Hardrive Crosslink? - Tilted Forum Project - TFP - Sexuality, Philosophy and Political Discussion

Zello · 08-31-2003, 06:36 PM

My teacher was explaining how hardrives worked by writing to sectors and how files aren't completely gone untill the sectors that the file was on is overwritten.

The entire class period I knew everything that he went over.

Then he brought up this concept that if a computer is turned off, instead of being properly shut down. Then the data that is loaded into memory is somehow written to the hardrive and some files can be "cross written" and become corrupt.

Anyway, he used the term Crosslink. I'm assuming that by memory he is talking about the page file. I always thought that as soon as power was removed the ram was emptied. Of course if this happens then how can anything become corrupt if the hardrive doesn't have power to write too sectors.

I tried to search it on google but came up with no results. If anyone has heard of this happening before or has any idea what my teacher is talking about, some insight would be greatly appreciated.

ratbastid · 08-31-2003, 07:47 PM

Sounds bogus to me.

RAM keeps its contents by virtue of having power. Cut the power, lose the contents. Simple! And a page or swap file or virtual memory partition would have been written to successfully when the machine was powered up, and couldn't possibly be touched again once the machine is powered down.... Used to be (like 15 years ago) you had to "park" the hard drive head at shutdown time for fear of mechanical contact between the head and the platter causing damage to the contents of the disc. Haven't heard anything about that in a long time, so I imagine it's either happening automatically, or no longer necessary.

This is exactly the kind of question your teacher is <i>hoping</i> you'll ask, I'll bet. Either he knows what he's talking about and you misunderstood horribly, or he was blowing smoke. Either way, find out and let us know!

charliex · 08-31-2003, 08:50 PM

yes its possible and happens frequently, but his description is incorrect

crosslinking is where file a gets mixed up with file b say during a delete or such, if the disks write cache isn't cleared out the disks bitmap is incorrect and damage such as cross linking can occur.

parking is automatic

Zello · 08-31-2003, 10:56 PM

Thanks for the input. Wednesday (next class) I will go talk to him about it. I'm hoping somehow that I horribly misunderstood him. Nothing like telling your teacher that you think he is wrong on the fourth day of class.

08-31-2003, 06:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zello Crazy Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Vincennes, IN	Hardrive Crosslink? My teacher was explaining how hardrives worked by writing to sectors and how files aren't completely gone untill the sectors that the file was on is overwritten. The entire class period I knew everything that he went over. Then he brought up this concept that if a computer is turned off, instead of being properly shut down. Then the data that is loaded into memory is somehow written to the hardrive and some files can be "cross written" and become corrupt. Anyway, he used the term Crosslink. I'm assuming that by memory he is talking about the page file. I always thought that as soon as power was removed the ram was emptied. Of course if this happens then how can anything become corrupt if the hardrive doesn't have power to write too sectors. I tried to search it on google but came up with no results. If anyone has heard of this happening before or has any idea what my teacher is talking about, some insight would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Sorry, you can not add yourself to your own list.

08-31-2003, 10:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zello Crazy Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Vincennes, IN	Thanks for the input. Wednesday (next class) I will go talk to him about it. I'm hoping somehow that I horribly misunderstood him. Nothing like telling your teacher that you think he is wrong on the fourth day of class. __________________ Sorry, you can not add yourself to your own list.

08-31-2003, 07:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Yonder	Sounds bogus to me. RAM keeps its contents by virtue of having power. Cut the power, lose the contents. Simple! And a page or swap file or virtual memory partition would have been written to successfully when the machine was powered up, and couldn't possibly be touched again once the machine is powered down.... Used to be (like 15 years ago) you had to "park" the hard drive head at shutdown time for fear of mechanical contact between the head and the platter causing damage to the contents of the disc. Haven't heard anything about that in a long time, so I imagine it's either happening automatically, or no longer necessary. This is exactly the kind of question your teacher is <i>hoping</i> you'll ask, I'll bet. Either he knows what he's talking about and you misunderstood horribly, or he was blowing smoke. Either way, find out and let us know!

08-31-2003, 08:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
charliex Junkie Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: North Hollywood	yes its possible and happens frequently, but his description is incorrect crosslinking is where file a gets mixed up with file b say during a delete or such, if the disks write cache isn't cleared out the disks bitmap is incorrect and damage such as cross linking can occur. parking is automatic