NTFS and FAT File Systems
There are many possible ways to arrange the information, programs, and data that we store on our computer hard drives. The system of collecting information together in “files” which in turn are grouped in “directories” or “folders” provides a method for naming and addressing information that is well-known to most PC users. But the mechanics of how the information is actually placed on the hard drive and retrieved is not something most of us ever think about. However, with the arrival of Windows XP and its file system, NTFS 3.1 the time has come when this apparently mysterious subject should not be ignored. PC users who are altering over to XP from Windows 9X/Me should be aware that NTFS has characteristics different to most home PC users, whose systems employ a different file system called FAT (File Allocation Table). Those upgrading an older computer to Windows XP will face the decision of which file system to use. Those who buy a new computer with XP will almost definitely have NTFS already installed. In either event some knowledge of the workings of the file systems would seem attractive even for the average PC user. I don’t pretend to be a specialist on file system architecture but in this article I will outline some of the characteristics of the two different file systems, FAT and NTFS, and their pros and cons.
How to organize disk
Before discussing some of the issues it is necessary to outline briefly some basics about the way disks are organized. Before a physical medium such as a disk can store data it must be put into a state working by the computer operating system. In order for the system to be able to systematically allocate information to disk space, disks are divided up into sectors. Low-level formatting assigns 512 bytes to each sector. These sectors in turn are grouped into clusters (sometimes called “allocation units” by Microsoft) by the operating system. All clusters are given the same size during a high-level format and typically run from 2 to 16 sectors. Each file then occupies one or more of these clusters. The cluster size depends on the operating system and several variables, including the size of the hard disk or its partitions, and is a key factor in determining operating system efficiency and speed.
In addition to the area where files for data and programs are stored, there are several other distinct areas set aside on the disk for basic system operations. Without going into the violent details, which depend on the particular operating system, there is an area (or areas) for boot processes and an area (or areas) providing information on the physical location and the properties of the data and program files. After the BIOS are finished at bootup, the boot area(s) provide the means for continuing the computer startup process and for loading the operating system. Each operating system carries this out in its own different way. Each operating system also has its own particular way of storing information about the attributes and actual physical location of individual files. When the computer operation requires a specific file for some purpose, it is this file information that allows the system to find and load that file from disk into RAM for processing.
There are many possible ways to arrange the information, programs, and data that we store on our computer hard drives. The system of collecting information together in “files” which in turn are grouped in “directories” or “folders” provides a method for naming and addressing information that is well-known to most PC users. But the mechanics of how the information is actually placed on the hard drive and retrieved is not something most of us ever think about. However, with the arrival of Windows XP and its file system, NTFS 3.1 the time has come when this apparently mysterious subject should not be ignored. PC users who are altering over to XP from Windows 9X/Me should be aware that NTFS has characteristics different to most home PC users, whose systems employ a different file system called FAT (File Allocation Table). Those upgrading an older computer to Windows XP will face the decision of which file system to use. Those who buy a new computer with XP will almost definitely have NTFS already installed. In either event some knowledge of the workings of the file systems would seem attractive even for the average PC user. I don’t pretend to be a specialist on file system architecture but in this article I will outline some of the characteristics of the two different file systems, FAT and NTFS, and their pros and cons.
How to organize disk
Before discussing some of the issues it is necessary to outline briefly some basics about the way disks are organized. Before a physical medium such as a disk can store data it must be put into a state working by the computer operating system. In order for the system to be able to systematically allocate information to disk space, disks are divided up into sectors. Low-level formatting assigns 512 bytes to each sector. These sectors in turn are grouped into clusters (sometimes called “allocation units” by Microsoft) by the operating system. All clusters are given the same size during a high-level format and typically run from 2 to 16 sectors. Each file then occupies one or more of these clusters. The cluster size depends on the operating system and several variables, including the size of the hard disk or its partitions, and is a key factor in determining operating system efficiency and speed.
In addition to the area where files for data and programs are stored, there are several other distinct areas set aside on the disk for basic system operations. Without going into the violent details, which depend on the particular operating system, there is an area (or areas) for boot processes and an area (or areas) providing information on the physical location and the properties of the data and program files. After the BIOS are finished at bootup, the boot area(s) provide the means for continuing the computer startup process and for loading the operating system. Each operating system carries this out in its own different way. Each operating system also has its own particular way of storing information about the attributes and actual physical location of individual files. When the computer operation requires a specific file for some purpose, it is this file information that allows the system to find and load that file from disk into RAM for processing.
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