Disks and

Formatting

Ch 3 1
 Overview
The need for formatting
a disk will be discussed.

Ch 3 2
 Overview
The difference between
partitioning and formatting a
disk will be explained.

Ch 3 3
 Overview
The structure of a
disk will be described.

Ch 3 4
 Overview
Will learn to format a disk,
electronically label it, and
then how to change the label.

Ch 3 5
 Overview
Various file systems will be
compared and contrasted.

Ch 3 6
 Overview
Some of the parameters that can
be used with the FORMAT
command will be discussed and
then used with the FORMAT
command.

Ch 3 7
 Why Format a Disk?
Disks used for:
Permanent storage of data and
programs
Distributing data from one
computer to another
 Making copies
Ch 3 8
 Why Format a Disk?
Formatting (initializing) the disk:
 Process of preparing disk so that it
is compatible with an operating
system

Ch 3 9
Why Format a Disk?

All disks (including hard

disks) must be formatted.

Ch 3 10
 Partitioning and
Formatting Disks
Hard disks must be:
 Partitioned
 Formatted with file system

Ch 3 11
 Partitioning and
Formatting Disks
Partition terms:
 Primary partition
 Partition table
 Volume
 Active partition
 Extended partition
Ch 3 12
 Partitioning and
Formatting Disks
Dual booting system:
Create partition for each OS
Only one OS active at a time
Each OS formats disks in own way
 Precautions in running multiple OS

Ch 3 13
 Partitioning and
Formatting Disks
File system:
 Organizational scheme of OS
OS is what makes one computer
compatible with another

Ch 3 14
 Partitioning and
Formatting Disks
Windows XP Professional supports
four file systems:
 NTFS
 Three FAT file systems -
FAT12
 FAT16
 FAT32
Ch 3 15
 Partitioning and
Formatting Disks
Types of disk storage configuration:
 Basic disks
 Dynamic disks

Ch 3 16
 Structure of a Disk
Two parts to formatting a disk:
 Low-level (physical) formatting
 High level (logical) formatting

Ch 3 17
 Structure of a Disk
Low-level (physical) formatting:
 Sequentially numbers tracks and
sectors
 Identifies each track and sector
 Disk is physically prepared to
hold data

Ch 3 18
 Structure of a Disk
High-level (logical) formatting:
 Determines how OS uses a disk
 Builds structure to keep track of
location of files
 Done so files can be stored and
retrieved.

Ch 3 19
 Structure of a Disk

Windows XP Professional
monitors status of all
disk data sectors.

Ch 3 20
 Structure of a Disk
One or more sectors are
combined into logical units
called clusters or allocation
units.

Ch 3 21
 Structure of a Disk

Cluster (allocation unit):

 Smallest unit that OS can work
with

Ch 3 22
 Structure of a Disk
Cluster overhang:
 Wasted space on the disk.

Ch 3 23
 Structure of a Disk
Master Boot Record & Boot Sector

Master boot record (MBR):

 First part of hard disk
 Locates bootable partition of hard
disk and gives control over to it

Ch 3 24
 Structure of a Disk
Master Boot Record & Boot Sector

Boot sector:
 First sector on logical drive
 Has table of drive’s characteristics
 Has bootstrap loader program

Ch 3 25
 Structure of a Disk
Master Boot Record & Boot Sector

All disks (including non-system

disks) have a boot sector.

Ch 3 26
 Structure of a Disk
Master Boot Record & Boot Sector

FAT non-system error messages:

 Non-system disk or disk error
 Replace disk and press any key
when ready

Ch 3 27
 Structure of a Disk
Master Boot Record & Boot Sector

NTFS non-system error messages:

 Invalid partition table
 Error loading operating system
 Missing operating system

Ch 3 28
 Structure of a Disk
Master Boot Record & Boot Sector

Floppy disk non-system error messages:

 NTLDR is missing
 Press any key to restart

Ch 3 29
 Structure of a Disk
Master Boot Record & Boot Sector

Windows uses boot sector to

identify the type of disk.

Ch 3 30
 Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32

FAT’s formatting program creates:

 Boot record
 File Allocation Table (2 copies)
 Root directory

Ch 3 31
Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32
Fig 3.1 Logical Structure of a Disk p. 100

Ch 3 32
 Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32

 FAT is a map of disk’s data clusters.

 FAT number indicates status of
cluster.
 Numbers in FAT link clusters that
belong to same file

Ch 3 33
Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32
Table 3.1 Cluster Size and Disk Size p. 100

Ch 3 34
 Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32

FAT essential for:

 Managing data
 Following trail of clusters that
make up a file

Ch 3 35
 Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32

VFAT maintains
backwards compatibility and
accommodates long file names.

Ch 3 36
 Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32

FAT32:
 Enhancement of FAT file system
 Introduced to overcome
limitations of VFAT
 Does not apply to floppy drives

Ch 3 37
 Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32
Table 3.2 Comparison of FAT and FAT32 p. 101

Ch 3 38
 Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32
FAT32:
Movable Root Directory
 Can be located anywhere on hard disk
Can use backup copy of FAT
Internal backup copy of some critical
FAT data structures
Entries in Root Directory limited
Ch 3 39
 Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32

With smaller clusters:

 More clusters on partition
 FAT larger - store more data
 Takes longer to locate/access file

Ch 3 40
 Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32
With larger clusters:
 Table smaller
 Takes less time to locate/access file
 Increases wasted disk space from
cluster overhang

Ch 3 41
 Structure of a Disk
FAT16, VFAT & FAT32

 FAT32 is best for many small files.

 FAT is best for mostly large files.

