Quick overview:
Live tiles, okay - but what else? Hard disks! Under Windows 8, file systems work differently, more securely, even on desktop PCs. A better NTFS should solve problems during operation. HDs can now be larger than 2 terabytes. But the most important feature is called: storage virtualization. Attached disks are combined in the "storage pool", so drives can be enlarged at any time, data can be mirrored multiple times and distributed more efficiently.
An NTFS that is repaired on the side
Microsoft has improved the NTFS HD file storage format in Windows 8. As a result, system start-ups now have to be performed less often. You will no doubt be familiar with the blue Windows screen when the system has to run ChkDsk at startup to correct errors. Exactly these system charts are now reduced with the new NTFS for Win 8 disks. Windows now attempts to carry out repairs while the system is running. This also includes spot verification, in which the operating system carries out targeted repairs to the hard disk in order to reduce downtime. During operation, repairs are carried out when the system has nothing else to do, i.e. completely smoothly. In addition, it is now also checked whether it is actually related to the hard disk or whether it is possibly just a memory error.
Advanced format disks from two terrabytes
But Microsoft has also put more focus on the hard disks themselves with Windows 8. Microsoft has consistently optimized Windows 8 for the new Advanced Format hard disks, also known as AF disks. While conventional hard disks save in sectors of 512 bytes, the sectors on the advanced format hard disks are eight times larger at 4 kilobytes. Windows 8 can now manage disks with an average size of 2Tbyte (two terabytes) almost effortlessly. This also means that any number of physical hard disks can be connected. The architecture of Windows 8 knows no limits here. Whether SATA or USB, even JBODs are integrated. This means that Windows 8 can create a storage virtualization from this. A storage pool is created from all connected HDs, meaning that a file can be stored on several storage media if corresponding virtual drives have been created.
Storage virtualization
One of the big advantages: A virtual drive can have 20 Tbytes, even though only three 2-Tbyte disks are connected. Windows 8 reserves storage space on all three hard disks for the virtual drive; if more is required, Windows 8 will indicate this. The storage capacity of individual drives can be adjusted at any time. And as described above, numerous and differently connected disks can be used. Microsoft itself has tested the capability with more than 100 hard disks. Data can also be backed up in various configurable ways. This includes double or triple mirroring of the HDs as well as parity support. With the latter method, a direct data recovery can be started effortlessly even in the event of a failed HD drive. Of course, all this opens up a great many possibilities, none of which can be listed in detail here. However, if you would like to know more, you can find further information on this topic here.
Author of the article image: Mikko J Pitkanen (Fotolia)
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At last! I always wondered why Windows 7 couldn't do this, but this time Microsoft seems to have done its homework. The large hard disks are gaining ground and the capacity limit does not seem to have been reached for the time being.
The option of connecting several disks to form a virtual drive is also very practical, especially if you have disks that are smaller and would be unsuitable as individual media disks, for example. However, it is also important to bear in mind that data security decreases with each additional disk in the network.
I am curious to see whether the new functions can replace the outdated and comparatively complicated RAID system.