Is there a glossary of technical items about data recovery?

Yes, there's a common glossary of techinacal items about data recovery.

BIOS - This is the acronym for Basic Input/Output System. Your BIOS runs at startup, configures devices, and then boots the operating system. Because the BIOS is so integral to getting your computer started, it’s stored on a separate ROM chip, not your hard drive, to isolate it from crashes.

File Allocation Table (FAT) - The operating systems use FAT to keep track of which clusters are allocated to which files and which are available for use.

NTFS - New Technology File System - The preferred file structure that supersedes the FAT file system for Microsoft's Windows-branded operating systems. NTFS is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Server 2008, vista and windows 7.

Operating System - A program which acts as an interface between the user of a computer and the computer hardware. The purpose of the operating system is to provide an environment in which a user may run software applications. The goal of the operating system is to enable the user to conveniently use the computer’s resources such as the CPU, memory, storage devices and printers.

Partioning - Method for creating a logical file structure that the operating system can access. Method for dividing an area on the disc drive for use by more than one disc operating system, or for dividing large disc drives into areas which the file allocation table (FAT) can deal with when in use.

RAID - RAID (redundant array of independent discs) is a concept in storage subsystems that can deliver higher levels of protection against down-time and data loss than conventional disc drives. RAID refers to a drive architecture designed to safeguard critical data through redundancy. In theory, RAID arrays composed of conventional discs can function for hundreds or even thousands of years without losing data because of a disc failure. RAID also offers other benefits: it can improve input/output performance, make servicing simpler and quicker and allow users to fine-tune the drive system to match the needs of specific applications.

Sector - A sector is a section of track whose size is determined by formatting. When used as an address component, sector and location refer to the sequence number of the sector around the track. Typically, one sector stores one user record of data. Determining how many sectors per track to use is dependent on the system type, the controller capabilities, and the drive encoding method and interface.

SCSI - Acronym for Small Computer System Interface (pronounced skuh-zee), is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices. SCSI is most commonly used for hard disks and tape drives, but it can connect a wide range of other devices, including scanners and CD drives.

Volume - A portion or division of space on a physical disk that can function independently.

Tags:FAT/NTFS,RAID,SCSI,Partition