The hard disk is a hardware device that stores all the data on a computer. The data is stored in the form of files and directories in the hard disk. A hard disk drive has a logical structure that is compatible with the operating system installed. Read on for a full explanation of the logical structure of a hard disk.

When you use your computer, your data is organised in the form of files and directories according to a tree structure and these are stored on your hard drive. Your operating system manages all this data on your hard drive. Consequently, a hard disk must have a particular organisation, understandable to your system.

Logical Structure

The Master Boot Record is the most important part of the hard disk. It is the first sector on the hard disk that the operating system accesses. The Master Boot Record contains the Boot Loader and Partition Tables. It is important to know about the logical structure of the hard disk to gain better understanding and fix issues related to the hard disk drive.

At the beginning of the hard drive is the MBR. When your computer starts using your hard drive, this is where it looks first.

The MBR itself has a specific organization. The size of the MBR is 512 bytes.

The boot loader is the first 446 bytes of the MBR. This section contains executable code, where programs are housed.

is the first 446 bytes of the MBR. This section contains executable code, where programs are housed. The partition tables are 4 slots of 16 bytes each, containing the description of a partition (primary or extended) on the disk.

How to Describe a Partition

State of the partition (inactive partition bootable) - (1 byte)

Custom heads at the beginning of the partition - (1 byte)

Cylinder sector and the beginning of the partition - (2 bytes)

Type of partition (file system, eg, 32 fat, ext2 etc ...) - (1 bytes)

Head of the end of the partition (1 byte)

Cylinder sector and the end of the score - (2 bytes)

Number of sectors between the MBR and the first sector of the partition - (4 bytes)

Number of sector of the partition - (4 bytes)

The Magic Number is two bytes used to determine if the hard disk has a bootloader or not. If it does, the magic number should be equal in value to hexadecimal 55AA.

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