Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 46 Computer Service and Repair File System Structure Th ere are many diff erent fi le system types supported by modern desktop and mobile operating systems. File systems all have similar or common characteristics for man- aging storage. Programs and user fi les are stored as data on computers via the fi le system, which handles the formatting and organizing of storage devices, such as hard drives, solid-state drives, CDs, and USB sticks. Th e basic structure is made of data repositories called directories, subdirectories, and fi les. A directory is a special type of fi le used to group or contain other fi les together in a hierarchical fi le structure. Specifi cally in Windows, a directory is often referred to as a folder. A subdirectory is a fi le that subdivides the content of a directory. A subdirectory is often referred to as a subfolder and is analogous to a folder within a folder. Directory and subdirectory are relative terms found in Unix, Linux and macOS, while Windows uses the term folder to mean the same thing. A fi le is a program or a collection of data that forms a single unit. Examine Figure 2-7, which shows a typical directory and fi le structure. It shows the relationship of the root directory, directories, subdirectories, and fi les. In both Unix and Windows OS, the root directory is at the top of the directory structure. Windows uses letters to label disk drives. By default, the C:\ appears at the top for the OS or system drive in Figure 2-7. Th us, the root directory is C: (the hard drive). Next, there are directories or folders stemming from the root directory, for example, Games and School. Looking at the example again, you will see that English is a subdirectory to School. Both English and School are directories, but the placement in the structure determines if it is a subdirectory. Both directories and subdirectories can contain fi les. Under the directory Games, you can see several game fi les, such as Hearts and Solitaire. A pathname is used to identify the location of a specifi c fi le. Look at Figure 2-8. Th e Windows pathname for the fi le is This PC C: Users outsidetech. Th e This PC in the directory structure identifi es the local user computer or workstation. C:\ is the root directory, Users is the fi rst directory, and outsidetech is a subdirectory of Users. Th e bottom subdirectory reveals a collection of additional sub-folders, which are subdirectories such as Contacts, Favorites, and Music to give a partial listing. Most of the Windows operating system fi les are located by default in the Windows folder on the C: partition or drive. Th e pathname for this location is 1002: 2.6 C:\ Games School Hearts Solitaire Pinball Pacman Science English Term1Rep GatesBio BookRep Term2Rep ShortStory Root directory Files Directory Subdirectory Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 2-7 The basic fi le structure used in many fi le systems is made of directories, subdirectories, and fi les.