Data storage, installation, files, and folders

1. Data storage, installation, files, and folders WIN133

2. Today… • Data storage in Windows XP • Disks • Partitions • Formatting • File systems – FAT and NTFS • Types of storage • Basic • Dynamic • XP Installation • Clean install • Upgrade • Working with files and folders • Actual/Virtual folders • Types of files/File associations • Long Filenames

3. Questions: • What are the steps to set up a hard drive for use? • What is a partition? • What different file systems are supported by Windows XP? • What type of installation to choose? • What is a file? • What is a folder?

4. Disks • Hard Disks are used to store user’s data on PC. Since the data is the most vulnerable part of the system, a hard disk is one of the most important parts of the PC. This is why it is very important to: • properly prepare disks for use • choose appropriate file system • perform regular disk maintenance

5. Disks (continue) • How is a hard drive organized to hold data? • Partition • logical division of the hard disk into isolated sections • Creates a partition table at beginning of the drive • Formatting • creation of file system (addressing system) that will be used to access information on the hard disk • FAT or NTFS

6. Disks – formatting • After the disk is partitioned it must be formatted before used • Drive is divided by cylinders, tracks and sectors • The surface is checked for errors • File system tables are created File systemis a structured method used by the computer to organize, store, retrieve and access files on a disk drive

7. NTFS Architecture System Partition Boot Partition Reprinted from “How NTFS Works”, Microsoft, at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/proddocs/techref/W2K3TR_ntfs_how.asp

8. How FAT works?

9. How NTFS works? Resident to MFT Non Resident to MFT DATA DATA DATA

10. Comparison NTFS FAT • Recoverable file system • Local file security • Small cluster size • Supports mirroring • Fast searches • Built-in compression and encryption Most compatible system Less overhead and is best for drives < 1GB Use DOS to access active partition from a floppy

11. Disks Storage • Windows XP supports two types of storage: • Basic Storage – compatible with other OS • Consists of primary and extended partitions • Supports up to four partitions (per single hard drive) • Laptop computers use only basic storage • Windows XP can be installed only onto basic storage type partitions • Dynamic Storage – supported by Windows 2000/XP • Configured as dynamic disks • Dynamic disks can combine two or more physical disks into one dynamic disk • Dynamic disks divided into volumes

12. Dynamic Storage – volumes • Volume – a portion of a dynamic disk that functions as a separate disk • Each volume is assigned a drive letter • Only Windows 2000 and XP can access data on volumes • There are three types of volumes • Simple volume • Spanned volume • Striped volumes

13. Dynamic Storage (simple volume) • Contains space from a single dynamic drive

14. Dynamic Storage (spanned volume) • Consists of disk space on two or more dynamic drives

15. Dynamic Storage(striped volumes) • stores data in equal stripes between two or more (up to 32) dynamic drives

16. File Systems Summary Windows XP supports three file systems • FAT (FAT16) – up to 4GB • For backward compatibility with other operating systems • Allows easy upgrade from another OS • Enables multi boot systems to share data drives • FAT32 – up to 32GB • used to support larger drives, offers multi boot shared drives with Windows 98/95 • NTFS (preferred file system) – up to 4TB • Offers larger volume support • Offers compression and encryption • Security

17. Chapter 2 Windows XP Installationrequirements • Check if your computer meets the following hardware requirements before you install Windows XP

18. Chapter 2 Windows XP Installationpre-installation • Next, run through this checklist: • check hardware and software compatibility • use HCL – Hardware Compatibility List to find any incompatible devices/drivers. HCL can be found on Windows XP CD (support folder) or online from Microsoft Quality Lab • download and save all needed drivers • gather network details • IP address if static • domain name if a computer is a part of domain • disable any system utility to avoid interference

19. Chapter 2 Windows XP Installationpre-installation • back up data files and system settings • use Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools or type: migwiz at the command prompt

20. Chapter 2 Windows XP Installationinstallation • upgrade to XP over an existing Windows version • from Windows 98, or Windows Me, Windows 2000, or NT Workstation (service pack 4) • preserves all installed programs and settings • clean installation • replaces any existing version of Windows • erases all files on the selected partition • side-by-side (multiboot) installation • recommended to install each Windows version on a separate partitions

21. Chapter 2 Windows XP Installation • after the installation: • download the updates from Microsoft web site • use Automatic Update to get notified when new updates are available • use Add or Remove Programs from control panel to add optional Windows components • e.g. IIS (Internet Information Services) to run a Web server • Create an account for each user on the computer

22. Files and Folders • After the installation, the data (files, programs, etc) can be saved on the drive for later use • When stored to the drive, data is stored as files and organized into logical groupings by using folders

23. Files • A file is a physical container that contains data • text • images • executable program code • A file has a name, extension, and file size with a date & time stamp indicating when it was created

24. File Associations • Windows XP is “docu-centric” – it keeps track of the relationship between file type and a program • File.txt is associated with Notepad • Windows keeps a master list of registered file types • to see a list of registered file types (extensions): Windows Explorer->Tools->Folder Options->File Types • The association between a program and a file can be changed • File.txt may be associated with Textpad

25. Long and ShortFilenames • When creating a file one must provide it a name • Up to 255 characters including spaces: • Any letters (A-Z), upper and/or lower case • Any numbers (0-9) • You can use many punctuation marks and special characters including commas, periods, semi-colons, etc.

26. Long and ShortFilenames • When saving a file with a long descriptive name, Windows XP also creates a short name called alias. This is necessary for compatibility: • with older OS when sharing files over the network • older Windows and MS-DOS programs • Example: • For the file My First C Program.c • MYFIRS~1.C alias will be created

27. Filenames • Must be unique in that folder • For file and folder objects, Windows is case insensitive (i.e. case doesn’t matter) • Upper and lower case can be used to improve visual presentation • However… for passwords… upper and lower case does matter!

28. File Attributes • Files and folders may be assigned different attributes for access control • “RASH” • Read only • Archive • System • Hidden • Also… there are advanced security attributes

29. Folders • Folders are containers that can hold files and other folders • They may be actual folders, or virtual folders • An actual folder will map to, or correspond to, an actual file or folder on a disk drive • C:\WINNT • C:\Program Files • A virtual folder will map to a logical organization of Windows XP objects • My Computer ( Provides access to different drives ) • My Network Places ( Displays connections to resources on a network )

30. Managing Files and Folders • Windows represents every object, file and folder with an icon • It is extremely important to logically organize your files in folders that describe their contents • Examples: • c:\Documents • c:\Documents\WIN133 • c:\Documents\IPC144

31. Managing Files and Folders • Windows helps to organize user’s folders by creating a hierarchy of folders for each user on the computer:

32. Summary Windows XP file system offers versatile disk management. It supports large disk volumes and offers several drive configurations and many ways to work with files and folders.