Instructor: Prof. Michael P. Harris
Answers to Discussion Questions
Chapter 8
Organizing and Managing Your Hard Disk
Chapter 8
Organizing and Managing Your Hard Disk
ANSWERS TO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (pp. 429-430)
1.
Why would you want to organize a hard disk?
Organizing your hard disk is important to effectively keep track of your files. If your
disk is organized it becomes easier to know where to store a new file and allows you to
quickly access any file, as it is needed.
2.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of organizing a hard disk by
application program rather than by project?
In the business world it is usually better to organize your disk by project, as this is
the way most businesses operate. All files that belong to a specific project are grouped
together and it is then easier to locate and modify needed files for a specific project. In the
business world it is usually inefficient to organize a hard disk by application programs
because it becomes a repetition of subdirectory names and users must remember where they
placed their files and must key in long path names. It becomes difficult to add and delete
application programs and data files. If organization is done by project it is then much easier
to delete all files no longer needed for a completed project and to add a new project to your
organizational chart.
If you always use an application program’s default data directory when you save
and retrieve files, then organizing your hard disk around projects will not work for you.
In an educational environment, it may make more sense to organize by application
package. The focus is on teaching the package and organization around the application
package in this instance is logical.
However, you must recognize how you work and organize your hard disk
accordingly. There is no one right way to organize a disk.
3.
Why would you not want to place data files in the program subdirectory?
You do not want to place data files in a program subdirectory because it complicates
backups. Program files do not change, whereas data files are always changing as
information is added or deleted. Also, backing up data files is easier if the data files are
in their own directories. Further, distinguishing between program and data files becomes
more difficult as more files are added to the subdirectory.
4.
List five criteria that can be used for organizing a hard disk and explain the
rationale for each.
Answers will vary.
Suggested criteria – rationale may vary.
 Root directory – map to rest of disk (keep it clear of unnecessary files).
 Subdirectories (shallow and wide) - Short paths for files - may speed up disk access.
Carolyn Z. Gillay, Bette A. Peat, WUGXP Command Line
Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc. 2002 ©
Page 1
Instructor: Prof. Michael P. Harris
Answers to Discussion Questions
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5.
Chapter 8
Organizing and Managing Your Hard Disk
Plan organization before installing software - can change it later if you need to.
Do not place data files in program subdirectories. Data changes – Programs do not.
Better to have many small subdirectories with only a few files than a large
subdirectory with many files. - Easier to locate files.
Keep subdirectory names short and descriptive.
Create a separate subdirectory for batch files.
Create a UTILS (utilities) subdirectory.
Learn how to install programs.
Learn how to use application packages and how packages work.
Learn how application package works with subdirectories.
Analyze the way you work.
Analyze your environment.
What are two major considerations for any disk organizational scheme?
Major considerations for disk organizations are how you do your work (easiest way to
find work files) and how your programs work.
6.
What are some of the drawbacks of using the COPY command for
organizing your disk?
While COPY is a useful internal command some of its drawbacks include:
 It can only copy one file at a time (even when copying multiple files), so it is a slow
command.
 It is not possible to use this command to copy a subdirectory structure.
7.
Why is moving program files and renaming program directories not as safe
as moving data files and renaming data file directories?
MOVE is used to move files and rename directories as a means of manipulating
these files. You are not dealing with the context of the files.
Program files are installed in a location with a set up program. Upon installation,
Windows registers the program files, their names, and their location in the Registry. If
they are moved or renamed at the command prompt the Registry will not be able to find
them. In addition, files pertaining to the program are placed in many locations, which
create additional problems.
8.
What steps would you take to move a directory?
The MOVE command will move a directory and its files. However, in some cases you
will have to go back to the original directory and remove it, as MOVE will not delete the
directory.
9.
Why would you want to own utility programs that do not come with the
operating system?
Although the OS comes with many good utility programs it does not include every utility
program that is needed by the user. For example, PC Tools and Norton Utilities allow the
user to easily move subdirectory structures around but neither of these utilities comes
with the operating system.
Carolyn Z. Gillay, Bette A. Peat, WUGXP Command Line
Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc. 2002 ©
Page 2
Instructor: Prof. Michael P. Harris
Answers to Discussion Questions
10.
Chapter 8
Organizing and Managing Your Hard Disk
What is the function and purpose of the CHKDSK command?
