1.(10) Give the generic sequence for booting a system.

  Power-Up
    On power-up, initialize program counter and start executing ROM-BIOS

  Bootstrap
    Initial CPU work registers, jump tables, and system needs.

    Activate basic I/O based on interface ROMS.

  Generic IPL
    Access MBR of primary drive for boot code and location of active partition.

  
    Trasfer boot process to volume boot record of active partition.

  OS
    Load OS boot modules.

    Configure OS/hardware interface.

    Customize OS

  User Interface
    Activate user interface. 

2.(10) Unix Inode - Besides the pointers to the disk blocks where a file's data is stored, name and describe 5 other pieces of information stored in an Unix inode.

File size in bytes and blocks.

UID - owner id of file.

GID - group id of group that can have permission different from the 
world (others).

Link count - number of names associated with this file. 

Permissions - what kind of access is available for owner, group, and others.

Pointers to the blocks on the drive that make up the file's data.

File type - indicates type of file, such as regular, directory, symbolic, etc.

File access time - when file was last read.

File modification time - time file created or last modified.

Inode modification time - time inode (record keeping) was last modified.

3.(5) DOS - Starting with the directory entry, descibe how DOS records the cluster location of a file. Use drawings to clarify. Make sure to comment on how end of file is recognized and how unused or bad clusters are recognized.

Clusters are numbered with a sequential index. An equal number of entry 
are created in the File access table (FAT).

Directory entry lists the file's name and the index of the first cluster 
of a file and its matching index in the FAT table.  The entry in the FAT
holds either the index of the next cluster of the file and its matching
FAT entry or an end of file marker.  Additionally, if a cluster is 
defective, the matching FAT entry will contain a flag indicating it is bad.

4.(15) Compare the hard drive, CD-ROM, and DVD. Discuss how data bits are stored and retrieved, how the track(s) are layed out, speed behaviour of each type of device, surfaces used, sector addressing, how a desired sector is actually found.

Hard Drive
  Data stored and read as magnetic dots or domains. 
  
  Tracks are layed out as parallel tracks.  All tracks have the same number 
  of sectors, unless zoned (each zone will have same number of sectors).

  The rotational speed for any model of hard-drive is constant.  

  Drive has 1 or more platters or disks, and both sides of each disk used.
  However, only one side accessed at a time. 

  Sectors on drive are addressed either as cylinder(track), head, sector or 
  as LBA (logical block addressing) where all sectors sequentially numbered.

  The r/w head is placed on the exact track needed, the drive then waits 
  for the desired sector to spin around to head.

CD
  Data is encoded in a pattern of reflective/non-reflective dots and read
  using a laser (light).

  Data is recorded in a single track starting from the hub.  

  Because of its musical history, the cd is read with a constant linear
  speed, the rotational speed slows as the disk access gets closer to edge.
  (Note: newer cds used for data can run at a faster constant speed)

  CDs are recording only on a single side.
  
  Sectors are numbered sequentially from the hub.  When accessed, the drive
  attempts to approximate radial location, then samples or sequentially 
  reads until desired sector found. 

DVD
  Data is encoded in a pattern of reflective/non-reflective dots and read
  using a laser (light).

  DVD supports a two layer track arrangement on a side.  Data is recorded in 
  a single track starting from the hub of for the intial track and from 
  the edge in for the second track.  

  Like CD, DVD has a constant linear (variable rotational) speed that slows
  as reading approaches the edge.

  DVDs can have recordings on both sides of disk.

  Sectors are numbered sequentially from the hub.  When accessed, the drive
  attempts to approximate radial location, then samples or sequentially 
  reads until desired sector found. 


5.(10) NTFS - Discuss how NTFS Master File Table works.  See www.pcguide.com