FAT table

[Lawrence0320]

How does the computer know how to find a file. What is a media descriptive table and does it work? Hex editors haven't help me much in finding this out ,well a least the one I have hasn't. I need some hellp on how the whole thing works from finding a file to what else is inside? Can any one help please.

[geebee76]

Hi Lawrence, On behalf of the Forum, Welcome

I'm no expert when it comes to FAT so I'll point you towards the
FAT Section (http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/fat.htm) of The PC Guide site. I would recommend you read the whole section on Hard Drives.
I can't find anything on MDT's, it may have something to do with the writing of drivers.
Perhaps someone else could enlighten the both of us.
Hope this helps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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[This message has been edited by geebee76 (edited 08-15-2001).]

[Paleo Pete]

OK, I better not find out you're wanting us to do your homework for you...that said, I'll take a stab at it...

Micro Firmware (http://www.firmware.com/support/bios/hdtech.htm) has plenty technical info concerning the internal workings of a hard drive. The Media Descriptor Table defines the layout of the partition.

The drive find files by checking the File Allocation [T[/b]able which contains "markers" (for lack of a better word, I'm barely awake) that tell it the physical location of the file on the platter(s).

The hard drive consists of several platters stacked on top of each other with a highly polished surface, with a magnetic coating, read/write heads, a motor to spin the platters, and a circuit board containing the controller. The heads float very close to the platters and read the data stored on them as it spins, the data itself is stored by a magnetic system much the same as cassette or video tapes, in binary 1 & 0 form.

The Hard Drive (http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/index.htm) section of the PC Guide will give you a detailed look at the innards and functions of a hard drive.

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