Acronis disk director suite 9.0 User Manual
Glossary
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Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000–2005
tracks and sectors), partitioning and high-level (creation of a file system on a
partition).
partition).
Hard disk (hard drive). Fixed storage media along with integrated electronics that
consists of several magnetic platters that rotate synchronously on one spindle.
Hard disks have relatively high capacity and high read/write speed.
consists of several magnetic platters that rotate synchronously on one spindle.
Hard disks have relatively high capacity and high read/write speed.
Hard disk geometry. A set of hard disk parameters that usually includes the
number of cylinders, heads and sectors per track.
number of cylinders, heads and sectors per track.
Head (magnetic head, read/write head). A hard disk consists of several magnetic
platters, for each side of each platter there is a head that is used to read and
write information on it.
platters, for each side of each platter there is a head that is used to read and
write information on it.
Hidden partition. A partition that is somehow made invisible to the operating
system. Usually partitions are hidden by changing their type.
system. Usually partitions are hidden by changing their type.
Label. An optional name that can be assigned to a partition to simplify its
identification. Usually has the same limitation as file names. For example, FAT
partitions have labels up to 11 characters long, but may contain spaces.
identification. Usually has the same limitation as file names. For example, FAT
partitions have labels up to 11 characters long, but may contain spaces.
Letter (of a drive, partition). All operating systems that are DOS-compatible use
Latin letters to identify drives and partitions. Letters A: and B: are usually
reserved for floppy drives. Starting with C: letters are assigned to hard disk
partitions that can be recognized by the operating system. Separate letters may
be assigned to CD-ROMs, DVDs, or other disk drives, and to network drives.
Latin letters to identify drives and partitions. Letters A: and B: are usually
reserved for floppy drives. Starting with C: letters are assigned to hard disk
partitions that can be recognized by the operating system. Separate letters may
be assigned to CD-ROMs, DVDs, or other disk drives, and to network drives.
Logical disk is a partition whose file system is recognized by the operating
system. Usually each logical disk is assigned with a letter that uniquely identifies
it.
system. Usually each logical disk is assigned with a letter that uniquely identifies
it.
Logical partition. Partition information that is located not in MBR, but in the
extended partition table. The number of logical partitions on a disk is unlimited.
extended partition table. The number of logical partitions on a disk is unlimited.
Master boot record (MBR) is located in the first sector of the first hard disk and
stores information about the hard disk partitioning and code that is loaded with
BIOS. All the actions that follow depend on the contents of this code.
stores information about the hard disk partitioning and code that is loaded with
BIOS. All the actions that follow depend on the contents of this code.
Operating system is a set of programs that usually includes kernel, drivers, shell
and system programs that are used for centralized hardware management and
hiding the details of hardware management from the user and applications.
and system programs that are used for centralized hardware management and
hiding the details of hardware management from the user and applications.
Operating system booting is initiated by loading its boot sector to memory at
0:7C00h address and passing control to it. Since every operating system has its
own boot sector, it is able to perform all the necessary actions to load and
initialize system and configuration files.
0:7C00h address and passing control to it. Since every operating system has its
own boot sector, it is able to perform all the necessary actions to load and
initialize system and configuration files.
A boot manager usually supports multiple operating systems on one computer
and even one partition, so it has to perform some preparatory actions (create the
boot context) before booting an operating system.
and even one partition, so it has to perform some preparatory actions (create the
boot context) before booting an operating system.