice one Saad... Its always good to know that we can optimise the space in the memory card http://pocketpcdubai.com/Forums/smileys/smile.gif