*TechNote*: Hard disks #1 - Sectors, Clusters, Fat

bellboybellboy Member Posts: 1,017
A sector is always 512 bytes, which is half a kilobyte.

A cluster (also known as allocation units) is the smallest unit of disk that the operating system knows how to handle when writing files and is made up of a number of sectors.

Logical formatting creates a file allocation table (FAT) and defines the minimum number of sectors a cluster can use to store data.
The number of clusters is dictated by the format. FAT16 has 65,525 and FAT32 has a maximum of 268,435,456. They typically vary in size between 2k and 32k, depending on the size of the volume.
The FAT is a record of which files are contained in which clusters. For instance, if a file is 32k in size it will take up 8 clusters, if the clusters are 4k in size. Regular defragging of a drive ensures that these clusters are continuous.

The more sectors a cluster has, the lesser the demands are on the FAT.

Partition size....Recommended file system / cluster size
1-16M..............FAT-12 / 4K
16-256M..........FAT-16 / 4K
256-512M........FAT-16 / 8K
512M-1G..........FAT-16 / 16K or FAT-32 / 4K
1-8G...............FAT-32 / 4K
8G and up........FAT-32 / 8K
A+ Moderator

Comments

  • JakLJakL Member Posts: 1 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Is that a typo? you state:
    Partition size....Recommended file system / cluster size
    1-16M..............FAT-12 / 4K
    16-256M..........FAT-16 / 4K
    256-512M........FAT-16 / 8K
    512M-1G..........FAT-16 / 16K or FAT-32 / 4K
    1-8G...............FAT-32 / 4K
    8G and up........FAT-32 / 8K

    AND you state 1-16M....Fat-12 / 4K. Well, my questions is FAT-12? Ive never head of FAT 12. Is this a Typo or am I just clueless?
    ~JakL~
  • cheebliecheeblie Member Posts: 288
    FAT12 is the file system that a floppy disk uses.

    Cheeblie
  • ghaoufghaouf Inactive Imported Users Posts: 317
    cheeblie is right
    and CD use the cdfs file system.
  • MundaMunda Member Posts: 2 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Can i convert my HDD parition into FAT-12 ? ? ?

    Or can i convert any floppy disk into FAT-16 or FAT-32 ? ? ?
    through any software or technique......

    Bye 4 nao !
  • Ricka182Ricka182 Member Posts: 3,359
    Munda wrote:
    Can i convert my HDD parition into FAT-12 ? ? ?

    Or can i convert any floppy disk into FAT-16 or FAT-32 ? ? ?
    through any software or technique......

    Bye 4 nao !

    A floppy will always use Fat12, and can not be converted. A HDD partition would use Fat16, Fat32, or NTFS.
    i remain, he who remains to be....
  • MundaMunda Member Posts: 2 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Ricka182 wrote:

    A floppy will always use Fat12, and can not be converted. A HDD partition would use Fat16, Fat32, or NTFS.

    Thanx alot :)
  • techboyjktechboyjk Member Posts: 46 ■■□□□□□□□□
    bellboy wrote:
    A sector is always 512 bytes, which is half a kilobyte.


    Partition size....Recommended file system / cluster size
    1-16M..............FAT-12 / 4K
    16-256M..........FAT-16 / 4K
    256-512M........FAT-16 / 8K
    512M-1G..........FAT-16 / 16K or FAT-32 / 4K
    1-8G...............FAT-32 / 4K
    8G and up........FAT-32 / 8K

    Do I need to know this for the exam???
  • PlantwizPlantwiz Mod Posts: 5,057 Mod
    Not only will it benefit you to know if for the exam, it will help you in the field.

    Understand it and be familiar with it - I wouldn't spend a week on it, but yes, you should know it.
    Plantwiz
    _____
    "Grammar and spelling aren't everything, but this is a forum, not a chat room. You have plenty of time to spell out the word "you", and look just a little bit smarter." by Phaideaux

    ***I'll add you can Capitalize the word 'I' to show a little respect for yourself too.

    'i' before 'e' except after 'c'.... weird?
  • coyote911coyote911 Member Posts: 1 ■□□□□□□□□□
    HPFS - NT 3.51
    NTFS4 - NT 4
    NTFS5 - 2000 and XP
  • panikpanik Member Posts: 61 ■■□□□□□□□□
    coyote911 wrote:
    HPFS - NT 3.51
    NTFS4 - NT 4
    NTFS5 - 2000 and XP

    HPFS is OS/2: http://www.lesbell.com.au/hpfsfaq.html
  • OLC-RBOCOLC-RBOC Member Posts: 1 ■□□□□□□□□□
    bellboy wrote:
    A sector is always 512 bytes, which is half a kilobyte.

    A cluster (also known as allocation units) is the smallest unit of disk that the operating system knows how to handle when writing files and is made up of a number of sectors.

    Logical formatting creates a file allocation table (FAT) and defines the minimum number of sectors a cluster can use to store data.
    The number of clusters is dictated by the format. FAT16 has 65,525 and FAT32 has a maximum of 268,435,456. They typically vary in size between 2k and 32k, depending on the size of the volume.
    The FAT is a record of which files are contained in which clusters. For instance, if a file is 32k in size it will take up 8 clusters, if the clusters are 4k in size. Regular defragging of a drive ensures that these clusters are continuous.

    The more sectors a cluster has, the lesser the demands are on the FAT.

    Partition size....Recommended file system / cluster size
    1-16M..............FAT-12 / 4K
    16-256M..........FAT-16 / 4K
    256-512M........FAT-16 / 8K
    512M-1G..........FAT-16 / 16K or FAT-32 / 4K
    1-8G...............FAT-32 / 4K
    8G and up........FAT-32 / 8K
  • JacksRageJacksRage Member Posts: 2 ■□□□□□□□□□
    bellboy wrote:
    Partition size....Recommended file system / cluster size
    1-16M..............FAT-12 / 4K
    16-256M..........FAT-16 / 4K
    256-512M........FAT-16 / 8K
    512M-1G..........FAT-16 / 16K or FAT-32 / 4K
    1-8G...............FAT-32 / 4K
    8G and up........FAT-32 / 8K

    Question on this. Now you partition before you format right? So do these apply to the partition sizes or the physical HDD?

    Say I had a 24 gig drive. And formated fat 32 on the whole thing, I would end up with 8k clusters. But if I made 4 6 gig parts would it then be 4k clusters?

    And what is ntfs5 s cluster sizes?
Sign In or Register to comment.