Run Commands for Windows

 🖥️ CPL Files (Control Panel Applets)

Run via Win + R → filename.cpl

Command	Opens
appwiz.cpl	Programs & Features (Add/Remove Programs)
desk.cpl	Display / Screen Resolution settings
inetcpl.cpl	Internet Options
ncpa.cpl	Network Connections
powercfg.cpl	Power Options
sysdm.cpl	System Properties
timedate.cpl	Date & Time
firewall.cpl	Windows Firewall
hdwwiz.cpl	Device Manager
joy.cpl	Game Controllers
mmsys.cpl	Sound settings
nusrmgr.cpl	User Accounts (older Windows)
telephon.cpl	Phone & Modem
wscui.cpl	Security Center (older Windows)

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🛠️ MSC Files (MMC Snap-ins)

Run via Win + R → filename.msc

Command	Opens
compmgmt.msc	Computer Management
devmgmt.msc	Device Manager
diskmgmt.msc	Disk Management
eventvwr.msc	Event Viewer
gpedit.msc	Local Group Policy Editor (Pro/Enterprise only)
lusrmgr.msc	Local Users and Groups
perfmon.msc	Performance Monitor
secpol.msc	Local Security Policy
services.msc	Services Manager
taskschd.msc	Task Scheduler
fsmgmt.msc	Shared Folders
certmgr.msc	Certificates Manager
printmanagement.msc	Printer Management
rsop.msc	Resultant Set of Policy
wf.msc	Advanced Firewall

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⚡ Other Handy Run Commands

Not strictly CPL/MSC, but useful:

Command	Opens
msconfig	System Configuration
regedit	Registry Editor
cmd	Command Prompt
powershell	PowerShell
control	Classic Control Panel
dxdiag	DirectX Diagnostic Tool
resmon	Resource Monitor
taskmgr	Task Manager
explorer	File Explorer
notepad	Notepad
calc	Calculator

 

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Cluster size in Disk/SSD/Memory Storage/USB Disks

Cluster size (also called allocation unit size) in NTFS (or any filesystem) defines the smallest chunk of disk space used to store a file.

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📌 What is Cluster Size?

• If cluster size = 4 KB → even a 1 KB file will occupy 4 KB.
• If cluster size = 64 KB → even a 1 KB file will occupy 64 KB.

So:
👉 Smaller cluster size = less wasted space, but more overhead.
👉 Larger cluster size = better for large files, but wastes space with many small files.

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📊 Common NTFS Cluster Sizes

Cluster Size	Best For	Pros	Cons
4 KB (default)	General use (Windows OS, mixed files)	Standard, good balance, least wasted space	Slightly more overhead on huge files
8 KB – 16 KB	Media servers, apps with medium–large files	Less fragmentation, faster access on large files	Wastes more space on many small files
32 KB – 64 KB	Large ISO files, VMs, databases, video editing	Best performance on big sequential reads/writes	Huge wasted space on small files, not good for OS/system drives

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📌 Effects of Different Choices

1. Disk Usage Efficiency (Wasted Space)
• With small clusters (4K) → better efficiency for lots of small files.
• With large clusters (64K) → a folder with many tiny files wastes tons of space.
2. Performance
• Larger clusters = faster for large file access (e.g., copying ISO, movies).
• Smaller clusters = faster when handling many small files (system files, code projects).
3. Fragmentation
• Larger cluster size = less fragmentation (big chunks).
• Smaller clusters fragment more easily if files grow.
4. Compatibility
• Windows boot/system partitions usually require 4K clusters.
• Some apps (like SQL Server) can benefit from 64K clusters.

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✅ Recommendation

• System / OS drives → 4 KB (default)
• General-purpose storage (mixed small & large files) → 4 KB (default)
• Media/Backup drives (big files, ISOs, movies, VMs) → 64 KB cluster size
• Database / VM storage → 64 KB (if app supports it)

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⚠️ Important: Once you format with a certain cluster size, you can’t change it without reformatting.

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How much space you’d waste on your USB (say 64 GB) if you choose 4K vs 64K clusters with small files:

📊 Example Scenario

• Drive size: 64 GB ≈ 68,719,476 KB (roughly)
• File set: 10,000 files of 1 KB each (like configs, text, logs)
• File set #2: 50 large ISO files of 2 GB each

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🔹 Case 1: Small files (10,000 × 1 KB)

• Cluster size = 4 KB
• Each file takes at least 4 KB →
• 10,000 × 4 KB = 40,000 KB used (~39 MB)
• Actual data = 10,000 KB (~10 MB)
• Waste = 30 MB
• Cluster size = 64 KB
• Each file takes at least 64 KB →
• 10,000 × 64 KB = 640,000 KB (~625 MB)
• Actual data = 10,000 KB (~10 MB)
• Waste = 615 MB

⚠️ So with small files, 64 KB clusters waste ~20× more space than 4 KB.

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🔹 Case 2: Large files (50 × 2 GB ISOs)

• Cluster size = 4 KB
• Each 2 GB file = 2,097,152 KB
• Divide by 4 KB clusters = 524,288 clusters per file
• Total clusters = 26 million+ (huge overhead in cluster tracking).
• Performance slightly slower.
• Cluster size = 64 KB
• Each 2 GB file = 2,097,152 KB
• Divide by 64 KB clusters = 32,768 clusters per file
• Total clusters = ~1.6 million (much fewer).
• Faster access & less fragmentation.
• Wasted space per file = up to 63 KB max (negligible vs file size).

⚡ With large files, 64 KB clusters are much better — less metadata, faster reads/writes.

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✅ Takeaway

• If you have many small files → choose 4 KB cluster size (saves space).
• If you mainly store large files (ISOs, VMs, backups) → choose 64 KB cluster size (better speed, almost no waste).
• For general use (USB, external HDD/SSD) → stick with 4 KB (default) unless you’re sure it’s only for big files.

 

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