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S.e since Windows Vista, the Windows setup routine has to format the system partition with NTFS so that the partition or drive C: is an “NTFS drive”. Technically opposite NTFS is obsolete, FAT32: This limits the maximum file size to 4 gigabytes. With NTFS, files can be larger, and – in contrast to FAT32 – the master file table is used here. This allocation table remembers which file is stored where: It links logical storage addresses (paths in the NTFS file system, storage locations) of files with their physical storage locations on the hard disk. In this way, the PC knows which file it can find where when the user accesses it. Windows stores files up to 1,500 bytes in the MFT. There is also a Windows MFT for SSDs, SSDs also have something similar up their sleeve: the FTL. thanks F.lash Translation L.ayer knows a flash drive which file is stored where. The concept is reminiscent of the MFT, but the FTL is not quite comparable with it.
If you are interested in file systems, you will find further information in the article linked below. Incidentally, MFT is not just MFT: The Windows abbreviation stands for something different from that of cameras (there are Micro Four Thirds lenses).
»File systems under Windows: This is how you have your storage media under control
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MFT (M.aster File Table) means translated master file table; it is of fundamental importance. The article applies to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 20H2 (October 2020 Update).
Free software for Windows MFT:
»Recuva – usually reliably restores deleted files *
»Everything – Fast, Lean Desktop Search Engine *
»UltraSearch – fast desktop search engine including file content search *
»Smart Defrag – defragmentation program, TRIM and MFT support *
»PrivaZer – (portable) privacy tool including MFT cleanup
»Sysinternals Suite – shows system information such as the MFT size *
»Ashampoo WinOptimizer 17 – under” Customize Windows> Tweaking> Drives> MFT “you can adjust the reserved MFT size, for which the options” Reserve little storage space (standard) “,” Reserve medium amount of storage space “,” Large amount of Reserve space “and” Reserve maximum amount of space “there. As a rule, an intervention is not necessary here. The technical term for this tweak (setting change) is MFT zone (size).
Depending on which setting is active, the Ashampoo full version intervenes in the registry: under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE System CurrentControlSet Control FileSystem under the entry NtfsMftZoneReservation. In the second setting, the DWORD entry value is 2, in the third setting 3 and in the fourth 4. The values correspond to a certain percentage of the storage space: 1 stands for 12.5 percent, 2 for 25 percent, 3 for 37.5 Percent and 4 for 45 percent.
* Programs marked with an asterisk are described in more detail below.
Which Windows version to buy?
MFT: what is it? Master file table explained
According to Microsoft documentation there is at least one entry in the MFT for each file, including for the MFT itself. All information on a file, including size, time and date stamp, authorizations and data content, is stored in MFT entries or in an area outside the MFT, describe the MFT entries. When new files are saved, new associated entries are created in the MFT. The reverse is not true: if you delete a file, the system marks its MFT entries as free; the size of the master file table is not reduced. The storage space reserved for the MFT is also called the MFT zone. Microsoft points out that the MFT can be defragmented – interesting, as the company rarely expresses itself on optimization measures and when it does, it is more skeptical.
The MFT is jointly responsible for ensuring that you can move files at lightning speed: If you move a file on the same partition into another folder, it is done in no time at all. Because Windows does not have to recreate the content, it just has to adapt the MFT (“bend the path”). It behaves differently when moving a file to another partition: The file also disappears at the original location, but it is slower to create it again. Copying files from one partition to another (and duplicating them within the same partition) is also slow; the MFT trick doesn’t work here.