27. sub-directories

• Where are sub-directories located on the media?

  • A subdirectory is treated by a FAT system as a file.

  • A subdirectory that is right off the root has an entry in the root directory just like any other file and the Directory attribute bit is ON.

  • The actual subdirectory, with the same format as the root directory, will start in the cluster indicated in the directory entry in the root directory.

  • A subdirectory of a subdirectory works the same way; the subdirectory has an entry in the directory of the subdirectory's parent.

  • It is worth noting that although FAT16 has a limit of 512 entries in the root directory, there is no such limit to the number of files on a FAT16 medium.

  • With the use of subdirectories, there is no logical limit to the number of files on the disk besides physical limit.