The security of a computer depends on the selection of the file system and how much information on the hard disk information will be addicted. By security, I mean the stability of work and protection against data loss.
Windows XP operating system supports two file systems for hard disks: Fat and NTFS.
FAT file system (File Allocation Table) is best suited for use on disks and sections up to 200 MB
FAT is the easiest of Windows NT supported file systems.
The FAT directory does not have a specific structure, and the files are written in the first discovered free space on the disk. In addition, the FAT file system supports only four file attributes: "system", "hidden", "reading only" and "archive".
For files located in the FAT sections, it is impossible to set permissions.
NTFS file system (New Technology File System) organizes directory files and sorts them by name.
NTFS is best suited for use on disks of more than 400 MB. With an increase in the size of the disk, the performance of the NTFS file system does not fall as in the FAT, but this system is more demanding to computer resources, especially the RAM. Exactly file System NTFS uses most users, although, as always, there are A number of shortcomings:
Work on NTFS operating systems not older Windows XR
Currently, NTFS has no built-in file encryption;
If the logical disk is filled by more than 90 percent, the speed of work is sharply reduced
But there are advantages:
The maximum disk size can reach 18 TB;
There is work with files above 4GB;
If in FAT, when the operating system fails, there is a big chance of damage to the file - then in NTFS, it is almost excluded;
NTFS allows you to compress files, thereby reducing their location on the disk;
More economically spend disk space:
It is possible to restore the system ... and TP
Find out which file system is used on the disk with your operating system is very simple.
To do this, you need to click on the icon on the desktop My computer-\u003e Select the disc where your operating system(usually this Disk S.)
Press right-click and choose Properties (Properties)- go to the tab Are common.
Must be written File System: NTFS.But maybe FAT32. or FAT16
And not the fact that on all your local disks There is one and the same file system. To find out, look at all other discs.
By the way, In the same window, we can find out Capacity diskand also see how much free space left (and, accordingly, how much space Busy)
The theme of the GPT and MBR disk partitions was relevant after the distribution of computers and laptops with pre-installed Windows 10 and 8. In this manual, two ways to find out which table of partitions, GPT or MBR has a disk (HDD or SSD) - using the operating system, as well as When installing Windows to a computer (i.e., without booting OS). All methods can be used in Windows 10, 8 and Windows 7.
You may also be useful materials related to disk conversion from one table of partitions to another and solutions. typical problemscaused by the partition table not supported at the current configuration: (and vice versa), about the installation errors: ,.
To use this method, you can either in Windows or press the SHIFT + F10 keys (on some SHIFT + FN + F10 laptops) during windows installations From the disk or flash drive to the command line opened.
AT command line In order, enter the commands:
- diskpart.
- lIST DISK.
- eXIT.
Pay attention to the last column in the results of the execution of the List DISK command. If there is a mark (asterisk), then this disc has a style gPT sections, those discs that do not have such a mark - MBR (as a rule of MBR, as there may be other options, for example, the system cannot determine what kind of disk).
How to find out, MBR or GPT disk in Windows PowerShell
Another way is to use Windows PowerShell and the command to receive information about drives: (from the administrator or not - no matter) and enter the command:
Get-Disk | ft -auto.
As a result, in the table you will receive information about the disks of the computer or laptop, including the partition structure in the last column:
Indirect signs to determine the structure of partitions on disks
Well, some additional, not giving warranties, but useful as for more information Signs that allow you to learn, GPT or MBR drive is used on your computer or laptop.
How to determine the type of file system?
Master's answer:
Usually, the user knows the installed operating system on the computer and the file system used. But it may be necessary to determine the type of file system. Usually it occurs if you sit down to work for someone else's computer.
Method for organizing and storing data on different media information, including on hard disks, Specifies the file system. There are many different file systems. The most common file systems for operating windows systems Are: NTFS, FAT16, FAT32. For operating room linux systems And for UNIX - EXT2 and EXT3.
File system type can be found different ways. One of the ways (the easiest) - you need to open "My Computer", select the disk that you are interested in, right-click on it and in the menu that opens, select "Properties". A window will open in which the type and file system of the disk will be written. For example, the Windows XP and Windows 7 operating systems will show the NTFS file system.
If you have a non-working computer that refuses to load, then information about its disks can be viewed using the Acronis DiCK Director program. Its launch occurs directly from the CD. In order to select the download from the disk after the start, press F12, the download device selection window opens. There are computers on which the boot window call is performed by other keys.
Now select the download from the CD and press the ENTER key. A menu appears in which you want to select Acronis DiCK Director. After downloading, the program window will appear. In it you will see a computer discs with the type of file systems. Acronis DiK Director utility is very convenient programwhich makes it possible to smash the drives you need and format them in the desired file system. With the help of the same program, you can restore, with a high degree of probability, sections of the disks after they were randomly lost. You can restore discs with all folders and files.
There is a version of the Acronis DiCk Director utility, which runs under Windows. Using it, you can also view information on file systems. But it is not recommended to carry out any operations on this version, since after rebooting the system there is a very big risk that the computer will not load at all. If there is a need to split the disk, then it is better to use a version from a CD, as it is very reliable.
