Definition: Sector


A 512-byte packet of data in EIDE and SCSI hard drives. This is the smallest amount of data that can be read or written to the drive from the host interface. On Macintosh and Unix drives, sectors are usually grouped into blocks or logical blocks that function as the smallest data unit permitted. Since these blocks are often defined as a single sector, the terms block and sector are sometimes used interchangeably in this context. (Note: The meaning of the term block in connection with the physical configuration of the disk is different from its meaning at the system level. (See also block and cluster.)




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Data Recovery Fact

RAM

Random Access Memory. Memory that allows any storage location to be accessed randomly, as opposed to tape drives, which are sequential access devices. Chips in the computer used for temporary storage of data.

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