[Discussion] DOS Critical Error

[Dave Yeo]

On Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:55:53 -0400 (EDT), Carl Gehr wrote:

>>>Hi Carl,
>>>
>>>Fat 16 has a Max. size of 2 GB. 

Actually NT used to be able to create a 4 GB partition. Huge clusters
so lots of lost space.

>
>...and because I don't think DOS understands other than FAT16, I think
>this may support my argument.  But, now I think we need to wait for
>some answers from Brian.

DOS may have a 4 GB limit due to using 32 bits for calculating things
in the file system. A lot of installer programs and regular programs
use signed 32 bit which overflows at 2 GB. This gives the affect that
most DOS programs screw up when the disk size or free space is over 2
or 4 GBs.
Doing a DOS directory on a 62 GB partition with 26 GBs free gives.
...
 3,226,680,450 bytes in 20 files and 3 dirs    3,227,058,176 bytes
allocated
 2,147,450,880 bytes free

Same from an OS/2 prompt
...
       29 file(s) 23077436 K bytes used
                  27528224 K bytes free

The miss matched file number is due to some files over 2 GB
Dave