Partitioning

Here are given definitions of fundamental terms connected with disk partitioning: types of partitions, multiple operating systems and disk organization.

Boot record

Boot record is found at the beginning of each logical partition of a hard drive, it contains information about the drive. Boot record on the active or bootable partition contains a start up procedure that boots the operating system.

Bootable Disk

Bootable disk is any disk which contains boot files of the operating system and is used to boot a computer.

Booting

Booting is the process through which a computer goes when it starts up, ending in the proper loading of the operating system and preparing it to receive commands.

Dual Boot

Dual boot describes a computer which may have more than one Operating system installed. For example it may have Windows and Linux installed. Dual boot allows users to choose which operating system they would like to load.

File system

File system is the way in which an operating system manages a set of hierarchical files. It creates a data structure that translates the physical (sector) view of a disc into a logical (files, directories) structure...

Hidden partition

Hidden partition is a logical section of a disk which is not accessible to the operating system. Despite this fact a hidden partition may contain files and folders like a normal one...

Master boot record

Master boot record is the first physical sector of a boot device (floppy, hard disk, or CD-ROM, etc.) During the process of booting up the system uses the master boot record of the first device. It usually contains a small program...

Multi-booting

Multi-booting gives the user an alternative to choose one or another operating system installed on the computer.

Partition

Partition is a logical section of a disc. It may have its own file system.

Partition table

Partition table is a table in the master boot record of a hard disk that specifies how the disk is set up. It contains such information as the size and location of partitions, which operating system each partition uses...