Artificial Intelligence: A Force for Good

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  Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly developing technology with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives. While there are some concerns about the potential negative impacts of AI, there are also many ways that it can be used for good. Here are some examples of how AI is being used for good: Healthcare: AI is being used to develop new drugs and treatments, improve diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and provide personalized healthcare. For example, AI-powered systems are being used to analyze medical images and data to detect cancer and other diseases earlier and more accurately than ever before. Education: AI is being used to personalize learning, provide real-time feedback, and help students learn at their own pace. For example, AI-powered tutors can provide personalized feedback to students on their homework and help them identify areas where they need additional help. Environment: AI is being used to monitor and protect the environment. For ex...
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GPT vs. MBR Partitioning, A Quick Look

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Partitioning is a way to manage space for your server or PC that ensure the OS is in the right place to manage data. When a new medium is installed on a server or a personal computer, the operating system will not install data until the new storage device has been partitioned. However, some users may not understand which partition method to use when prompted. Below will outline the difference between GPT and MBR partitions, their limitations, and level of security. 

What is GPT and MBR partitions?

                Master Boot Record or MBR is an older method that is used for the standard BIOS partition table. Simultaneously, GUID Partition Table or GPT is used in Unified Extensible Firmware Interface or UEFI. “GPT is new. But the new one is not always better than the old one. Many vendors utilize MBR technology since it is still predominantly used in the real world. GPT disks have the advantages of partition size, the number of partitions, and resilience. If a computer that uses UEFI, it will only support GPT. So, when you upgrade your computer, it may be necessary to convert MBR to GPT at first.” (Catherine, 2019)

GPT and MBR comparison

Master Boot Record (MBR)

o   Maximum Partition Capacity: 2 TB

o   Maximum Partition Number: 4 Primary Partitions (or 3 primary partitions + an infinite number of logical partitions)

o   Firmware Interface Support: BIOS

o   Operating System Support: Windows 7 and older systems like Windows 95/98, XP 32-bit, Windows 2000, Windows 2003 32-bit

GUID Partition Table (GPT)

o   Maximum Partition Capacity: 9.4 ZB (1 zettabyte = 1 billion terabytes)

o   Maximum Partition Number: 128 primary partitions

o   Firmware Interface Support: UEFI

o   Operating System Support: New systems like Windows 10 32-bit, Windows 8/8.1/10 64-bit

               

Limitations, Security, and Avoiding Issues

MBR does have limitations as it only works with disks up to 2 TB in size. Also, MBR only supports up to four primary partitions, so if you require more, you will have to make one of the partitions an "extended partition" and create logical partitions within it. In comparison, GPT can produce up to 128 primary partitions. In the sense of security, GPT has more of an advantage as it contains a CRC32 checksum for itself and a partition table. Suppose by any chance, there is an error. In that case, the operating system can use the checksum to diagnose the partition table. If any errors are detected, the operating system can recover the whole partition table from the backup GUID partition header. However, if a partition is corrupted on an MBR partition, the disk is unusable. The best way to avoid issues and downtimes would be to have a backup of ready in case a failure was to occur. This way, an administration can be prepared to swap out a drive in a moment's notice.

What they are used for

                GPT can be found on newer setups around the world. From data centers to personal computers, GPT is the method used on more modern operating systems. MBR is used on older operating systems, such as Windows 95 to XP, and does not allow for much headroom when it comes to partitioning. As UEFI comes more commonly placed, GPT will be the method used moving forward.

Have you had experiences with GPT and MBR partitioning? If so, and you would like to add your experience or if I have left anything out, please leave a comment below.  I would love to hear from you! 

References

Catherine. (2014, December 24). MBR vs GPT: Which one is better for you? AOMEI Partition Assistant | Partition Manager Software for Windows PC and Server. https://www.diskpart.com/gpt-mbr/mbr-vs-gpt-1004.html

Hoffman, C. (2017, February 9). What’s the difference between GPT and MBR when partitioning a drive? How-To Geek. https://www.howtogeek.com/193669/whats-the-difference-between-gpt-and-mbr-when-partitioning-a-drive/

JasonGerend. (n.d.). Change a master boot record (MBR) into a GUID partition table (GPT) disk. Technical documentation, API, and code examples | Microsoft Docs. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/disk-management/change-an-mbr-disk-into-a-gpt-disk

Vera. (2020, August 13). Mbr vs gpt (Focus on difference and how to convert safely). MiniTool. https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/mbr-vs-gpt.html

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