Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (
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Maximum Sizes on NTFS Volumes
In theory, the maximum NTFS volume size is 264 clusters minus 1 cluster.
However, the maximum NTFS volume size as implemented in Windows XP
Professional is 232 clusters minus 1 cluster. For example, using 64-KB
clusters, the maximum NTFS volume size is 256 terabytes minus 64 KB. Using
the default cluster size of 4 KB, the maximum NTFS volume size is 16
terabytes minus 4 KB.
Because partition tables on master boot record (MBR) disks only support
partition sizes up to 2 terabytes, you must use dynamic volumes to create
NTFS volumes over 2 terabytes. Windows XP Professional manages dynamic
volumes in a special database instead of in the partition table, so dynamic
volumes are not subject to the 2-terabyte physical limit imposed by the
partition table. Therefore, dynamic NTFS volumes can be as large as the
maximum volume size supported by NTFS. Itanium-based computers that use GUID
partition table (GPT) disks also support NTFS volumes larger than 2 terabytes.
"Michael Cecil" wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Sep 2004 02:21:36 -0700, "Mano"
> <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I've been trying to find out what is the maximum size of
> >HDD space that XP supports? Or in fact, does it have any
> >limits at all?
> >
> >I thought it was 4 terabytes but I can't prove it.
> >
> >Does anyone know?
>
> Without using dynamic drives, 2 TB. With dynamic drives, just under 256
> TB. See the following,
>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkc_fil_tdrn.asp
>
> --
> Michael Cecil
> http://home.comcast.net/~macecil/
>
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