A file allocation system for a hard disk drive includes a memory with
driver logic and a processor configured with the driver logic to receive
a request to allocate hard disk space of a defined size for a buffer
file. In some embodiments, the processor is configured with the driver
logic to allocate clusters for the buffer file from a plurality of
clusters on the hard disk, wherein the clusters for the buffer file store
media content instances. In some embodiments, the processor is configured
with the driver logic to designate a portion of the clusters of the
buffer file for at least one non-buffer file such that the non-buffer
file is permitted to share the portion of the clusters of the buffer file
with the buffer file.