FAT File System
The file allocation table (FAT) driver works with any external storage cards that you can plug into your target device, such as Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) cards, linear flash cards, and, primarily, PC Cards. These cards can contain a file system partitioned into sections. Each section is mounted as a FAT volume and placed under a special folder in the root directory. The device driver associated with the card provides the name of the mounted folder. If no name is provided, the name Storage Card is used to mount the file system. Once the file system is mounted, it can hold folders, files, and databases.
The following table shows the FAT file system IOCTLs.
| IOCTL | Description |
|---|---|
| IOCTL_DISK_FORMAT_VOLUME | Formats a FAT volume. |
| IOCTL_DISK_SCAN_VOLUME | Scans a FAT volume for errors. |
The following table shows the FAT file system utility functions.
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| DefragVolume | Defragments files on a volume and removes any free space in fragmentation. It calls scan disk first to verify volume is free from errors. |
| DefragVolumeUI | Defragments a volume according to the options specified. It contains a dialog box user interface that can be displayed standalone or invoked from another place such as a control panel window. |
| FormatVolume | Formats a volume according to the options specified. |
| FormatVolumeUI | Formats a volume according to the options specified. It contains a dialog box user interface that can be displayed standalone or invoked from another place such as a control panel window. |
| ScanVolume | Scans a volume for errors in the FAT and directories, and for lost clusters according to the options specified. |
| ScanVolumeUI | Scans a volume according to the options specified. It contains a dialog box user interface (UI) that can be displayed alone or invoked from another place, such as a control panel window. |
See Also
FAT File System Registry Settings | Creating FSDs | Loading FSDs | Storage Manager | File System Filters | Block Drivers | How to Configure a FAT File System
Last updated on Wednesday, April 13, 2005
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