HDa vs HDb: Difference in Pin Settings & File System

  • Thread starter Shawnzyoo
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In summary, the conversation is about a disagreement regarding the labeling of hard drives in a Linux system. The speaker inserted a hard drive labeled hda and later changed the pin setting to make it appear as hdb. They are questioning if the two are related and how the file system sees different pin selections. The response clarifies that this is a naming convention used by Linux for IDE drives.
  • #1
Shawnzyoo
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So I got into an argument with a buddy over the following:
I originally inserted a hard drive into my system and it was labeled hda, what i hadn't notice was that it was on the master pin setting
now when i switched the pin to the slave setting and rebooted it showed it as hdb
are the two related? or completely unrelated and just a coincedence?
how does the file system see the different pin selections (if it sees it at all)?
Thanks
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  • #2
There is nothing wrong there. This is a naming convention that linux uses to assign labels to IDE drives.

hda primary master
hdb primary slave
hdc secondary master
hdd secondary slave
 
  • #3


The difference between HDa and HDb lies in the pin settings and the file system. When you inserted the hard drive, it was initially labeled as HDa because it was set to the master pin setting. However, when you switched the pin to the slave setting, it became labeled as HDb. This is not a coincidence, as the labeling of the hard drive is directly related to the pin settings.

The file system does see the different pin selections and it can affect the way the hard drive is recognized and accessed by the system. The master and slave settings determine the order in which the hard drives are accessed by the system, with the master being the primary drive and the slave being the secondary drive. This can impact the performance of the hard drives and the overall system.

It's important to ensure that the correct pin settings are selected for each hard drive in order to avoid any potential conflicts or performance issues. So, in conclusion, the difference between HDa and HDb is not just a coincidence, but rather a result of the pin settings and their impact on the file system.
 

1. What is the difference between HDa and HDb in terms of pin settings?

HDa and HDb are both types of hard drives, but they differ in terms of their pin settings. HDa has 40 pins, while HDb has 44 pins. This means that they have different physical connections and cannot be used interchangeably.

2. Does the pin setting affect the performance of the hard drive?

Yes, the pin setting can affect the performance of a hard drive. More pins allow for more data to be transferred at once, so HDb may have a slight advantage in terms of speed compared to HDa. However, the overall performance also depends on other factors such as the speed of the drive and the computer's processing power.

3. Can I use an adapter to convert HDa to HDb or vice versa?

While there are adapters available in the market, they may not always work reliably. This is because the pin configurations are different for HDa and HDb, and the adapter may not be able to handle the transfer of data properly. It is recommended to use the correct type of hard drive for your system.

4. What is the difference between the file systems used in HDa and HDb?

HDa and HDb may use different file systems, depending on the operating system they are used with. For example, HDa may use FAT32 or NTFS, while HDb may use HFS+ or APFS. These file systems determine how data is stored, organized, and accessed on the hard drive.

5. Can I convert the file system of my hard drive from HDa to HDb or vice versa?

Yes, it is possible to convert the file system of a hard drive from HDa to HDb or vice versa. However, this process can be complicated and may result in data loss. It is recommended to back up your data before attempting to convert the file system of a hard drive.

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