Information about the disk management in Windows 7

[Zeppelin]

I am aware about the disk management in Windows XP. Now since, I want to change my operating system, I thought that first I should have an idea about the disk management present in Windows 7. So thought to take some notes from you members. The Disk Management in Windows 2000, XP and its successors took the place of FDISK, which was with the old DOS/Win9x-System still responsible for the distribution of hard drives. So I think that if you provide more information about it, that would be really helpful. Any other notes regarding the disk management in Windows 7 would be appreciable.

[Umberto-Micro]

Since Windows 7, the operating system to deal with virtual hard disks and boot into the Ultimate (and Enterprise Edition) from this even. Virtual disks are nothing new in Windows 7 and found in Microsoft products since 2005 use, especially here in virtualizer Microsoft Virtual PC Server and its variants. The file format virtual hard disks are used for Windows Vista for the backup functions. Windows 7 is now the first operating system that supports this file format completely. Windows Server 2008 R2 has inherited this ability as well. The "Proper identification" of the virtual hard disks Virtual Hard Disk VHD from Microsoft shortly. Instead of filling a disk with data, a file is used as a container and integrated into the system as a drive. Multiple dynamic disks can be striped together to form one. This is nothing like a Raid 0 system. The data is written alternately (in stripes = Stripes to 64 Kbytes in general) to 2 drives. This, ideally, increase the read / write performance of drives. However, a RAID 0 or striping with an increased risk of failure is connected. Is one of the two hard drives is damaged, all data are defective, because the data are indeed distributed alternately on two plates and that all 64 KB and not file by file. Mirrored mode is also called RAID 1 or mirroring. Here, the data 1:1 to 2 identical disks are kept. He is a damaged two disks, the data are still available on the other drive. This dramatically increases the data security, but is also associated with twice the memory prices. Raid 1 in Windows 7 is possible only in the Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate. Raid 5 (Windows Server) is a combination of RAID 0 and RAID 1 Here, at least three disks are required. In the case of n disks (n-1) / n of the total capacity available, the remaining 1 / n is required for parity data (redundancy). The parity information is not, however, as with RAID 4 focuses on a plate, but also distributed. Thus, all 3 drives are backup is available, although not with the full capacity.

[little-Jacqueline]

Virtual disks have advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages:

• You have to change existing partitions not only to install an operating system such as Windows 7 (Ultimate / Enterprise), if you install it in a virtual hard disk.
• In addition, you can save this system very easy, because you must only copy the VHD file to another location. In a problem at the operating system in the VHD file you can simply replace this with the backup and so has the original state restored.
• In combination with the differential drive can really build up a nice test system.
• Backups of the operating system via the built-in backup function can be easily integrated into the system to restore data therein.
• With restrictions, the operating system in the VHD file in a virtual environment under Microsoft Virtual PC or other products in type, which will support integrated. Although required by the changed hardware in the virtual environment may reactivate, one may experience problems with this system yet (on another PC operating system other than host) continue to operate.
• Theoretically, one could assign each user a virtual disk rather than user folders, which would facilitate the securing and handling of files for administrators may substantially.

Disadvantages of virtual hard disks are:

• This file type is currently supported only by Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 directly. Foreign products such as Acronis True Image Home 2010 disk type can indeed convert them, not only to work but (only the newer version).
• In addition, virtual disks can not be permanently integrated into the system. Binds to one with the Disk Manager, a virtual disk in the system, this assignment the next time is lost. Also an encryption of those drives with BitLocker is not possible.
• If Windows 7 is installed in a VHD, no hibernation is supported.
• Also must be in the VHD file on a real disk. The start of vhd files on USB drives is not supported.

