Disk Formatting
1
Company Confidential
Disk Formatting
• Two formatting procedures required before you
can write user data to a disk
– Physical or low-level formatting
– Logical or high-level formatting
Steps for storing data
• 1. Low-Level Formatting – Manufacturer
Low-level formatting is the process of outlining the positions
of the tracks and sectors on the hard disk, and writing the
control structures that define where the tracks and sectors
are. This is often called a "true" formatting operation,
because it really creates the physical format that defines
where the data is stored on the disk.
Low-Level Formatting
• This is the basic setup of the disk layout
• Dividing the disks tracks into a specific amount of
sectors
• Creating header & trailer information
• Lays basic ground work of the formatting
High-Level Formatting
• High-level formatting is the process of writing the file
system structures on the disk that let the disk be used for
storing programs and data.
• OS writes the structures necessary for managing files &
data on the disk
Partitioning
• Creating a partition on a hard drive enables it to support
separate file systems, each in its own partition
• Each file system can then use its own method to allocate
file space in logical units called clusters or allocation
units
Common file systems used by OS
• FAT 16 (File Allocation table 16-bit)
• FAT 32 (File Allocation Table 32-bit)
• NTFS (NT File System)
Data structures
• Enable OS to:
• Manage the space on the disk
• Keep track of files
• Manage defective
problems
areas
so
they
don’t
cause
High-level formatting
• Creating of the “table of contents”
• Low-level formatting is the physical formatting of the
drive
File systems
• In this section, it is important to differentiate between the
FAT file system and the file allocation table (FAT).
• FAT is the name of the file system used by DOS
operating systems (DOS and Windows 95, as well as
Windows NT and OS/2 which support it).
• Operating system Associated file system DOS
FAT16Windows XPNTFS Windows 98 FAT32Windows
95FAT16 - FAT32 (for version OSR2)Windows
NTNTFSOS/2HPFSLinuxLinux Ext2, Linux Ext3
Master Boot Record or MBR
• The boot sector (called the Master Boot Record or
MBR) is the first sector of a hard drive (cylinder 0, head
0, sector 1), it contains the main partition table and the
code, called the boot loader, which, when loaded into
memory, will allow the system to boot up.
The Expanding Windows Family
Windows 9x
Windows 2000 series
Windows XP
Microsoft Windows 98
• Introduced in 1998
• The first version of Windows to take advantage of Plug
and Play technology ( H/W meeting the plug and play
requirements is automatically detected and configured by
the O.S after installation)
• Introduced a new generation of support tools
(maintenance wizard that allows users to schedule
automatic execution of disk defragmentation and other
routine)
• Closely integrated the browser for the Internet with the
operating system (OS)
Microsoft Windows Millennium
Edition (Me)
• Introduced in the third quarter of 2000
• Designed for home and general office use
• It continuous the trend in windows development toward
improved ease of use, ease of maintenance, and support
for the newest PC H/W.
• Closely linked to the Internet
• Includes several new features and improvements ,
• Hardware requirements geared to the typical home PC
• Can be installed by the average end user.
Microsoft Windows NT
• OS designed for power users
( using computers for scientific and
technical applications)
• Has a completely different OS than Windows 9x
( faster
performance, advanced security, ability to operate with a number of different
processor families).
• Available in Workstation and several Server editions
• Microsoft Windows NT 3.1 released in 1993 and
Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 in 1995
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 released in 1996;
incorporated an interface very similar to that of Windows
95
Microsoft Windows 2000
• successor to Windows NT
• Windows 2000 combines the best of windows 98 and
windows NT.
• It offers and extends the multiprocessor support ,
advanced security and administration tools, NTFS file
system.
• Family of four products:
– Windows 2000 Professional
– Windows 2000 Server
– Windows 2000 Advanced Server
– Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Windows 2000 Professional:
- the desktop version of the this O.S
- designed for the single user.
- It Supports dual CPU.
- NTFS5 support.
NTFS5
Windows 2000 server:
- replacing windows NT server.
- it extends SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) to 4 CPU’s per
machine.
- It adds support for active directory service.
(check the website)
- It offers file, print and web services in networks.
Windows 2000 Datacenter server:
- The most advanced networking
platform
offered
by
Microsoft.
- designed for large data warehouse,
advanced scientific and engineering
applications .
System Requirements Compared
System Configuration
Considerations
• The amount of random access memory (RAM) and
processing power needed depend on the system usage.
• A graphics adapter and RAM improves the display
performance.