Ch 3 42
 Structure of a Disk
The Root Directory

Root Directory:
 Table that records information
about each file on the disk

Ch 3 43
 Structure of a Disk
The Root Directory

Changes in root directory table

make Windows XP Professional
compatible with older Windows
and DOS programs.

Ch 3 44
 Structure of a Disk
FAT and the Root Directory

 Root directory tells what is on the

disk.
 FAT tells where data is on the disk.

Ch 3 45
 Structure of a Disk
FAT and the Root Directory

 Number in FAT points to next cluster

that holds data in file.

 EOF (end-of-file) marker indicates

there is no more data in file.

Ch 3 46
Structure of a Disk
FAT and the Root Directory
Fig 3.2 The Root Directory and FAT p. 103

Ch 3 47
 Structure of a Disk
Data Portion or the Files Area

 Largest part of disk is used for

storing files.

 Space is allocated to files on an as-

needed basis.

Ch 3 48
 Structure of a Disk
Data Portion or the Files Area

A file is written to a disk in:

 Contiguous clusters or
 Noncontiguous clusters.

Ch 3 49
Structure of a Disk
Understanding FAT & Root
Directory Table
Fig 3.3 Storing Files p. 105

Ch 3 50
 Structure of a Disk
NTFS

 File system used determines OS

advanced features available to user.

 For disk security, performance, and

efficiency use NTFS file system.

Ch 3 51
 Structure of a Disk
NTFS
Advantages of NTFS:
 Secure file system
 Efficient storage of data
 Faster file access
 Better data recovery
 Can compress files/assign disk quotas
 Encryption of files

Ch 3 52
 Structure of a Disk
Clusters and NTFS

NTFS:
Uses FAT cluster scheme for
allocating data.
Has less overhead.

Ch 3 53
Structure of a Disk
Clusters and NTFS
Table 3.3 NTFS Cluster Size p. 106

Ch 3 54
Structure of a Disk
Clusters and NTFS
Fig 3.4 Structure of an NTFS Volume p. 106

Ch 3 55
 Structure of a Disk
Master File Table (MFT)
Master File Table (MFT):
Database of all files in system
Used by NTFS to track all files
and directories in a volume
 Dynamic

Ch 3 56
 Structure of a Disk
Master File Table (MFT)

MFT is different from FAT.

Ch 3 57
 Structure of a Disk
Master File Table (MFT)
MFT:
 Adds security descriptor attribute to
file system
 Data in file considered to be
attribute of file
 Allows fast access to files
 Eliminates file fragmentation
Ch 3 58
 Structure of a Disk
Master File Table (MFT)
MFT:
 Attribute stored in MFT considered
resident attribute
 Any resident forced out to an extent is
nonresident attribute

Ch 3 59
 Structure of a Disk
Master File Table (MFT)
Folders treated as files in NTFS:
 Small folder - Index Root attribute
 Folder entries will fit into MFT -
new extent nonresident attribute
called index buffer

Ch 3 60
 Structure of a Disk
Deciding on a File System

Formatting:
 Floppy disk - always FAT file
system
 Hard disk - you decide

Ch 3 61
 Structure of a Disk
Deciding on a File System

 Can convert FAT to FAT32/NTFS

 Cannot convert FAT32/NTFS to

FAT

Ch 3 62
 Clarifying Procedures
Procedural assumptions:
 System utility files subdirectory
 Type of disk
 Lab procedures

Ch 3 63
 Activity—Formatting a
Floppy Disk
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Function of screen prompt
 Internal vs. external commands
 Result of keying in FORMAT C:
 Using the FORMAT command
Unique serial number used for disk
identification by application programs.
Ch 3 64
 Formatting a Disk with a
Volume Label
FORMAT command parameters:
 FORMAT volume [/FS:file-system]
[/V:label] [/Q] [A:size] [/C] [/X]
 FORMAT volume [/V:label] [/Q]
[/F:size]

Ch 3 65
 Formatting a Disk with a
Volume Label
FORMAT command parameters:
 FORMAT volume [/V:label] [/Q]
[/T:tracks /N:sectors]
 FORMAT volume [/V:label] [/Q]
 FORMAT volume [/Q]

Ch 3 66
 Formatting a Disk with a
Volume Label
Basic syntax of FORMAT command:
FORMAT volume [/V:label] [/Q]

Ch 3 67
 Formatting a Disk with a
Volume Label
/F size parameter:
 Easy way to format floppy disks that
do not match capacity of a floppy disk
drive

Ch 3 68
 Formatting a Disk with a
Volume Label

 Volume label is electronic name.

 Partial command diagram

FORMAT A: /V[:label]
 No spaces between colon and label

Ch 3 69
 Activity—Using the /V
Option
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Purpose/function of VOL command
 Need of descriptive volume label
 Two ways to display volume label
 [drive:] - variable parameter

Ch 3 70
 The LABEL Command

LABEL command:
 External command
 Used to change volume label
without reformatting disk

Ch 3 71
 The LABEL Command

Partial syntax:
 LABEL [drive:] [label]

Ch 3 72
 The LABEL Command

LABEL (external) command:

 Used to change volume label

VOLUME (internal) command:

 Used to see volume label

Ch 3 73
 Activity—Using the Label
Command
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Importance of including A: parameter
 Deleting volume label on disk
 Placing volume label on disk
 Use of spaces in LABEL and
VOLUME commands
Ch 3 74
 Formatting a Disk using
the /Q Parameter
/Q parameter:
 Fast way to clear previously
formatted disks
 Works like usual FORMAT
command
Skips low level formatting
 Clears FAT and root directory
 Does not check for bad sectors
Ch 3 75
 Activity—Using the /Q
Parameter
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Reason /Q parameter can be used
 Eliminate previous volume label when
formatting disk

Ch 3 76