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Glossary
Maxtor QuickView 400/500GB Serial ATA Hard Disk Drive G-3
E
ECC – Acronym for error correction code.
The recording of extra verifying information
encoded along with the disk data. The
controller uses the extra information to check
for data errors, and corrects the errors when
possible.
EMBEDDED SERVO – A timing or
location signal placed on the disk’s surface
on the tracks that also store data. These
signals allow the actuator to fine-tune the
position of the read/write heads.
ENCODING – The protocol by which
particular data patterns are changed prior to
being written on the disk surface as a pattern
of On and Off or 1 and 0 signals.
EXTERNAL DRIVE – A drive mounted in
an enclosure separate from the PC or
computer system enclosure, with its own
power supply and fan, and connected to the
system by a cable.
F
FAT – Acronym for file allocation table. A
data table stored on the outer edge of a disk
that tells the operating system which sectors
are allocated to each file and in what order.
FCI – Acronym for flux changes per inch.
See also BPI.
FILE SERVER – A computer that provides
network stations with controlled access to
shareable resources. The network operating
system is loaded on the file server, and most
shareable devices (disk subsystems, printers)
are attached to it. The file server controls
system security and monitors
station-to-station communications. A
dedicated file server can be used only as a file
server while it is on the network. A non
dedicated file server can be used
simultaneously as a file server and a
workstation.
FLUX DENSITY – The number of magnetic
field patterns that can be stored in a given
length of disk surface. The number is usually
stated as flux changes per inch (FCI), with
typical values in the thousands.
FLYING HEIGHT – The distance between
the read/write head and the disk surface
caused by a cushion of air that keeps the head
from contacting the media. Smaller flying
heights permit more dense storage of data,
but require more precise mechanical designs.
FORMAT – To write onto the disk surface a
magnetic track pattern that specifies the
locations of the tracks and sectors. This
information must exist on a disk before it can
store any user data. Formatting erases any
previously stored data.
FORMATTED CAPACITY – The amount
of room left to store data on the disk after the
required space has been used to write sector
headers, boundary definitions, and timing
information generated by a format operation.
All Maxtor drive capacities are expressed in
formatted capacity.
FORM FACTOR – The physical outer
dimensions of a device as defined by industry
standard. For example, most Maxtor disk
drives use a 3 1/2-inch form factor.
G
GIGABYTE (GB) – One billion bytes (one
thousand megabytes).
GUIDE RAILS – Plastic strips attached to
the sides of a disk drive mounted in an IBM
AT and compatible computers so that the
drive easily slides into place.
H
HALF HEIGHT – Term used to describe a
drive that occupies half the vertical space of
the original full size 5 1/4-inch drive. 1.625
inches high.
HARD DISK – A type of storage medium