The answer is 4096 bytes. This is the logical size of the $MFT mirror because it contains a backup of the first four records of the Master File Table, and each MFT record in NTFS is exactly 1024 bytes, totaling 4096 bytes. On the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator CHFI exam, this concept tests your understanding of NTFS forensic artifacts and how tools like FTK Imager display partition details; a common trap is confusing the $MFT mirror’s logical size with the cluster size, which in this case are both 4096 bytes, but the mirror’s size is fixed by the four-record structure, not by the cluster. When searching for "$MFT mirror logical size NTFS," remember that the mirror always occupies exactly one cluster—cluster 2—and its size is determined by the record count, not the volume’s cluster size. A helpful memory tip: think of the $MFT mirror as a “four-record snapshot” — four times 1024 equals 4096, every time.
CHFI Computer Forensics Lab Practice Question
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of computer forensics lab. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
FTK Imager command output:
Sector size: 512
Total sectors: 625142448
Partition start: 2048
Partition end: 625139712
Partition type: NTFS (07)
Flags: 0x80 (Bootable)
File system: NTFS
Volume label: EVIDENCE_DRIVE
Serial number: 1234-5678
$MFT mirror: cluster 2
$MFT: cluster 0
Clusters per record: 1
Bytes per cluster: 4096
Refer to the exhibit. The FTK Imager output shows a disk with an NTFS partition. The examiner notes that the $MFT mirror is at cluster 2. What is the logical size of the $MFT mirror in bytes?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
4096 bytes
The $MFT mirror is a backup copy of the first four records of the Master File Table. Each MFT record is 1024 bytes, so four records total 4096 bytes. The FTK Imager output confirms the cluster size is 4096 bytes, and since the $MFT mirror occupies exactly one cluster (cluster 2), its logical size is 4096 bytes.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
320 GB
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This is the total disk capacity, not the $MFT mirror size.
✗
512 bytes
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: 512 bytes is the sector size, not the $MFT mirror size.
✓
4096 bytes
Why this is correct
Correct: The $MFT mirror occupies one cluster (4096 bytes) when clusters per record = 1.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
8192 bytes
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This would be two clusters, but the output shows clusters per record = 1.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the $MFT mirror size with the cluster size or the total MFT size, but the mirror is always fixed at 4096 bytes because it backs up only the first four MFT records.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect: This would be two clusters, but the output shows clusters per record = 1.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In NTFS, the $MFT mirror is stored at the midpoint of the volume (or at cluster 2 on small volumes) and contains a backup of the first four MFT entries (records 0–3). Each MFT record is exactly 1024 bytes, so the mirror is always 4096 bytes, regardless of cluster size. This ensures that critical file system metadata can be recovered if the primary MFT is damaged.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CHFI exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CHFI question in full detail.
Computer Forensics Lab — This question tests Computer Forensics Lab — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 4096 bytes — The $MFT mirror is a backup copy of the first four records of the Master File Table. Each MFT record is 1024 bytes, so four records total 4096 bytes. The FTK Imager output confirms the cluster size is 4096 bytes, and since the $MFT mirror occupies exactly one cluster (cluster 2), its logical size is 4096 bytes.
What should I do if I get this CHFI question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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