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Enter a keyword...   ...or choose a category. choose one... Communications Computer Industry Companies Computer Science Data Graphics Hardware Internet and Online Services Mobile Computing Multimedia Networks Operating Systems Programming Software Standards Types of Computers World Wide Web   sector Last modified: Monday, November 24, 2003  The smallest unit that can be accessed on a disk. When a disk undergoes a low-level format, it is divided into tracks and sectors. The tracks are concentric circles around the disk and the sectors are segments within each circle. For example, a formatted disk might have 40 tracks, with each track divided into 10 sectors. The operating system and disk drive keep tabs on where information is stored on the disk by noting its track and sector number. Modern hard disk drives use a technique called zoned-bit recording in which tracks on the outside of the disk contain more sectors than those on the inside. A sector that cannot be used due to a physical flaw on the disk is called a bad sector.   Related Categories Disk Drives Related Terms bad sector cluster disk format interleave platter track zoned-bit recording Shopping sector Products Compare Products,Prices and Stores Shop by Category: Watches 97 Store Offers Sport and Outdoor 849 Store Offers Removable Media 32 Model Matches