UDF is a specialized file system that does not depend on the OS and is designed to store files on various media. It is worth noting that UDF is an implementation of the ISO / IEC 13346 standard, and it was developed in order to become a complete replacement for ISO 9660.
Universality, as well as the possibility of using it in various operating systems, provides for the use of this file system not only when recording any optical discs, but also when processing other removable media, among which are portable hard drives, as well as all kinds of flash drives.
What features does this file system have?
The UDF file system provides the ability to subsequently additionally write files to CD-R or CD-RW format on a single file, without causing a loss of disk space. In addition, this file system takes into account the ability to selectively erase certain files on rewritable media, subsequently freeing up disk space.
File system metadata, including the root directory, can be found in any sector of the disk, but their root itself is located exclusively in sector 256 or 257.
It is worth noting that the UDF file system is also provided for DVD media, as it has better support for large disks. In other words, unlike similar file systems, there are no restrictions on writing 2 GB or 4 GB. It is possible to use fragmented files.
What versions are there?
After its development, the UDF file system became quite widespread, as a result of which it was constantly improved and updated. Thus, over time, several different versions of it appeared:
1.02
Initially, this version was developed in order to provide a more efficient DVD burning with multimedia files. This operating system is supported by Windows 98, as well as many versions of Apple's operating systems. It can be used under DVD-RAM, as well as magneto-optical discs.
1.50
The UDF file system of this version differs from the previous ones in that it contains support for virtual rewriting of CDs and DVD-Rs by introducing Virtual Allocation Table technology. In addition, special backup file tables were introduced into the system, which made it possible to determine the presence of any damage on rewritable optical media. This file system was already supported in Windows 2000, Linux 2.4, as well as the growing popularity of Mac OS 9.
2.0
A slight improvement on the previous version is to support streaming files as well as real-time files during DVD burning. Among other things, with the introduction of this version, the UDF file system has become easier to manage directories, and also significantly expanded support for VAT.
2.01
After the introduction of version 2.0, a huge number of different errors were found. For this reason, after 2 years, version 2.01 was released, in which the overwhelming majority of errors were completely fixed. It is also worth noting that in this version a rather large number of ambiguities of the standard were explained. Version is supported by Windows XP.
2.50
A significant update to the file system, which took it to a whole new level. The UDF format now has a metadata section that facilitates the general grouping of metadata. In addition, this file system has become much more secure, since the procedure for recovering information and optionally duplicating file system data has been greatly simplified. The system works with Windows Vista and higher. It is worth noting that if you use Windows XP or an earlier version, then in this case you may not open this UDF file system. What is it? A simple lack of OS support.
2.60
This version provides pseudo dubbing technology on disks onto which sequential data recording has been performed. Supported on Windows Vista and higher.
It is worth noting that the development process envisages an even greater expansion of the volume that the UDF file system will support. What will it be? No one can say yet, but it is known that in the future it will be possible to use this file system for very voluminous hard drives, as well as various holographic media.
Support
Windows XP operating systems provide the ability to support this file system in versions from 1.02 to 2.01 on reading. Using specialized utilities, you can work with various CD-RWs or DVD-RWs in the same way as with standard large disks. In other words, you can write, read, delete and rename files, that is, directly carry out various available operations with them in an interactive mode without the need for specialized commands. If we consider the operating systems Vista and 7, then they also have regular tools that allow you to use optical media in interactive mode.
The file system is also actively supported on Linux. In order to create a disk with such a system, almost all modern versions of programs that are needed to create images can be used. If you use udftools, then in this case it will even be possible to format the disks in this file system, and then use them similarly to large diskettes.
When is it better to use it?
Despite the fact that the file system UDF 2.01 and other versions appeared a long time ago, to date it does not have any actual replacement, so it is very, very popular.
The UDF format is optional for a CD-ROM, but if it comes to burning a DVD, then its use is more than relevant. Of course, DVDs are also often recorded in the ISO standard, but in fact, any specialist will say that the UDF file system is much better used for this. Not everyone knows how to open such files, but in fact there is no difficulty in finding the appropriate utility on the Internet.
What are its advantages?
For example, you already have some kind of recorded RW-disk. What can you do with it after that? If there is still free space on the disk, then in this case you can fill it with new files, and if the disk is already full, but you want to write something to it, you will have to completely erase all information from it and overwrite it him again. All this takes a fairly large amount of time, and also forces you to completely delete all information from this medium.
You can also give another example. If any reports are stored on your disk, then for the subsequent recording of a new version of the report you will need to re-create the session. At the same time, as we know, after overwriting the session, the files of the old one will continue to remain on the disk and, accordingly, take up free space, as a result of which it may turn out that there is only one file on the disk that is 1 MB in size, but with this is no longer free space, since all previous sessions occupy it.
For this reason, if you want to work with your disks as with standard hard drives, then in this case you should use the UDF file system. It’s not difficult to find out how to open such files, and the volume of such programs for downloading is small.
Thus, using this file system, you can easily delete files, after which they will be physically erased from the disk and will not occupy its volume. In other words, in order to free up free space on the disk, you will not need to format it completely - just erase any data you don’t need.
How to do it?
Creating a disk that will use the UDF or ISO file system is quite simple - you can use the popular Nero Burning ROM program these days:
- Initially, the "New Project" section opens, after which the CD-ROM (UDF) or DVD-ROM (UDF) item is selected.
- Now you will need to specify the file system parameters that are optimal for you. Immediately it is worth noting that if you do not understand this, you do not need to intervene, since the default is quite acceptable characteristics.
- Ultimately, you will need to create a physical partition and use the file system version 1.2.
After you burn the disc in this way, all restrictions specific to the ISO file system will be completely removed. However, there remains one small remark, which, however, confuses a few - the disk can be called exclusively in capital letters, and its length should not be more than 32 characters. The use of spaces is also not provided.
Mixed format recording
The latest versions of this program provide the ability to use the ISO / UDF format, that is, you can work with it even when not only the UDF file system is used. Will a computer read DVD in this format? Of course, yes, if you use a modern operating system.
In order to make such a disc, you will need to select the DVD-ROM (ISO / UDF) or CD-ROM (ISO / UDF) option, which are the last in the list of formats, in the "New Project" window. Such a disk combines the directory structure of each of the considered formats.
It is worth noting that recording in a mixed format is quite optimal and is not bad for storing files. In this case, the creation of such a medium is similar to the creation of a standard data disk.
Note
Since two file structures will be used on the disk at the same time, it will have a slightly lower usable capacity compared to the usual one, since two structures require a larger volume. That is why, if you are burning a CD or DVD, but in full, it is better if you just use the UDF file system. How to write, we already figured out, now we need to understand how to open such files.
How to open?
Problems with opening the file system are often found in modern users. Often you may encounter such a situation that, for example, a file with music is sent to the file, on which the UDF file system is indicated. Will the head unit read such a file? How to open it? For those to whom this file system is unknown, many questions open.
To open the file itself, in modern operating systems it is often enough to simply double-click on it, after which the OS will choose which program to use to open it. If you cannot open your file, then in such a case there may be a situation where your computer does not have the application you need that allows you to open or edit files with this permission.
If your computer opens the file, but at the same time tries to use the wrong program for this, then in this case you will need to make changes to the file associations in the Windows registry. The problem here is that Windows considers the files with this extension the wrong programs.
In the event that on your computer there is no program at all that could open this extension, then you will need to download it. Of the programs with a nice and simple interface, FileViewPro can be distinguished.