explain the function of FAT and root directory structure in the filing system used by MS DOS and MS WINDOWS?

File Allocation Table (FAT) is a computer file system architecture now widely used on many computer systems and most memory cards, such as those used with digital cameras.

The FAT file system is relatively straightforward technically and is supported by virtually all existing operating systems for personal computers. This makes it a useful format for solid-state memory cards and a convenient way to share data between operating systems.

For detailed description :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Allocation_Table

Do read OS books such as Tenenbaum, etc.,

If you have doubts after reading also, you can come and pose your doubt straight.

FAT is used to contains the data blocks(a data block or cluster is a unit interms of OS which is a sector or multiple of sectors in disk) information of files or directories in which files or directories content is available. File allocation table can be considered as a 1-D array which contains the disk block numbers. Consider the following

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

____________________________

7 5 EOF 4

____________________________

If I some how know that first block of a file 2 then by traversing the FAT we can find out remaining data blocks of that file in which its content is available. If you verify the sample FAT you may find that next blocks of that file is 7, 4, 5. That at location 2, we have 7 which indicates second block is 7. Similarly at 7th location of that FAT we have 4 which indicates next data block of that file is 4 and vice versa. Its linked organization of the file.

Is it OK

hit the homestead windows key + r provide you the run field. or goto start up and click run interior the run field form cmd. which will pull up the the command on the spot. I additionally regarded up the bcc32 and that i'm getting that it is the Borland C compiler. in case you dont have that then pass seek and receive it. to show out the ms-dos on the spot nonetheless exist in homestead windows xp. the command on the spot is the ms-dos on the spot. while homestead windows first began each and every of the some time past to homestead windows 3.a million the dos on the spot grew to become into replaced to MS-DOS on the spot. the ms-dos stands for microsoft disk working gadget. that's actual have self belief be that the ms grew to become into extra so microsoft does not get in difficulty for copywright infringement.

Sorry, sounds like a homework question that you are suppose to lookup.