2025-06-15

Why Does Data Use More Space On Larger Drives Than Smaller Drives?

DATARECOVERYUNION.COM12 mins

The reason the data takes up more space has to do with the cluster sizes used to store data. Microsoft operating systems using the FAT32 file system use varying cluster sizes depending on the size of the partition.

The following chart gives a breakdown of the partition/cluster size relationship using FAT32

Partition SizeCluster Size
512 MB – 8192 MB (8 GB)4 KB
8193 MB – 16384 MB8 KB
16385 MB – 32769 MB16 KB
Greater than 32769 MB32 KB

A cluster is the smallest unit used by the operating system to store data. Each piece of data, regardless of how small, uses at least one full cluster. For example, if you have a 6 GB partition in FAT32, it will have 4K clusters. If a file stored to that cluster is 3K, the entire 4K cluster will be used. On the other hand, with an 80 GB partition using 32K clusters, that same 3K file still uses one full cluster (32K). You can see that with larger cluster sizes there is the potential for more wasted space. In most cases, this is not a problem as most files will not be that small. If multiple clusters are used to accommodate a file’s size, the system will use as many clusters as necessary for the file, leaving wasted space on the last cluster used.

Clusters are sized in this way to balance speed and efficiency. If the larger partitions still used the smaller 4K clusters, utilities like ScanDisk, Defrag, etc. would take hours to complete.

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Computer Forensics and Cyber Crime: An Introduction

DATARECOVERYUNION.COM04 mins

Computer Forensics and Cyber Crime Computer Forensics and Cyber Crime: An Introduction (2nd Edition) by Marjie T. Britz

Details:

  • Paperback: 408 pages
  • Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (October 17, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0132447495
  • ISBN-13: 978-0132447492
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Popular: 4.5 out of 5 starsDescription:

    Completely updated in a new edition,  this book fully defines computer-related crime and the legal issues involved in its investigation. Re-organized with different chapter headings for better understanding of the subject, it provides a framework for the development of a computer crime unit. Updated with new information on technology, this book is the only comprehensive examination of computer-related crime and its investigation on the market.  It includes an exhaustive discussion of legal and social issues, fully defines computer crime, and provides specific examples of criminal activities involving computers, while discussing the phenomenon in the context of the criminal justice system. Computer Forensics and Cyber Crime 2e provides a comprehensive analysis of current case law, constitutional challenges, and government legislation. New to this edition is a chapter on Organized Crime & Terrorism and how it relates to computer related crime as well as more comprehensive information on Processing Evidence and Report Preparation. For computer crime investigators, police chiefs, sheriffs, district attorneys, public defenders, and defense attorneys.

    Review:

    “Computer Forensics and Cyber Crime: An Introduction should he a welcomed addition to all parents’ bookshelves.”

    — Dr: Ed Whittle, Florida Metropolitan University, Tampa, F

    “Computer Forensics and Cyber Crime: An Introduction likely constitute(s) the most definitive reference material on the subject of computer-related crime, cyber crime law, and computer crime investigation including the management and custody of evidence. Although the number of books prepared on the subject of computer-related crime and investigations has increased quite a bit in quantity and quality during the last two years, to my knowledge, they are not as thorough, comprehensive, and easy-to-read as this one …this-text is far superior to any of those… This book could very well become the Bible for computer crime across the U.S. and possibly in Britain, Canada, and elsewhere too.”

    — Scott Senja, Weber State University, Ogden, UT

    “This is the most extensive and comprehensive text reviewed in our quest for appropriate material.”

    — Karen Weston, Gannon University; Eric, PA

    Price:

    List Price: $65.20 Price: $49.52 You Save: $15.68

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