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copy policy to prevent fragmentation

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:58 am
by eadmaster
Hi, i'm thinking about using a stack-like (LIFO) copy policy to prevent fragmentation on the SD:
1. format the SD
2. copy game A
3. copy game B
4. copy game C
etc., until the space is filled

later, if you need some free space always delete the latest games copied in reverse order.
(you better keep a list on a txt file to remember the copy order)

questions:
- Will this policy serve the purpose of preventing fragmentation?
- Can you suggest a better algorithm?

Re: copy policy to prevent fragmentation

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:16 am
by roubagalinhas
if you copy one game at a time it will eventually get fragmented, i've already tried that

just copy them all at once

Re: copy policy to prevent fragmentation

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:18 am
by emu_kidid
32gb card can fit about 40+ games (shrunk/etc), why ever copy again? ;)

Re: copy policy to prevent fragmentation

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:46 am
by liquitt
eadmaster wrote:questions:
- Will this policy serve the purpose of preventing fragmentation?
- Can you suggest a better algorithm?
no and no.
the problem is in the filesystem and/or operating system itself so there's really no way to stop files from fragmentation. if you really want to have a go at this, you should start at the swiss source, not the other side ;)

Re: copy policy to prevent fragmentation

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:05 am
by eadmaster
uhm, maybe flash memory is different because of wear leveling.

So, the only "safe" way would be doing a clean format each time?

Re: copy policy to prevent fragmentation

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:11 am
by liquitt
i don't think that you need a format every time you change the games. might be for flash memory but with HDD you sure don't need to, because i never did