36:
448:
removing drive letters or mount-points for a drive may break some programs, as some files may not be accessible under the known path. For example, if a program is installed at "D:\Program Files\Some
Program", it may expect to find its data files at "D:\Program Files\Some Program\Data". If the logical
164:
might be accessible as a volume, even though it does not contain a partition, as floppy disks cannot be partitioned with most modern computer software. Also, an OS can recognize a partition without recognizing any volume associated with it, as when the OS cannot interpret the filesystem stored there.
181:
world with the "Extended
Partition". While these are partitions, they cannot contain a filesystem directly. Instead, "logical drives" (also known as volumes) must be created within them. This is also the case with NetWare volumes residing inside of a single partition. In short, volumes exist at the
461:
operating systems, volumes other than the boot volume have a mount-point somewhere within the filesystem, represented by a path. Logically, the directory tree stored on the volume is grafted in at the mountpoint. By convention, mount-points will often be placed in a directory called '/mnt', though
736:
Partition A portion of the hard disk. In many cases, this is the entire hard disk space, but it needn't be. Volume A unit of disk space composed of one or more sections of one or more disks. Prior versions of
Windows Server used volume only when referring to dynamic disks, but Windows Server 2008
501:
In order to better visualize this concept, one might consider the example of a large library. If a non-fiction work is originally classified as having the subject "plants", but then has to be moved to the subject "flora", one does not need to refile the book, whose position on the shelf would be
497:
Files within a volume can generally be moved to any other place within that volume by manipulating the filesystem, without moving the actual data. However, if a file is to be moved outside the volume, the data itself must be relocated, which is a much more expensive operation.
515:
761:
In
Windows Server 2008 the distinction between volumes and partitions is somewhat murky. When using Disk Management, a regular partition on a basic disk is called a simple volume, even though technically a simple volume requires that the disk be a dynamic
422:
privileges. This assignment will be remembered by the same OS on the same PC next time a removable volume is inserted, as long as there are no conflicts, and as long as the removable drive has not been reformatted on another computer (which changes its
430:
On
Windows XP, mount points may be managed through the Disk Management snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console. This can be most conveniently accessed through "Computer Management" in the "Administrative Tools" section of the
449:
disk previously called "D:" has its drive letter changed to "E:", "Some
Program" won't be able to find its data at "D:\Program Files\Some Program\Data", since the drive letter "D:" no longer represents that volume.
624:
line it is human-configurable, has a maximum length of six characters, is in uppercase, must start with a letter, and identifies a volume to the system in unique manner. For example, "SYSRES" is often used for a
611:
is generally unique and is not normally changed by the user, and thus acts as a more consistent and reliable identifier of when a volume has been changed (as when a disk is removed and another inserted).
518:
Command prompt of
Windows XP showing volume label and volume serial number of drive C:. In this example, if a volume label were not set, "has no label." would be shown in place of "is 0320NS 13".
694:. However, even at that time the volume label was not required to be unique and was optional. Therefore, many users had not given disks any meaningful name and the old method failed.
562:
that are also disallowed for regular filenames. In the NTFS filesystem, the length of its volume label is restricted to 32 characters, and can include lowercase characters and even
152:. Although a volume might be different from a physical disk drive, it can still be accessed with an operating system's logical interface. However, a volume differs from a partition.
208:
system with two physical hard disks. The first hard disk has two partitions, the second has only one. The first partition of the first hard disk contains the operating system.
188:
It isn't uncommon to see a volume packed into a single file. Examples include ISO9660 disc images (CD/DVD images, commonly called "ISOs"), and installer volumes for Mac OS X (
600:
directory, whose creation timestamp is set when
Windows creates the partition, or when it first recognizes a repartitioning (the creation of a new volume) by a separate
592:
that allows it to be renamed, either of which is the same process as for renaming a file. Changing the label in
Windows will also change the volume creation
182:
logical OS level, and partitions exist at the physical, media specific level. Sometimes there is a one-to-one correspondence, but this is not guaranteed.