The CHKDSK command supplies information about a specific disk. It searches drives for
errors and gives a statistical report on the integrity of the drives. It also determines
available space on a disk. It should be used frequently in order to ensure that the disk
remains in good condition and that there are no lost clusters.
11.
CHKDSK informs you of two types of errors. Explain.
CHKDSK will inform you of cross-linked files errors (two files claim the same sectors in
the FAT) and lost clusters errors (indicates sectors that have no directory entry and do not
belong to any file that the OS knows about).
12.
What is a lost cluster? A cross-linked file? What impact does either of
have on available disk space?
A lost cluster is a cluster on the disk which is marked as being used, but which is
not a part of any known file and has no entry in the root directory. Lost chains are made
up of these lost clusters. These lost clusters take up disk space and should usually be
removed.
A cross-linked file occurs when two files claim the same sectors in the File
Allocation Table (FAT). One of the files will be bad. Cross-linked files take up disk
space and the file that is bad should be removed.
13.
Give the syntax for CHKDSK and explain two parameters when used with
FAT volumes. With NTFS volumes.
CHKDSK [volume[[path]filename]] [/F][/V][/R][/X][/I][/C][/L[:size]]
Volume – specifies drive letter, mount point, or volume name.
Filename – FAT only – specifies files to check for fragmentation
/F – fixes disk errors
/V – On FAT/FAT32 displays full path & name of every file on disk.
/R – Locates bad sectors & recovers readable information (implies /F)
/L:size (NTFS only) – changes log file size to specified # of kilobytes – if size not
specified displays current size.
/X – forces volume to dismount first, if necessary. All opened handles to volume invalid
(implies /F).
/I - NTFS only – performs less vigorous check of index entries
/C - NTFS only – skips checking of cycles within the folder structure.
/I or /C switch reduces amount of time required to run CHKDSK by stripping certain
checks of volume.
Some parameters valid only with FAT file system.
Some parameters valid only with NTFS drives.
On hard disk need to have administrator privileges to run CHKDSK.
Carolyn Z. Gillay, Bette A. Peat, WUGXP Command Line
Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc. 2002 ©
Page 3
Instructor: Prof. Michael P. Harris
Answers to Discussion Questions
14.
Chapter 8
Organizing and Managing Your Hard Disk
What is verbose mode? Explain the use of the /V parameter with the
CHKDSK command with a FAT file system and an NTFS file system.
Using /V with the CHKDSK command on a FAT drive is know as running in
verbose mode. This parameter with the CHKDSK command gives the status report and
also lists every file on the disk, including hidden files.
Using /V with the CHKDSK command on a NTFS drive displays clean up
messages if there are any.
15.
Compare and contrast contiguous files with noncontiguous (fragmented)
files.
Contiguous files are files that are stored in adjacent sectors on the disk. Noncontiguous
files are those that are stored in non-adjacent sectors on the disk. The reason that you
need to be concerned about noncontiguous files is that they access much slower than
contiguous files.
16.
Why would you use the parameter of the file name with the CHKDSK
command?
You can use a specific filename with CHKDSK to find out if that file is fragmented.
17.
What is the purpose and function of the /F parameter when it is used with
the CHKDSK command, and under what circumstances would you use it?
The /F parameter is used with the CHKDSK command to repair logical disk
errors. It cannot be used when Windows XP Professional is running. However, you can
schedule CHKDSK /F to run when the computer starts up the next time. The utility will
run before most of the system loads. This process can take a long time. During this time
you will not have access to the disk you are repairing.
CHKDSK with /F and /R can be used on floppy disks and if you have multiple
hard disks you can run CHKDSK on a hard drive that is not the default drive.
/F repairs logical errors, and the /R is used to locate bad sectors and recover
readable information. Using /R implies /F/.
Second part answer will vary.
18.
Explain the function and purpose of disk-optimization programs.
Disk optimization programs are used to make a disk perform more efficiently. They do so
by defragmenting the existing files which means that they rewrite files so that each file is
stored in sequentially numbered clusters. In other words, all parts of the file are stored in
contiguous clusters. When files are contiguous, the computer’s performance is increased.
Carolyn Z. Gillay, Bette A. Peat, WUGXP Command Line
Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc. 2002 ©
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