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T/F: The cluster is the fundamental unit of allocation in NTFS.

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Final answer:

True, the cluster is the fundamental unit of allocation in NTFS, essential for managing the way data is stored on a disk.

Clusters, composed of multiple sectors, are allocated to hold files, typically being 4 kilobytes in size in most systems.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement "The cluster is the fundamental unit of allocation in NTFS" is true. In the NTFS file system, which stands for New Technology File System, a cluster, also known as an allocation unit, is the smallest amount of disk space that can be allocated to hold a file. All file storage in NTFS is done in clusters, with the size of a cluster being determined by the size of the volume.

When a file is saved on an NTFS volume, it is broken into pieces small enough to fit into these clusters. The size of these clusters can range from 512 bytes to 64 kilobytes, but they are typically 4 kilobytes on most volumes due to the balance of space efficiency and file system overhead. NTFS is also capable of supporting very large files and volumes, in part, because it uses clusters efficiently.

It's important to understand that while clusters are the fundamental units of allocation, they are composed of smaller units called sectors, which are the smallest units of storage on a disk. However, for the purposes of file allocation and management, the cluster is the key unit within NTFS.

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