File Allocation Table Corruption Leads to Data Loss in Windows
Garry Thomson
January 15, 2010
The structure, which gives FAT (File Allocation Table) file system its name is File Allocation Table. For understanding what this significant table does, you need to first understand how much space on hard drive allocated in the system that uses FAT file system. The data is actually stored in soul sectors of 512-byte in size. This is possible for every file to allocate the individual sectors. But in some situations, you may not access your critical data from the Windows hard drive due to file system errors and come across data loss situations. In such circumstances, you need to use Hard Drive Recovery solutions to extract lost data from affected drive.
However, for the performance reasons, soul sectors aren't allocated to the files in FAT file system. It takes a huge amount of overhead for keeping track of the pieces of the files that are very small in size. To overcome this problem, the hard drive is divided into the larger pieces, known as clusters or allocation units. Every cluster has various sectors. Generally, the cluster range from 2,048 to 32,768 bytes in size that represents 4 to 64 sector each.
File allocation table is the data structure that stores information about the clusters. Every cluster has entry in FAT, which describes how this is used. It tells operating system about availability of the hard drive parts and detail of the allocated parts. File allocation table is stored in hard drive area, just after VBR (Volume Boot Record). Every volume contains two copies of FAT; ostensibly, second copy is a backup and used in case of any damage.
Damage to FAT can lead to data loss because it is where all the records are stored of which part of hard drive has which files. The second copy of the FAT is used when primary copy gets damaged.
In FAT system, though, backup FAT system may not work well. The issue is that the second copy is stored next to first one. If bad sectors affect the first copy of FAT, there are strong chances that the second one is also affected. In such situations, hard drive recovery services are required to extract lost data.
Hard Drive Recovery Software helps you in such cases to get your valuable data back. The applications use powerful scanning techniques to ensure quick and absolute Hard Drive Recovery in all data loss circumstances.
Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is an advanced application for assured recovery of lost data. The software is designed for Windows 7, Vista, 2003, XP, and 2000. It recovers data from FAT16, FAT32, VFAT, NTFS, and NTFS5 file system partitions.
However, for the performance reasons, soul sectors aren't allocated to the files in FAT file system. It takes a huge amount of overhead for keeping track of the pieces of the files that are very small in size. To overcome this problem, the hard drive is divided into the larger pieces, known as clusters or allocation units. Every cluster has various sectors. Generally, the cluster range from 2,048 to 32,768 bytes in size that represents 4 to 64 sector each.
File allocation table is the data structure that stores information about the clusters. Every cluster has entry in FAT, which describes how this is used. It tells operating system about availability of the hard drive parts and detail of the allocated parts. File allocation table is stored in hard drive area, just after VBR (Volume Boot Record). Every volume contains two copies of FAT; ostensibly, second copy is a backup and used in case of any damage.
Damage to FAT can lead to data loss because it is where all the records are stored of which part of hard drive has which files. The second copy of the FAT is used when primary copy gets damaged.
In FAT system, though, backup FAT system may not work well. The issue is that the second copy is stored next to first one. If bad sectors affect the first copy of FAT, there are strong chances that the second one is also affected. In such situations, hard drive recovery services are required to extract lost data.
Hard Drive Recovery Software helps you in such cases to get your valuable data back. The applications use powerful scanning techniques to ensure quick and absolute Hard Drive Recovery in all data loss circumstances.
Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is an advanced application for assured recovery of lost data. The software is designed for Windows 7, Vista, 2003, XP, and 2000. It recovers data from FAT16, FAT32, VFAT, NTFS, and NTFS5 file system partitions.
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