• You need sufficient hard disk drive space for the OS,
applications, and upgrades.
Plan the Installation
• Windows 98 and Windows 2000 have automated setup
programs.
• You should follow a checklist during setup for optimal
results.
• Installation is complete when the system is tune (song),
all hardware is working, and applications are ready to
use.
Installation Planning Overview
1.
2.
3.
Decide on the boot methods.
Confirm hardware requirements and compatibility.
Choose between an upgrade or a clean install.
4.
5.
6.
Back up data and key files.
Remove or disable conflicts and verify existing settings.
Prepare the hard disk drive and file system.
7.
Partition the hard disk drive with fdisk.
Decide on the Boot Methods
• More than one OS can be installed on the same computer.
• Dual boot installations require you to complete all setup
steps for each OS.
• Ensure that one installation doesn’t damage the other, that
file systems are compatible, and that all hardware devices
and software required by each O.S are properly
accessible.
• You should draw up a compatibility list and note special
requirements.
• Installation of Windows over existing Linux corrupt the
Linux Boot Loader
Windows 2000 Dual Boot
Considerations
• Each OS must reside on a different partition.
• Applications must be installed on each OS.
• When setting up either an MS-DOS or Windows 95 and
Windows 2000 Professional dual boot system, Windows
2000 Professional must be installed last.
• If you are using a dual boot machine in a windows NT
domain or windows 2000 Active directory network, each
OS must have its own machine name in a domain
environment.
Windows 98 Dual Boot
Considerations
• Drive C must be a FAT16 partition and include enough
free space for the Windows 98 installation.
• The two OSs must reside in different partitions or on
different hard disks.
• Dual boot systems combining Windows 98 and Windows
NT are not recommended because the two O.Ss do not
use the same registry settings or device drivers .
• Dual booting Windows 98 and Windows 95 is not
possible because both O.S use the same boot file and
the second installation will overwrite the first.
• Windows 98 cannot access files on NT file system
(NTFS) partitions, and Windows NT cannot access files
on FAT32 drives.
Confirm Hardware Requirements
and Compatibility
• Ensure that system components meet or exceed system
requirements.
• Choose hardware from the hardware compatibility list for
Windows 2000.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/131303 (2000)
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx (XP)
• Choose hardware that is certified to work with Windows
98 and Windows Me.
Update Firmware or Components
• Check the system basic input/output system (BIOS) and
update it if necessary before installation.
• BIOS updates can reduce problems and increase
performance.
• http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/romfl
ash.html
Choose Between an Upgrade or a
Clean Install
• A clean install is done on a new or newly formatted hard
disk.
• An upgrade adds new components and updates existing
ones.
• The /CHECKUPGRADEONLY option performs a dry run
install and reports any possible conflicts. (window 2000)
Record Information and Back Up
Data and Key Files
• Create a written record of system configuration and
network settings.
• Back up all configuration files and custom Registry
entries.
• When performing an upgrade from Windows 95, use
Device Manager or Windows NT Diagnostics to print a
report of all device and system configurations.
• How to print the system settings in Window XP?
• Back up all data files, batch files, and user profile files.
Remove or Disable Conflicts and
Verify Existing Settings
• Antivirus programs, third-party memory managers,
terminate-and-stay-resident programs (TSRs), and legacy
16-bit drivers could interfere with the setup program.
• You should ensure that third-party disk partitioning
software can be used with the version of Microsoft
Windows you are installing.
• When upgrading an OS with CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT, you should remove any unwanted 16-bit
or legacy entries.
• Upgrades work best when you upgrade in the same
product series.
Prepare the Hard Disk Drive and
File System
• If the primary drive is already partitioned using the
desired file system, you can proceed to the OS setup.
• If you will use FAT16 or FAT32 and need to create or
change partitions, you must use the fdisk utility to
prepare the drive.
• Fdisk can delete all data on the disk, so back up data
first.
• No third-party disk management utilities should have
been used to partition the drive.
Partition the Hard Disk Drive with
Fdisk
• Windows 98, Windows 95, and all versions of MS-DOS
provide fdisk.
• You should use the same fdisk version as the OS you
are installing.
• FDISK is the command you use to run the fdisk utility.
• To enable FAT32, you must answer Yes to enabling large
drive support.
• Fdisk options include creating and deleting a partition,
setting the active partition, displaying partition
information, and choosing a drive.
Using Fdisk—Step-By-Step
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Display partition information to verify that you are on
the proper drive.