686:
The volume serial number is a 32-bit number determined by the date and time on the real-time clock on the current computer at the time of a disk's
786:
Windows Server 2008 simplifies the Disk
Management user interface by using one set of dialog boxes and wizards for both partitions and volumes.
300:
53:
570:
filsystem, the length of its volume label is also restricted to 11 characters, but can include lowercase characters and Unicode. The
857:
119:
672:
358:
In these two examples, a file called "Track 1.mp3" stored in the root directory of the mounted volume could be referred to as "
100:
418:
and other removable drives typically still start at "D:", letters A and B are available for manual assignment by a user with
72:
57:
667:
is present in a drive or not, and to detect if it was exchanged with another one. This identification system was created by
506:. However, to move the book to another library, adjusting index cards alone is insufficient. The entire book must be moved.
316:
185:
In Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and onward, the term "volume" is used as a superset that includes "partition" as well.
79:
892:
645:
369:
In order to assign a mount point for a volume as a path within another volume, the following criteria must be met:
86:
46:
597:
331:. As a result, Windows will assign at least one path to each mounted volume, which will take one of two forms:
68:
432:
823:
296:
649:
527:
466:
328:
145:
376:
A directory must exist at the root path. (As of Windows Vista, it can be any subdirectory in a volume)
547:
424:
419:
690:. Previously, determination by the OS of whether a disk was swapped was done by reading the drive's
340:
617:
853:
559:
474:
411:
312:
93:
27:
Storage area with a single filesystem, typically resident on a single partition of a hard disk
774:
588:
can be pressed while the volume is highlighted, or a right-click on the name will bring up a
581:
189:
530:
filesystem, the volume label was traditionally restricted to 11 characters (reflecting the
849:
687:
613:
572:
465:
To use a given path as a mount-point for another volume, a directory (sometimes called a "
149:
165:
This situation occurs, for example, when Windows NT-based OSes encounter disks with non-
877:
749:
724:
481:
For example, if a CD-ROM drive containing a text file called 'info.txt' was mounted at '
410:
drive is still most commonly assigned "C:", however this is not always the case. Since
543:
539:
535:
886:
837:
699:
637:
403:
192:). As these volumes are files which reside within another volume, they certainly are
514:
304:
704:
664:
641:
601:
589:
415:
336:
680:
656:
209:
161:
141:
35:
842:
799:
616:
changes the serial number, but relabeling does not. It originated in 1950s in
503:
308:
205:
668:
596:
to the current date and time for FAT filesystems. NTFS partitions have the
593:
551:
458:
166:
17:
438:
More than one drive letter can refer to a single volume, as when using the
315:, volumes are handled by the kernel and managed using the Disk Management
629:. Operating systems may use the volume serial number as mountpoint name.
383:
By default, Windows will assign drive letters to all drives, as follows:
534:
restrictions, but not divided into name and extension fields) even when
775:"Use Built-In Tools to Create Partitions and Volumes in Windows Server"
563:
407:
621:
576:
command is used to change the label in DOS, Windows, and OS/2. For
427:), and as long as the OS has not been reinstalled on the computer.
567:
513:
439:
292:
178:
174:
546:
bit set, and also copied to an 11-byte field within the Extended
676:
653:
555:
526:
is the name given to a specific volume in a filesystem. In the
347:
170:
577:
531:
160:
A volume is not the same thing as a partition. For example, a
29:
707:
to display the current label and serial number of a volume.
396:
Removable disks, including optical media (e.g. CDs and DVDs)
387:"A:" and "B:" to floppy disk drives, whether present or not
550:
of the disk's boot sector. The label is always stored as
144:, typically (though not necessarily) resident on a single
60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
841:
502:static, but rather, one needs only to replace the
140:is a single accessible storage area with a single
538:was enabled, stored as an entry within a disk's
478:command to manipulate mount points for volumes.
327:Windows NT-based OSes do not have a single root
339:, in the form of a single letter followed by a
279:Hard Disk 1 and Hard Disk 2 are physical disks.
462:'/media' and other terms are sometimes used.
373:The mounted-to volume must be formatted NTFS.
