Instructor: Prof. Michael P Harris
ITSC 1405 – Intro to PC Operating Systems
Chapter 3
Disks & Formatting
1. Explain the need for formatting disks.
2. Describe the structure of a disk.
3. Name and explain the purpose of each section of a disk.
4. Define formatting.
5. Explain the difference between internal and external commands.
6. List and explain the steps in formatting a floppy disk.
7.
Explain the purpose and function of the /Q and other parameters used with the
FORMAT command.
1. Format a floppy disk.
2. Use the LABEL command to change the volume label on a disk.
3. View the current volume label using the VOL command.
4.
Use /Q parameter to format a disk.
1.
Floppy disks that are purchased are sometimes not ready to use. They must first be prepared for use.
2.
Each type of computer has its own specific way of recording information on a disk.
This text is only concerned with Windows-based computers.
3.
Disks are the means to store data and programs permanently (until changed).
4.
All disks must be formatted by a utility program stored as a file called FORMAT.COM
so that data and programs can be read from and written to them.
5.
Disks that have information on them can be formatted (erased) and used again.
6.
If a disk has files on it, formatting the disk will remove all of those files.
7.
Since the FORMAT command removes all data, formatting a hard disk can be dangerous.
8.
Formatting a disk means that the physical layout of the disk is defined to determine how the information is stored on the disk so that the OS can locate what is stored.
9.
Each operating system has a unique way of recording information on a disk. This is known as a file system.
10.
The OS uses sections of a disk, whether it is a hard disk or a floppy disk. A disk is divided into concentric circles called tracks. Each track is divided into sectors. The number of tracks, sectors, and sides of a disk determine the capacity of the disk.
Carolyn Z. Gillay, Bette A. Peat, Windows XP Command Line
Franklin, Beedle & Associates ©2003 ISBN: 1-887902-82-1 Page 1

Instructor: Prof. Michael P Harris
ITSC 1405 – Intro to PC Operating Systems
Chapter 3
Disks & Formatting
11.
The two major types of file systems Windows XP Pro supports are FAT and NTFS.
12.
All floppy disks are formatted as FAT file systems.
13.
The smallest unit that the operating system will read from or write to is a cluster. A cluster is made up of one or more adjacent sectors, depending on the type of disk.
14.
FAT disks have a root directory and two copies of the file allocation table (FAT).
15.
All disks formatted FAT have a boot record, FAT, directory, and data sectors.
16.
All FAT-formatted disks use the file allocation table. The FAT is a map of every track and sector on the disk. The FAT tells the OS where files are on the disk. The
FAT links a file together by pointing to the next cluster of the file’s data.
17.
On a FAT-formatted disk, the root directory has information about files including the file name and the file’s starting cluster entry in the FAT.
18.
The data sectors are where files are actually stored.
19.
Files are chains of bytes (clusters) laid out in sequence.
20.
NTFS is the preferred file system for Windows XP Professional.
21.
Major advantages of using NTFS include that it is a secure file system that provides more efficient storage of data on hard disks and faster access to files and folders.
22.
Instead of using a FAT, NTFS uses a Master File Table (MFT) that tracks all the files and directories in a volume. The MFT is a database of all the files on the system.
23.
Files are written to a disk in the first available cluster and, if possible, in adjacent or
contiguous clusters. If the adjacent clusters are already in use, the OS skips to the next available noncontiguous cluster and records the links in the FAT or MFT.
24.
A disk is formatted with the FORMAT command, an external utility program.
25.
The basic syntax of the FORMAT command is:
FORMAT volume: [/V:label] [/Q] [/F:size]
26.
The internal VOL command allows you to view the internal (disk) volume label.
27.
The external LABEL command allows you to change the internal volume label.
28.
The /Q parameter performs a quick format that does not check for bad sectors on a disk. In addition, it can be used only on a disk that has been previously formatted.
active partition allocation unit bad sectors basic disk boot sector cluster cluster overhang contiguous downward compatibility dynamic disk end-of-file (EOF) marker extended partition extent file allocation table (FAT) file system formatting high-level formatting initializing the disk logical formatting low-level formatting master boot record (MBR) master file table (MFT) noncontiguous
NT File System (NTFS) partition partition table physical formatting primary partition run virtual FAT (VFAT) volume label volume serial number
Carolyn Z. Gillay, Bette A. Peat, Windows XP Command Line
Franklin, Beedle & Associates ©2003 ISBN: 1-887902-82-1 Page 2