Delete any non–DOS partition.
Delete extraneous logical drives in the extended MSDOS partition.
Delete the extended partition.
Delete the primary DOS partition.
Mark a partition as the primary partition and set it as
active.
Reboot the system, and then format the partition.
Introduction to Windows XP
Professional
• Prerequisites for installing Windows XP Professional.
• Installing Windows XP Professional.
Prerequisites for Installing
Windows XP Professional
•
•
•
•
Check hardware requirements.
Check hardware compatibility.
Check hardware configuration.
Test workstation hardware.
Check Hardware Requirements
The minimum requirements for installing Windows XP
Professional include:
• An Intel Pentium/Celeron family or AMD K6/Athalon/Duron
family 233 MHz processor.
• 64 MB of RAM.
• At least one hard disk where the systemroot (usually
C:\WINNT) can be located on a partition.
• At least 1.5 GB of hard disk space.
Check Hardware Requirements
The recommended requirements for installing Windows
XP Professional include:
• A PC with a 300 MHz (single or dual) processor.
• 128 MB of RAM.
Check Hardware Compatibility
• The Windows XP Professional installation CD, running on
an upgradeable Windows version, includes options to
check for system compatibility.
• It is essential that the service packs for Windows NT 4.0
Workstation or Windows 2000 Professional are installed, if
XP is upgraded from either of these operating systems.
Service pack is an update to the operating system made available
by a Microsoft
Check Hardware Compatibility
Windows XP compatibility
verification option
Check Hardware Compatibility
Windows XP automatic
compatibility verification option
Check Hardware Compatibility
Compatibility check using Web site:
– The Microsoft Web site provides users with a Hardware
Compatibility List (HCL) for the system.
– It is essential to check all the hardware in the system prior to
installing Windows XP Professional.
Check Hardware Configuration
• Microsoft recommends a CD-ROM or DVD drive for
installations.
• A super VGA display adapter that supports an 800x600
resolution, and the most recent version of the
workstation operating system software is also required.
Check Hardware Configuration
• Microsoft also recommends a mouse or any other
pointing device.
• A high-density 3-½ inch floppy drive is required if floppy
disks are used for installation.
Test Workstation Hardware
• The DOS FDISK command is used to rebuild the hard
disk drive prior to the installation.
• The hard disk can be re-built while installing Windows
XP from the CD.
Installing Windows XP
Professional
• Windows XP can be installed over a network using either
a shared network drive or a set of bootable floppy disks.
Windows XP Professional
Setup
Installing Windows XP
Professional
List of existing partitions and
unpartitioned space on the computer
Installing Windows XP
Professional
Formatting the new partition
Installing Windows XP
Professional
Windows XP requires the following inputs:
– The user’s name and the organization’s name.
– The 25-character product key code.
– The computer name and the password for the workstation
administrator account.
Installing Windows XP Professional
Networking Settings
Installing Windows XP Professional
Windows XP requires the following inputs (continued):
– The workgroup or the domain name.
– The user name and password of the user who is authorized to
join the computer to the domain.
Installing Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Professional desktop
NTFS5
• NTFS 5 is more robust and the one you want to deploy
whenever planning for Active Directory. Strongly
consider using only NTFS partitions on production server
machines! NTFS 5 brings new benefits to Windows
Server systems, including: disk quotas, file system
encryption, dynamic volumes and remote storage
capabilities.
NTFS Features
• Disk quotas are used to restrict the amount of space that
network and system users are allowed to save to disk.
• file system encryption, which allows systems administrators to
encrypt data in case it is stolen or intercepted by an
unauthorized user.
• Dynamic volumes are also specific to NTFS 5. Dynamic
volumes are used to add protection for your Windows Server
2003 system.
• Remote storage features supported by NTFS 5 to automatically
off-load rarely used data to tape or other devices , but the files
remain available to users because they haven't been removed
from the machine -- it's seamless. As you can see, NTFS 5
brings a greater level of flexibility, security, data protection,
increased
scalability,
and
increased
uptime.
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Chapter Summary
• The Windows family of OSs includes a variety of
products tailored for different environments.
• Windows 2000 is the most robust version of
Windows.
• Proper planning and system preparation are critical.
• Windows 2000 installation requires more careful
planning than does Windows 98.
• The Windows 98 and Windows 2000 installation
processes are somewhat similar.
• Windows provides tools for troubleshooting
installation problems.
• Additional tasks are required after installation is
complete.