Chapter Six. Cont.

…
Logical Formatting…
Logical formatting

• Logical formatting places a file system on the disk, allowing an

operating system (such as DOS, OS/2, Windows, or Linux) to use the
available disk space to store and retrieve files
• file system is the overall structure an OS uses to name, store, and
organize files on a drive.
Understanding Partitions
• After a disk has been physically formatted, it can be divided into
separate physical sections or partitions
• Each partition functions as an individual unit, and can be logically
formatted with any desired file system
• Once a disk partition has been logically formatted, it is referred to as a
volume
• As part of the formatting operation, you are asked to give the
partition a name, called the “volume label.” This name helps you
easily identify the volume
Why Use Multiple Partitions?
• Helps you install more than one OS on your hard disk
• Make the most efficient use of your available disk space
• Make your files as secure as possible
• Physically separate data so that it is easy to find files and back up data
Partition types
• There are three kinds of partitions: primary, extended, and logical
• Primary and extended partitions are the main disk divisions
• One hard disk may contain up to four primary partitions, or three
primary partitions and one extended partition.
• The extended partition can then be further divided into any number
of logical partitions
Primary partition
• A primary partition may contain an operating system along with any
number of data files (for example, program files or user files).
• Before an OS is installed, the primary partition must be logically
formatted with a file system compatible to the OS.
• If you have multiple primary partitions on your hard disk, only one
primary partition may be visible and active at a time.
• The active partition is the partition from which an OS is booted at
computer startup
Extended partition
• An extended partition is essentially a container in which you can
further physically divide your disk space by creating an unlimited
number of logical partitions
• An extended partition does not directly hold data. You must create
logical partitions within the extended partition in order to store data.
• Once created, logical partitions must be logically formatted, but each
can use a different file system
Logical partitions
• Logical partitions can exist only within an extended partition and are
meant to contain only data files and OSs that can be booted from a
logical partition
• You can access logical partition files from multiple Oss
• When you create multiple primary partitions to hold different
operating systems, you must tell the computer which primary
partition to boot from.
• The primary partition from which the computer boots is called the
active partition.
• If there is no active primary partition on the first physical hard disk,
your computer will not be able to boot from your hard disk.
• Bootable partitions are logically formatted and have the necessary OS
files installed
• Partitions without an OS cannot be booted
• Magnetic hard drives have drive motors designed to spin magnetic
platters and move the drive heads.
• Solid state drives (SSDs) do not have moving parts, which results in
faster access to data, higher reliability, and reduced power usage
Internal Cables
• Internal power cables (Molex and Berg) connect drives and fans to the
motherboard
• Front panel cables connect the case
buttons and lights to the motherboard
• Data cables connect drives to
the drive controller
• PATA (IDE) data cable
• PATA (EIDE) data cable
• SATA data cable
• eSATA data cable
• SCSI data cable
Summary
• Hard disks are Magnetic disks with rigid metal or glass platters covered
with magnetic recording material to store data
• Disk surface is logically divided into tracks, which are subdivided into
sectors.
• The disk controller determines the logical interaction between the device
and the computer Hard Disk
• Track: The area in which data and information are stored on magnetic tape or disk.
• Sector: A subdivision of a track on a magnetic disk; used to improve access to data
or information.
• Cylinder: A storage concept that refers to the same track location on each of the
platters.
• Head Crash: The situation that occurs when the read/write heads that normally
float close to disk’s surface actually touching the surface
Cont...
• Hard disk must be formatted before installing in to our computer
• Two types of formatting
• Physical (by manufacturer)
• Called low level formatting
• DIVIDES the disk in to tracks and sectors…
• Logical.
• High level formatting(operating system formatting)
• To put(allocate) file system on the disk…
• The first sector at the beginning of a hard drive contains Master Boot Record
(MBR)
• Firmware on a circuit board inside the drive housing is responsible for
writing and reading data to these tracks and sectors and for keeping
track of where everything is stored on the drive
! Close your exercise book!
! Clear Your Environment From
any cheat paper!

! Take the Following …!!!!

Quiz 2. Answer the following
questions (10 %)
1. What are the basic components of Hard Disk? (1 pt.) List and
discuss briefly the function of each component. (3 pt.) You must
discuss all if any (total 4 pt.)
2. Define/discuss the terms Track, sector and Cylinder on HD? (3 pt.)
3. List and discuss briefly the two forms of HD Formatting types (3 pt.)