In a file allocation system, which of the following allocation scheme(s) can be used if no external fragmentation is allowed? I. Contiguous II. Linked III. Indexed
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GATE CSE 2017 Set 2 · Q8
MCQ1 markEasy
Time
In a file allocation system, which of the following allocation scheme(s) can be used if no external fragmentation is allowed? I. Contiguous II. Linked III. Indexed
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Solution
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Official answer: D) II and III only
File SystemsLet us evaluate the disk block allocation schemes:
Contiguous Allocation: Requires a file to occupy a set of contiguous blocks on the disk. As files are allocated and deleted, free disk space is broken into chunks, leading to external fragmentation.
Linked Allocation: Each file is a linked list of disk blocks. Blocks can be scattered anywhere on the disk, completely eliminating external fragmentation.
Indexed Allocation: Brings all the pointers together into one location called an index block. Disk blocks can be allocated anywhere, completely eliminating external fragmentation.
Thus, both Linked (II) and Indexed (III) allocation schemes suffer no external fragmentation.
Hence, the correct option is (D).
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Examiner trap
The misconception this question tests
Consider which allocation methods require contiguous contiguous chunks of free blocks versus which can use arbitrary free disk blocks anywhere on the drive.
This File Systems previous year question is Q8 of the GATE CSE 2017 Set 2 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on File Systems in Operating Systems, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.
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File Systems in GATE CSE
File Systems has 14 GATE CSE PYQs across 14 papers from 2011 to 2026. This is the only 1-mark MCQ among them, and it is the only one in GATE CSE 2017 Set 2.
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Independent practice explanation verified by the GateAI team. GATE is conducted by the IITs; question text follows the official paper.