Formatting NTFS

When using an NTFS volume for ObserveIT image store, the drive containing the images may become fragmented and reach a limit where no further file operation will be available. To avoid this condition, format the drive with support for large file size records.

  1. Connect to the computer acting as the ObserveIT file share.

  2. Open the Start menu and type in COMPMGMT.MSC. Press the Enter.

  3. In the Computer Management window, expand Storage , and click Disk Management.

  4. Find the new disk in the list. Usually, it is the only one with the status Offline.

  5. Right-click the disk and select Online.

  6. Right-click the disk again and select Initialize Disk.

  7. Click the GPT (GUID Partition Table) radio button and click OK.

  8. Right-click the partition and select.

  9. Click Next.Make sure maximum the values specified in the Maximum disk space in MB and Simple volume size in MB are equal. Click Next.

  10. Assign an appropriate drive letter. Click Next.

  11. Click the Format this volume with the following settings radio button and select NTFS.

  12. Set the Allocation unit size:

    • 4096 for image storage.
    • 64KB for SQL database.

  13. Assign an appropriate volume label at the Volume label field.

  14. Make sure Perform a quick format checkbox is checked.

  15. Click Next and review the settings. Click Finish.

  16. Click the Start menu and type in RUN.

  17. Type in CMD. Right-click the Command Prompt shortcut and click Run as administrator.

  18. If prompted Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device? click Yes.

  19. Type in the following command:

    format <driveletter>: /FS:NTFS /Q /X /L /A:4096

    where <driveletter> is the letter of the volume you specified

  20. If asked to specify current volume name, enter it and press Enter.

  21. At the Proceed with format prompt type in Y and press Enter.

  22. At the Volume label prompt enter a volume label, if required, and press Enter.

  23. At this point the volume is formatted correctly.

  24. Type EXIT and press Enter to exit the command prompt.