[Quattro]

Upon reaching the 2 terabyte size of hard drives (and RAID array) connect again to problems. Only if the chipset on the mainboard BIOS (eg 64-bit LBA-setting) and the drivers play, the drive is properly recognized at all. The next hurdle is then the partitioning of such disks under Windows. The Master Boot Record (MBR), which stores the partition table, can not always manage partitions over 2 terabytes. The disk management simply shudder at the free areas over 2 terabytes of the functions for creating partitions and volumes. Upon reaching the 2 terabyte size of hard drives (and RAID array) connect again to problems. Only if the chipset on the mainboard BIOS (eg 64-bit LBA-setting) and the drivers play, the drive is properly recognized at all. The next hurdle is then the partitioning of such disks under Windows. The Master Boot Record (MBR), which stores the partition table, can not always manage partitions over 2 terabytes. The disk management simply shudder at the free areas over 2 terabytes of the functions for creating partitions and volumes. Some manufacturers currently handle the problem by bringing hard drives with 4 kilobytes compared to other 512-byte sectors on the market. The 32-bit addressing in the MBR so that large volumes are also possible (2 32 a 4096 bytes rather than the usual 512 bytes). A successor to the since-outdated, but still everywhere used MBR technology is the GUID Partition Table (GPT) . Here are the sectors 64 Bittig addressed, so that hard drives can be up to the Exabyte Size manage it.

[Zeverto]

A successor to the since-outdated, but still everywhere used MBR technology is the GUID Partition Table (GPT) . Here are the sectors 64 Bittig addressed, so that hard drives can be up to the Exabyte Size manage it.

Microsoft offers but since Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Server 2008 (and Windows Server 2003 with SP1) support for these partitions. To set up on these operating systems, such a new medium, automatically the GPT technique is used. At the time of this article appeared in Acronis Disk Director 11 home loss of data can volume in the GPT or MBR system without converting. Also you will have to keep in mind that Windows XP, while accepting the medium with, in this review but, as these are considered to be criticized "full" In addition to that, only the x64 editions of Windows 7 and Windows Vista and Windows Server from GPT disks, boot, if that. Main Board to the old BIOS and the UEFI technology (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface).

[afidelino]

As a file system and play only FAT32 and NTFS an important role in today's Windows systems. While FAT32 can be read and written by all major operating systems, may only offer Windows NT ff read and write access to NTFS volumes. For Linux, there is even NTFS support. This writing is still experimental. In a roundabout way can the original drivers from Microsoft on Linux use in order to write to NTFS. The difference between NTFS and FAT32 is the management of the hard drive. FAT32 offers for modern systems are very many restrictions in partition and cluster sizes and leaves the features of NTFS, such as compression, encryption and security settings are missing the file system level. For most users should be NTFS, the first choice. External media use were mostly factory FAT32 to work with PVR and streaming clients. Who can do without it, should also format external hard drives with NTFS. The Windows Vista SP1 new mobile medium for imported exFAT file system (Extended File Allocation Table) is still not widely prevalent. On completing a note to a drive letter. If it uses NTFS as the file system, allows the drive letter assigned independently on Disk Management. This is on FAT volumes do not. Click to get the first primary disk drive letters, starting with C. The disk management is not immediately found. It hides in the Control Panel under Administrative Tools in Computer Management.n the 2-split view above the logical drives and are indicated below the physical disk. In the Disk Management of changes to the partitions and drive letters are made for a removable disk and flash memory. You can create and delete new partitions or volumes, disk format, drive letter, change and manage RAID functions.

[Rixwel]

A note on a quick format to Windows XP: Whether you choose the Quick format or the "normal" formatting: In both cases, not on the hard disk in Windows XP data stored permanently delete it. The significant time difference must be justified by the fact that is performed in a normal format of a sector review. If you are sure that the disk has no errors, you can also choose the Quick format. Since Windows Vista has the Format command either from the command line or via the graphical user interface changed a bit. If a volume is formatted to overwrite Windows Vista and its successor now automatically the memory with zeros. This occurs both in the format command from the command line as well as on the Windows dialogs, unless you choose the Quick format. The disk management has received since Windows Vista (and also in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008) donated new features and is now capable of partitions and volumes that use the NTFS file system without increasing data loss or decrease. For this you choose from the partition in question and find the shortcut menu, the respective entries.