VC++ 6.0 larger exe files explained

[Bill Tutt]

> From: Gordon McMillan [mailto:gmcm at hypernet.com]
> 
> 
> Robin Becker wrote:
> > <rant>
> > As part of the Wintel push to take over the world it seems as though
> > VC++ 6.0 will now only generate files with sections 0x1000 (4k) or
> > longer. Under 5.0 and before the linker would allow much smaller exe
> > file sections. So python.exe which used to be 5k becomes 20k.
> > Needless to say this should also apply to dll's etc and appears to
> > offer no obvious advantage. Bill has never been other than cavalier
> > with our space time resources. </rant>
> 
> Ay yi yi. The whole PE header is full of convolutions so the loader 
> can take a packed disk image and align the sections on the fly.
> 
> I guess this "feature" designed to "optimize" load time. Or maybe MS 
> has been investing in drive manufacturers...
> 

I believe this is indeed the case. (optimizing load time, and not the drive
manufacturer bit...) I vaguely recall this having something to do with Win98
and FAT32, and it not making much difference for NTFS for other reasons.
Unfortunately I can't seem to find the exact details atm. Blech.

Bill