BUGREPORT Xbox app on windows cant install games on partition which is not 4k cluster size!

Filip.fitom · Apr 3, 2022

Hello,

I dont understand this, xbox app is like only app i ever seen that is "checking" for cluster size of partition and accepts only partitions that are 4k...like whyyy

I have insider and xbox gaming preview joined so should have latest version - 2203.1001.4.0, 3.63.31001.0 (Gaming Services) , 5.722.3302.0 (Xbox Game Bar)

I did buy new WDC 18TB HDD drive about 2 months ago and xbox app gave me only frustration since then, took me a while to nail down problem to this puzzling cluster size requirement of NTFS partitions - which is NOWHERE documented (did not find single mention in xbox support articles that NTFS must be 4k, for some lame reason)

Very easy to reproduce:

Have any NTFS disk partition with any other cluster size than 4k and you wont see that drive letter in dropdown/install dialog where you select drives. Having enabled that "custom install folder" option (from insider/preview) has no impact here.

What is strange enough, you can see all drives in settings ->general -> game install options and in its dropdown you see ALL partitions. But selecting non4k has no effect, as game install will only allow you to choose from 4k partitions!

Also windows system setting "change where new content is saved" also doesnt have effect if you select "wrong" partition.

I tried many advices from internet but it is really about 4k cluster size

Before someone will try to give smart advice like, why dont you use "default" cluster size which is 4k , because I dont want to, there is no reason for app to be picky about it and more importantly 4K is no longer "default" with 16TB+ as per MS support article!

Sure there wont be many ppl with such drives but it is just lame coding practice on MS part, putting some arbitrary restrictions like this (yes most likely xbox does use 4k on its FS, but why even check/enforce it on PC?)

Now I'm stuck with keeping old drive in PC only due to xbox game app until MS sort out this stuff (if ever)

edit: could have add some pictures

:)

Kathy A.

Thanks for the reply, Filip.fitom.

We appreciate you have raised this feedback to the right team. Being an Insider actually gives you privilege to be prioritize by the team that will check the feedback to provide better improvement to any Microsoft app or services. A good to know information, we also have feedback option for Xbox app where you can follow the steps provided at the top.

Once again, we hope that this will be addressed in timely manner by the right team.

Kind regards,

Kathy A.

We appreciate your response and details you have shared, DerrickMcFall.

From what I can see, you are one of the Xbox Insider that has issues with the ongoing feature. However, based on the information you have provided you had a drive that is less than 4K cluster size allocated for saving of your downloaded games. Yours could be an isolated case, as I have another thread, which the OP mentioned this issue for the Insider's freedom to save to another drive (4K) is fixed after an update.

If you have the latest updates, and you are still experiencing this problem, it is crucial that as an Insider you submit a bug report through the Xbox app so that our teams can continue to investigate and fix the problem.

To submit a bug report from the Xbox app:

Navigate to the top right of the application and select your Gamer pic icon
Select "Feedback" in the drop-down menu
Select "Report a problem."
Click "Give new feedback."
Add [Xbox Forum] in "Summarize your feedback," followed by a feedback summary
The category should automatically be selected.

Once complete, post the title of the bug report along with the submission date in this thread.

Check and find more information on known issues and troubleshooting steps then be part of the Xbox Insiders Community - Xbox Insiders Subreddit!

Thanks again for helping us help the community!

Kind regards,

Kathy A.

Hi DerrickMcFall,

We have noticed that you have not responded to our last message. We would like to know whether the issue you have raised with us is still ongoing. If yes, please let us know so that we can continue our conversation.

Kind regards,

Filip.fitom

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for reply. Sadly this "feedback" functionality is a bit frustrating, because it requires to have diagnostic data enabled, without that the whole feedback hub is not letting you do anything...which is really not helpful.

So the report is now submitted (6.4.2022) , here is "share" link from the report https://aka.ms/AAgl2pp

tittle is, as you suggested: [Xbox Forum] BUGREPORT Xbox app on windows cant install games on partition which is not 4k cluster size!

one note: ignore telemetry data from that report item, I posted it from one of the testing VM which is win11, but my gaming PC is windows10 2004 19041.1415 which has telemetry disabled (so feedback hub doesnt work), but this is pure app problem, so i guess doesnt matter which OS it runs on.

DerrickMcFall

In the settings when I set the drive I want to install to (>4k cluster size) It either doesnt let me choose it when selecting a game or it simply looks like this:

where the drive option doesn't let you choose anything

BUGREPORT Xbox app on windows cant install games on partition which is not 4k cluster size!