Distinguish between disk formatting and disk partitioning as used in an ICT operating system. (4 marks)June/July 2020

Disk formatting is the process of preparing a storage device for use by creating a file system on the device. During the formatting process, the operating system writes data to the device that is needed to organize and access the data stored on the device. Formatting a disk wipes out any existing data on the disk, so it is important to make sure that any important data is backed up before formatting the disk.

Disk partitioning is the process of dividing a storage device into separate logical units, known as partitions. Each partition appears to the operating system as a separate disk, and data can be stored and organized separately on each partition. Disk partitioning can be useful for organizing data, separating the operating system and user data, or creating multiple partitions for different purposes, such as a separate partition for data backups.