In storage management, the process of dividing a disk into tracks and sectors in preparation for use is known as what?

Introduction / Context:
This computer fundamentals question is about how storage devices are prepared before data can be saved on them. Hard disks and similar media are organised into logical units called tracks and sectors. The act of setting up this structure is a standard maintenance and installation task. The question tests whether you know the correct technical term for this operation, which you often see when setting up new drives or USB sticks.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are dealing with magnetic or similar disk based storage, such as hard drives or floppy disks.
• The process in question divides the disk surface into tracks and sectors.
• Options mention tracking, formatting, crashing, allotting and fragmenting.
• Assume basic knowledge of how operating systems prepare disks for file systems.

Concept / Approach:
Formatting is the process of preparing a storage device for use by an operating system. Low level formatting creates the basic track and sector structure that the hardware and firmware will use to read and write data. High level formatting then creates a file system such as NTFS or FAT. In everyday computer use, when users talk about formatting a disk, they mean creating or re creating these logical structures so that files can be stored reliably. The key phrase in the question is dividing the disk into tracks and sectors, which clearly describes the formatting step, not tracking, crashing or fragmenting.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Operating system manuals and computer hardware books describe disk preparation steps using the term formatting. When a new hard disk is installed, the standard procedure is to partition and format it. The low level formatting step defines tracks and sectors, while the file system formatting step builds tables to manage files. No other term in the list is used in this context. Troubleshooting guides also say that if a disk becomes corrupt, you may need to format it again to restore the structure, further tying the term to this process. These consistent references confirm that formatting is the accepted term.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Tracking: This might sound related but in computer terminology tracking usually refers to monitoring or following operations, not to dividing the disk surface.
• Crashing: A crash is a failure of a system or drive, the opposite of preparing it for normal use.
• Allotting: While operating systems allot or allocate space for files, this happens after the disk has been formatted and is not the phase that creates tracks and sectors.
• Fragmenting: Fragmentation is the scattering of file pieces across the disk over time, not the initial structural creation.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse low level internal processes with the options presented, especially if they have heard terms like defragmentation or tracking in other contexts. Another common mistake is to pick a word that sounds technical without linking it to the actual task described. To avoid this, remember that whenever you make a disk ready for use from a blank state, the operating system uses the command format. This command encapsulates the process of dividing the disk into tracks and sectors and setting up the file system.

Final Answer:
The process of dividing a disk into tracks and sectors is called Formatting.