How Hard Disks Store and Organize Files: HDD vs Solid-State Storage

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of secondary storage devices?

To provide temporary storage for data

To save, back up and transport files (correct)

To process data and programs

To provide access to the internet

What type of memory is RAM considered?

Temporary or volatile (correct)

Permanent or nonvolatile

Secondary storage

Primary storage

What is the primary advantage of cloud storage?

Reduced maintenance (correct)

Improved file security

Reduced hardware upgrades

Increased access speed

What is the capacity of a Blu-ray disc?

50 GB Signup and view all the answers

What is measured by the capacity of a secondary storage device?

The amount of data it can hold Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the rings of concentric circles on a hard disk?

Tracks Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between solid-state storage and hard-disk drives?

Physical structure Signup and view all the answers

What can cause a head crash in a hard disk?

Dust particles Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary disadvantage of cloud storage?

Access speed Signup and view all the answers

What is the storage capacity of a CD?

700 MB Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the wedge-shaped sections of a track on a hard disk?

Sectors Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of hard-disk drives?

High storage capacity Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the hardware that reads data and programs from storage medium?

Storage device Signup and view all the answers

What measures the amount of time required by a storage device to retrieve data and programs?

Access speed Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of secondary storage media?

Large storage capacity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of flash memory cards?

Storing pictures Signup and view all the answers

Where is an internal hard disk located?

Within the system unit Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of external hard disks?

They have a fixed amount of storage Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between hard disks and solid-state drives?

Solid-state drives have no moving parts Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of solid-state drives over hard disks?

They are faster and more durable Signup and view all the answers

What is a common use of flash memory cards?

Playing music and video files Signup and view all the answers

What is the capacity range of USB drives?

1 GB to 256 GB Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of optical discs?

They use laser technology Signup and view all the answers

How much data can optical discs hold?

Over 128 GB Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Secondary Storage

Secondary storage devices are used to save, back up, and transport files from one computer to another.
Data storage has expanded from text and numeric files to include digital music files, photographic files, video files, and much more.
Secondary storage devices with greater capacity are required to efficiently and effectively use computers.

Characteristic of Secondary Storage

Media: the actual physical material that holds the data and programs (e.g., hard disk).
Capacity: measures how much data it can hold.
Storage devices: hardware that reads data and programs from storage medium.
Access speed: measures the amount of time required by the storage device to retrieve data and programs.

Hard Disks

Two types of hard disks: internal and external.
Internal hard disks:
- Located within the system unit.
- Able to store and retrieve large quantities of information quickly.
- Used to store programs and data files.
- Have a fixed amount of storage.
External hard disks:
- Use the same basic technology as internal hard disks.
- Provide slower access.
- Connected to a USB.
- Removable.
- Have a fixed amount of storage.

Hard Disk Organization

Hard disks organize files using tracks, sectors, and cylinders.
Tracks: rings of concentric circles.
Sectors: invisible wedge-shaped sections of each track.
Cylinders: run through each track of a stack of platters.

Solid-State Storage

Unlike hard disks, which rotate and have read/write heads that move in and out, solid-state drives have no moving parts.
Data and information are stored and retrieved electronically from these devices.
Examples: solid-state drives (SSDs), flash memory cards, and USB drives (Flash drives).
Solid-state drives: faster, more durable, and more expensive than hard disks, with less capacity, but require less power and increase battery life.

Optical Discs

Use laser technology.
Can hold over 128 GB of data.
Data is represented by flat areas called lands and bumpy areas called pits on the disc surface.
Examples: CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.
CDs: offer 700 MB of storage, often store music.
DVDs: store 4.7 GB, often store movies or software.
Blu-ray discs: offer 50 GB of storage, often store high-definition video and the newest video games.

Cloud Storage

With cloud computing, the Internet acts as a "cloud" of servers that supply applications as a service rather than a product.
Provides cloud storage, also known as online storage.
Examples: using Google Drive Docs to create a word processing document or a spreadsheet.
Benefits: maintenance, hardware upgrades, and file sharing and collaboration.
Disadvantages: access speed and file security.