[olug] Defragmenting VFAT from linux

[djalexander at cox.net]

> Well, if you can't find a defrag utility you can try the
> backup/reformat/reinstall option -- that will definately clean up the
> free/used table.

This is what I ended up doing, as I didn't want to resort to plugging 
it into a Windows machine (other than the one time I did this for 
testing purposes).

> I guess the big question then is can you re-format/re-install it 
> without
> having a Windows machine available to run their software...

The AV480 runs embedded Linux and contains all the code necessary to 
format the drive for use in it's firmware.  I have successfully 
connected it to Windows, Linux, and OSX without installing any extra 
software or drivers.  Heck, I can even partition the internal drive and 
put multiple filesystem types on them.  The internal OS won't read 
these other filesystems, but the machine the device is attached to can. 
  This makes it pretty useful as portable data transfer device.  I have 
a 5Gb ext3 partition on there that I use to lug my home directory 
around.

-Darren

On Mar 20, 2005, at 11:09 PM, Daniel Linder wrote:

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>
> <quote who="djalexander at cox.net">
>> Is anyone aware of a tool that will defragment a VFAT formatted USB
>> mass storage device in Linux?  Many of these devices, such as my 
>> Archos
>> V480 PVR have VFAT filesystems that become very fragmented after a
>> short time leading to performance degradation.
>
>
>
> I guess the big question then is can you re-format/re-install it 
> without
> having a Windows machine available to run their software...
>
> Dan
>
> - - - - -
> "I do not fear computer,
> I fear the lack of them."
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--
Darren Alexander
Unix System Administrator
Meridian, Inc.
4805 G. St.
Omaha, NE 68117
(402) 501-7510