A disk has 100 sectors. Each sector is 512 bytes, and the cluster size is 4…
2024
A disk has 100 sectors. Each sector is 512 bytes, and the cluster size is 4 sectors. What is the maximum file size that can be stored on this disk?
Answer: C. 51,200 bytes — Concept Disk capacity equals the number of addressable sectors multiplied by the bytes in each sector. When allocation uses fixed-size clusters, the number of…
- A.
20,480 bytes
- B.
40,960 bytes
- C.
51,200 bytes
- D.
409,600 bytes
Attempted by 143 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
Disk capacity equals the number of addressable sectors multiplied by the bytes in each sector.
When allocation uses fixed-size clusters, the number of complete clusters is the total sector count divided by the sectors per cluster; multiplying complete clusters by bytes per cluster gives the same capacity when there is no leftover sector.
Application
One cluster stores 4 × 512 = 2,048 bytes.
The disk contains 100 ÷ 4 = 25 complete clusters.
Therefore, the largest file that can occupy all 25 clusters has size 25 × 2,048 = 51,200 bytes.
Cross-check
Using sectors directly gives 100 × 512 = 51,200 bytes, which matches the cluster-based calculation.
Result: The maximum file size is 51,200 bytes.