The file system allows you to systematize programs and data and organize ordered control of these objects.
On operating systems personal computers The concept of the file system underlying the UNIX is based on the UNIX basis. In UNIX, the I / O subsystem unifies the access method to both the files and to peripheral devices. Under the file, this is understood as a data set on a disk, terminal or any other device.
File system - This is the functional part of the operating system, providing execution of operations on files. The file system allows you to work with files and directories (directories), regardless of their contents, size, type, etc.
File system - This is the data management system.
The data management system is a system that users are exempt from most of the physical manipulation operations and can focus mainly on the logical properties of the data.
OS file systems create for users some virtual representation of external storage devices, allowing you to work with them not at a low level of control commands physical devices, A. high level Sets and data structures.
File system (purpose):
- hides the picture of the real location of information in external memory;
- provides independence of programs from the specifics of the specific configuration of the computer (logical level of working with files);
- provides standard responses to errors that occur when exchanging data.
File structure
The entire set of files on the disk and the relationship between them is called the file structure. Developed operating systems have a hierarchical - a multi-level file structure organized as a tree.
Used the tree structure of catalogs - catalog Tree. Borrowed from UNIX. Hierarchical structure - The structure of the system, parts (components) of which are related to the relationship of inclusion or subordination.
The hierarchical structure is depicted by a oriented tree, in which the vertices correspond to the components, and the arcs are connected.
disc directory tree G
The oriented tree is a graph with a highlighted vertex (root), in which there is a single path between the root and any vertex. At the same time, two orientation options are possible: either all paths are oriented from the root to the leaves, or all the ways are oriented from the leaves to the root.
Trees are used in describing and designing hierarchical structures.
Root - initial position, leaves - final position.
Sections
Any hard or magneto-optical disc in the formatting process can be divided into several parts and work with them as separate (independent) discs. These parts are called sections or logical disks. The disk splitting into several logical disks may be necessary due to the fact that the OS cannot work with the discs, the size of which exceeds a certain amount. Very convenient to store data and custom programs separately from system software (OS), because the OS can "fly from the computer".
Section - Disc area. Under logical disk (section) The computer means any media of the information with which the operating system works as a single whole object.
Disk name - designation of a logical disk; Record in the root directory.
Logic disks (sections) are latin letters A, b, c, d, e, ... (32 letters from a to z).
The letters a, b are reserved to designate floppy disks.
WITH - hDDUsually from which the OS is loaded.
The remaining letters are logical disks, CDs, etc. Maximum amount Logical disks for Windows are infinite.
AT table sections It is indicated by the location of the beginning and end of this section and the number of sectors in this section (place and size).
Logic disk file structure
To refer to information on the disk located in the file, you need to know the physical address of the first sector (surface number + track number + sector number), the total number of clusters occupied by this file, address of the next cluster, if the file size is greater than the size of one cluster
File Structure Elements:
starting Sector (initial load, boot sector);
table accommodationfiles (FAT - FILE ALLOCATION TABLE);
root directory (Root directory);
data area (remaining free disk space).
Boot-sector
Boot-sector - First (initial) disc sector. Located on the 0-track, 0 track.
The boot sector contains service information:
disc cluster size (cluster - block that combines several sectors to a group to reduce the size of the FAT table);
the location of the FAT table (in the water sector is a pointer to where the FAT table is located);
fat table size;
the number of FAT tables (there is always at least 2 copies of the table to ensure reliability and safety, because FAT destruction leads to loss of information and is difficult to restore);
the address of the beginning of the root directory and its maximum size.
In the work sector is the boot unit (bootloader) - boot record Boot Record.
Loader - service programwhich puts the executable program in rAM and leads it to the state of readiness for execution.
FAT (File Placement Table)
FAT (File Allocation Table) - File Placement Table. It defines which parts of the disk are to each file. The length of the disk data is represented in the OS as a sequence of numbered clusters.
Fat. - This is an array of elements addressing clusters of the disk data area. Each cluster of the data area corresponds to one FAT element. FAT elements serve as a chain of references to file clusters in the data area.
File Placement Table Structure:
FAT consists of elements of 16/32/64 bits. In total, the table can be up to 65520 such elements, each of them (except for the first two) corresponds to the disk cluster. The cluster is the unit in which the space in the data area on the disk for files and directories is distributed. The first two elements of the table (with numbers 0 and 1) are reserved, and each of the remaining elements of the table describes the status of the disk cluster with the same number. The element may indicate that the cluster is free that the cluster is defective, that the cluster belongs to the file and is the last cluster in the file. If the cluster belongs to the file and is not its last cluster, the table element contains the next cluster number in this file.
Fat. - Extremely important element of the file structure. Violations in FAT can lead to full or partial loss of information on all logical disk. That is why there are two copies of FAT on the disk. Exist special programswhich control the FAT state and correct violations.
For different OSs needed different versions Fat.
Windows 95 Fat 16, Fat 32
Windows NT (XP) NTFS
Novell Netware Turbofat.
UNIX NFS, Reiserfs
Logic Structure Media Information