Data Recovery and Digital Storage Glossary

• FAT
  A table that the operating system uses to locate files on a disk. Due to fragmentation, a file may be divided into many sections that are scattered around the disk. The FAT keeps track of all these pieces. In DOS systems, FATs are stored just after the boot sector. The FAT system for older versions of Windows 95 is called FAT16, and the one for new versions of Windows 95 and Windows 98 is called FAT32.
  
  
• Finalized CD
  Once the CD has been finalized, it may then be read on any CD-ROM drive and standard audio CD players (audio). Once is a disc is finalized no more information may be added.
  
  
• FireWire®
  IEEE 1394. Many computers have a port for connecting FireWire devices. The FireWire port allows you to connect high speed devices, such as digital camcorders, audio recorders, and external storage, to your computer. The FireWire interface allows you to connect up to 63 devices to your computer. You can connect and disconnect devices to your computer, while it is running, without having to worry about setting device IDs, switches, or terminators required by many other interfaces.
  
  

  There are two types of FireWire connectors (400 standard or FireWire "A"). Most desktop computers have 6-pin FireWire connectors, and most laptop computers have 4-pin FireWire connectors. Computers that have 6-pin connectors can supply power to some devices.

  4-pin FireWire 400 (A) Port

  

  6-pin FireWire 400 (A) Port

  

  FireWire was originally developed by Apple Computer, Inc. FireWire is also known by its industry standard designation IEEE 1394, Sony® i.Link® or just 1394. Look for "1394" or one of the following logos to locate the FireWire connector on your computer:

  FireWire "A" devices and connections can transfer data at 400 Mb/s. FireWire "B" devices and connections can transfer data at 800 Mb/s. Future versions of FireWire might be able to transfer data at even higher rates.

• FireWire "B"
  Refers to devices, connectors, and cables compliant with the high speed FireWire 800 standard. A beta Firewire cable is a FireWire 800 cable with 9-pin "B" connectors on both ends of the cable. This cable is designed to support the full speed of FireWire 800. A bilingual Firewire cable has a 9-pin "B" connector on one end, for connecting to a 800Mpbs device or port, and an "A" connector (either 6-pin or 4-pin) on the other end. FireWire 800 is backwards compatible, so a bilingual FireWire cable supports connecting a FireWire 400 device to a FireWire 800 port or vice versa.
  
  

  9-pin FireWire 800 (B) Port