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Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2001 7:55 am Post subject:

Why is it that in Microsoft Operating systems that they give you 2 different file sizes? How are people supposed to know what the real size is?? Like "Size" is one number and "Size on Disk" is different. Why is it like this??

Butt Sniffer Joined: 21 May 2001 Posts: 1411 Location: USA

This is do to the file allocation table (FAT). The hard drive is broken up into "clusters" of a certain size. If you have Windows NT or 2000, this cluster size can be 4k if you use the optional NTFS. Otherwise the cluster size will be 32k.

So, even if your file is only 1k or 2k in size, it will take up a minimal space amount (the cluster size). Likewise if your file is 33k in size. Assuming you have a regular FAT, this will require 2 clusters of 32k each.

perrito_blanco

Don't call me Surely.

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2001 8:46 am Post subject:

But there's even more wonders to come.

Go after some files via ftp. I use CuteFTP Pro, so I can't speak for other clients.
Download a file - CuteFTP will say this file has a size of 5.71 MB, after downloading to disk, Explorer will state this file has a size of 6.00 MB. This is the point where one starts to wonder... now check the Properties of this file - another two diffrent sizes...

Life is great, isn't it? [ Wink

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- The Satan Of Seti
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Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2001 9:25 am Post subject:

a lot of people think that a kilobyte is 1,000 bytes (hence the 'kilo') when in reality it is 1,024 bytes...this also means that a megabyte is not 1,000,000 bytes it is in fact 1,000 * 1,024 bytes which equals 1,024,000 bytes

what this means is that when you see a file in windows explorer with a file size of 10 megabytes, and you right click on it to view its properties you will see 10,024,000 bytes and so some people will think that this is a conflict and that it's showing two different file sizes...windows explorer tends to round things as well (683 bytes will show as either 0.7KB or 1KB depending on version of windows)

to confuse people even more transfer rates are expressed in both kbit/sec and kbyte/sec...this really throws some people off - "wow, you're downloading at 2200 k/sec...what kind of crazy net connection do you have man?!?" (this is really 275KB/sec)

it's almost like the whole Windows/Unix carriage return/linefeed fiasco (most of us probably know what a b*atch that can be)

SDGR406

Moderator Joined: 26 May 2001 Posts: 8155 Location: Borneo

Quote:

But there's even more wonders to come.

Go after some files via ftp. I use CuteFTP Pro, so I can't speak for other clients.
Download a file - CuteFTP will say this file has a size of 5.71 MB, after downloading to disk, Explorer will state this file has a size of 6.00 MB. This is the point where one starts to wonder... now check the Properties of this file - another two diffrent sizes...

Can be a matter of base units. The base being B, kB or MG

Moderator Joined: 26 May 2001 Posts: 8155 Location: Borneo

Quote:

a lot of people think that a kilobyte is 1,000 bytes (hence the 'kilo') when in reality it is 1,024 bytes...this also means that a megabyte is not 1,000,000 bytes it is in fact 1,000 * 1,024 bytes which equals 1,024,000 bytes

megabyte=1024*1024=2^20=1.048.496 except when you buy a harddisk, then it is 1.000.000
There are plans to use for units of 2^10 the i instead of the a. So it would be megibyte for 1.048.496 not megabyte

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2001 11:21 am Post subject:

I don't really care much what is displayed. It is just ridiculous.

Why can't these councils like IEETF or RFC come up with a standard for THAT?
They love standards, so why not? :monkeybutt:

BTW, while downloading one has to add +25% to the filesize of the file(s) downloaded due to the HTTP protocol (if FTP is not used). FTP has less protocol stuff in the packet headers, but I can't remember the correct percentage or the per byte ratio.

- The Satan Of Seti
_________________________
icon26

I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to worship me. icon26

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2001 7:32 pm Post subject:

Quote:

Why is it that in Microsoft Operating systems that they give you 2 different file sizes? How are people supposed to know what the real size is?? Like "Size" is one number and "Size on Disk" is different. Why is it like this??

I tihnk it's just another way for M$ to F*** With you brain... As if the sublimine attacks they do aren't enought... sheeeeesh..

Big Dog Joined: 20 Oct 2000 Posts: 3689 Location: USA

whatever file size iMesh or ICQ thinks a file is is how big it really is

that's my story and i'm stickin to it !

:pimp:

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2001 2:41 am Post subject:

Now, now, boys, size doesn't matter.

My £0.02,
Demon
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Seal clubbing - otariidae discoteca

Moderator Joined: 26 May 2001 Posts: 8155 Location: Borneo

Quote:

I tihnk it's just another way for M$ to F*** With you brain... As if the sublimine attacks they do aren't enought... sheeeeesh..

file-size and disk-use are two different things. Has nothing to do with M$ trying to F*** your brain. On *nix ls -l and du also give two different numbers

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