8:
390:"C:" and subsequent letters, as needed, to:
295:systems, volumes are usually handled by the
485:', the text file would be accessible at '
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
800:"Changing a Disk's Volume Serial Number"
585:
214:
716:
350:volume having a drive letter, such as "
282:Any of these can be called a "drive".
7:
663:is a feature used to determine if a
472:Unix-like operating systems use the
414:now no longer include floppies, and
58:adding citations to reliable sources
777:. Microsoft Corporation. 2008-06-18
737:uses it to mean partitions as well.
319:or the Diskpart command line tool.
301:Enterprise Volume Management System
323:Windows NT-based operating systems
25:
406:convention, the operating system
276:"C:", "D:", and "E:" are volumes.
725:"Understanding Disk Terminology"
558:filesystems, and cannot contain
177:. Another example occurs in the
34:
45:needs additional citations for
607:In contrast to the label, the
173:filesystem commonly used with
1:
703:command can be used from the
379:That directory must be empty.
824:"Issue with .XPSF playlists"
675:during their development of
542:with a special volume-label
212:have been left at defaults.
132:In computer data storage, a
798:Glass, Brett (1998-02-06).
453:Unix-like operating systems
169:OS partitions, such as the
909:
156:Differences from partition
804:Brett Glass To The Rescue
598:System Volume Information
510:Labels and serial numbers
231:
878:Hard Links and Junctions
750:"Partitions and Volumes"
204:This example concerns a
752:. Microsoft Corporation
727:. Microsoft Corporation
679:. It was introduced in
627:system residence volume
69:"Volume" computing
620:operating systems. In
519:
303:and manipulated using
297:Logical Volume Manager
517:
493:Data management speed
487:/mnt/iso9660/info.txt
469:") must exist there.
661:volume serial number
634:volume serial number
609:volume serial number
548:BIOS Parameter Block
425:volume serial number
364:C:\Music\Track 1.mp3
346:A mount-point on an
54:improve this article
311:-based versions of
876:MSDN's article on
618:mainframe computer
560:special characters
520:
412:personal computers
272:In this example,
893:Disk file systems
366:", respectively.
313:Microsoft Windows
270:
269:
130:
129:
122:
104:
16:(Redirected from
900:
864:
863:
847:
834:
828:
827:
820:
814:
813:
811:
810:
795:
789:
788:
783:
782:
771:
765:
764:
758:
757:
746:
740:
739:
733:
732:
721:
702:
582:Windows Explorer
575:
488:
484:
477:
402:Because of this
365:
361:
353:
215:
125:
118:
114:
111:
105:
103:
62:
38:
30:
21:
908:
907:
903:
902:
901:
899:
898:
897:
883:
882:
873:
868:
867:
860:
850:Microsoft Press
836:
835:
831:
822:
821:
817:
808:
806:
797:
796:
792:
780:
778:
773:
772:
768:
755:
753:
748:
747:
743:
730:
728:
723:
722:
718:
713:
698:
614:Disk formatting
587:
571:
512:
495:
486:
482:
473:
455:
363:
359:
351:
325:
289:
202:
158:
126:
115:
109:
106:
63:
61:
51:
39:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
906:
904:
896:
895:
885:
884:
881:
880:
872:
871:External links
869:
866:
865:
858:
838:Letwin, Gordon
829:
815:
790:
766:
741:
715:
714:
712:
709:
640:assigned to a
540:root directory
536:long file name
511:
508:
494:
491:
454:
451:
420:administrative
400:
399:
398:
397:
394:
388:
381:
380:
377:
374:
360:F:\Track 1.mp3
356:
355:
344:
343:, such as "F:"
324:
321:
288:
285:
284:
283:
280:
277:
268:
