Which file allocation method is used for USB pen drives?

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Beltron Programmer 1 Oct 2023 Official Paper

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Answer 1

The correct answer is Option 3) FAT.

Key Points

FAT (File Allocation Table) is the most commonly used file system for USB pen drives.
It is lightweight, simple, and widely supported across multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Variants of FAT include FAT16, FAT32, and exFAT — with FAT32 and exFAT being the most common in modern USB storage devices.
FAT works by maintaining a table that keeps track of which clusters on the storage medium belong to which files, supporting both small and large files efficiently.

Additional Information

Option 1 – Contiguous file allocation: Allocates consecutive memory blocks, efficient but rarely used due to fragmentation issues.
Option 2 – EXT2: A file system primarily used by Linux systems, not commonly used in USB drives.
Option 4 – Indexed file allocation: Uses an index block to point to data blocks — used in systems like UNIX's inode-based file system, not typically in USBs.
Why FAT is preferred:
- High compatibility across devices
- Simple structure suitable for flash-based storage
- Supports plug-and-play functionality on various platforms