Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

File size and file size on disk?

0 helpful
5 replies

by topesblues

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
This may be a no brainier. On Win 2000 Pro, when you select properties on folder to find out the file size it gives you "size" and "size on disk". What is the difference? I have a feeling the answer is obvious but I just don?t see it. Thanks in advance

5 replies

by thechas

If I understand this correctly;

The file size is the actual size of the file itself.
The size on disk is the total of the clusters taken up by the file.

If you have a 1500 byte file, and 1K clusters (1024)
The size on the disk will be 2048 (2 clusters)

by curlergirl

The file size is the actual size of the file, and the file size on disk is the actual amount of disk space being used by the file, taking into account cluster size and whether the file is compressed or not.

Hope this helps!

This discussion is closed to new replies.