267:
264:
261:
258:
254:
253:
250:
247:
243:
242:
239:
236:
233:
229:
228:
225:
222:
219:
201:
198:
157:
154:
128:
127:
110:September 2014
42:
40:
33:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
905:
894:
891:
890:
888:
879:
875:
874:
870:
861:
859:1-55615-117-9
855:
851:
846:
845:
839:
833:
830:
825:
819:
816:
805:
801:
794:
791:
787:
776:
770:
767:
763:
751:
745:
742:
738:
726:
720:
717:
710:
708:
706:
701:
695:
693:
689:
684:
682:
678:
674:
670:
666:
662:
658:
655:
651:
647:
643:
639:
638:serial number
635:
630:
628:
623:
619:
615:
610:
605:
603:
599:
595:
591:
583:
580:systems like
579:
574:
569:
565:
561:
557:
553:
549:
545:
541:
537:
533:
529:
525:
516:
509:
507:
505:
499:
492:
490:
479:
476:
470:
468:
463:
460:
452:
450:
447:
443:
441:
436:
434:
433:Control Panel
428:
426:
421:
417:
413:
409:
405:
395:
392:
391:
389:
386:
385:
384:
378:
375:
372:
371:
370:
367:
349:
345:
342:
338:
334:
333:
332:
330:
322:
320:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
286:
281:
278:
275:
274:
273:
265:
262:
259:
256:
255:
251:
248:
245:
244:
240:
237:
234:
230:
227:Drive letter
226:
223:
220:
218:Physical disk
217:
216:
213:
211:
207:
199:
197:
195:
191:
186:
183:
180:
176:
172:
168:
163:
155:
153:
151:
147:
143:
139:
138:logical drive
135:
124:
121:
113:
102:
99:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71: –
70:
66:
65:Find sources:
59:
55:
49:
48:
43:This article
41:
37:
32:
31:
19:
843:
832:
818:
807:. Retrieved
803:
793:
785:
779:. Retrieved
769:
760:
754:. Retrieved
744:
735:
729:. Retrieved
719:
705:command line
696:
692:volume label
691:
685:
660:
657:file systems
633:
631:
626:
608:
606:
602:disk utility
590:context menu
524:volume label
523:
521:
500:
496:
483:/mnt/iso9660
480:
471:
464:
456:
445:
444:
437:
429:
416:optical disc
401:
382:
368:
357:
337:drive letter
326:
290:
287:Nomenclature
271:
210:Mount points
203:
196:partitions.
193:
187:
184:
159:
137:
133:
131:
116:
107:
97:
90:
83:
76:
64:
52:Please help
47:verification
44:
18:Volume label
844:Inside OS/2
681:MS-DOS 4.01
646:tape volume
642:disk volume
554:in FAT and
317:MMC snap-in
260:Partition 1
257:Hard Disk 2
246:Partition 2
235:Partition 1
232:Hard Disk 1
162:floppy disk
142:file system
809:2006-07-28
781:2014-06-10
756:2014-06-10
731:2014-06-10
711:References
688:formatting
566:. In the
504:index card
393:Hard disks
224:Filesystem
206:Windows XP
80:newspapers
683:in 1988.
669:Microsoft
594:timestamp
552:uppercase
544:attribute
459:Unix-like
442:command.
329:directory
221:Partition
167:Microsoft
150:hard disk
146:partition
887:Category
840:(1988).
446:Warning:
352:C:\Music
305:mount(8)
564:Unicode
408:startup
299:or the
200:Example
94:scholar
856:
648:. In
622:OS/360
467:folder
404:legacy
362:" or "
134:volume
96:
89:
82:
75:
67:
762:disk.
636:is a
573:label
568:exFAT
475:mount
440:SUBST
341:colon
307:. In
293:Linux
263:FAT32
249:FAT32
179:Intel
175:Linux
148:of a
101:JSTOR
87:books
854:ISBN
697:The
677:OS/2
671:and
665:disk
659:, a
654:NTFS
652:and
556:VFAT
348:NTFS
238:NTFS
190:DMGs
171:ext4
73:news
700:vol
673:IBM
650:FAT
644:or
578:GUI
532:8.3
528:FAT
489:'.
457:In
291:In
266:E:
252:D:
241:C:
194:not
136:or
56:by
889::
852:.
848:.
802:.
784:.
759:.
734:.
632:A
604:.
586:F2
584:,
522:A
435:.
335:A
309:NT
862:.
826:.
812:.
354:"
123:)
117:(
112:)
108:(
98:·
91:·
84:·
77:·
50:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
