Discovering

Computers 2012
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World
Objectives Overview
Describe the characteristics of an
internal hard disk including
capacity, platters, read/write
Differentiate between storage
heads, cylinders, sectors and
devices and storage media
tracks, revolutions per
minute, transfer rate, and access
time

Discuss the purpose of network

attached storage
Describe the various types of
devices, external and removable
flash memory storage
hard disks, and hard disk
controllers

See Page 351 2

for Detailed Objectives Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Objectives Overview

Describe cloud storage and Describe the characteristics

explain its advantages of optical discs

Identify the uses of

Differentiate among various
tape, magnetic stripe
types of optical discs:
cards, smart
CDs, archive discs and
cards, microfilm and
Picture CDs, DVDs, and Blu-
microfiche, and enterprise
ray Discs
storage
See Page 351 3
for Detailed Objectives Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Storage

Storage holds data, instructions, and

information for future use

A storage medium is the physical

material on which a computer keeps
data, instructions, and information
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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Storage

Pages 352 – 353 5

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-1
Storage

• Capacity is the number of bytes a storage medium

can hold

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-2
Storage

• A storage device is the computer hardware that

records and/or retrieves items to and from
storage media
Reading is the process
of transferring items
from a storage medium
into memory

Writing is the process of

transferring items from
memory to a storage
medium
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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Storage

• Access time measures:

– The amount of time it
takes a storage device to
locate an item on a
storage medium
– The time required to
deliver an item from
memory to the
processor

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-4
Hard Disks

• A hard disk contains one or more inflexible, circular platters

that use magnetic particles to store data, instructions, and
information

Page 355 9
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-5
Hard Disks

• Hard disks can

store data using
longitudinal
recording or
perpendicular
recording

Page 356 10
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-6
Hard Disks

• Characteristics of a hard disk

include:
Read/Write
Capacity Platters
Heads

Sectors and Revolutions

Cylinders
Tracks per Minute

Transfer
Access Time
Rate

Page 357 11
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-8
Hard Disks

• Formatting is the process of dividing the disk into tracks

and sectors so that the operating system can store and
locate data and information on the disk

Page 357 12
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-7
Hard Disks

Page 358 13
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-9
Hard Disks

• The hard disk arms

move the read/write
head, which reads items
and writes items in the
drive
– Location often is
referred to by its
cylinder

Page 358 14
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-10
Hard Disks

• A head crash occurs when a read/write head

touches the surface of a platter
• Always keep a backup of your hard disk

Pages 358 – 359 15

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-11
Hard Disks

Page 359 16
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-12
Hard Disks

• RAID (redundant array of independent disks) is a

group of two or more integrated hard disks
• A network attached storage (NAS) device is a
server connected to a network with the sole
purpose of providing storage

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-13
Hard Disks

An external hard disk is a separate free-

standing hard disk that connects to your
computer with a cable or wirelessly

A removable hard disk is a hard disk that

you insert and remove from a drive

Internal and external hard disks are available

in miniature sizes (miniature hard disks)
Pages 360 – 361 18
Figures 7-14 – 7-15 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Hard Disks

• A disk controller consists of a special-purpose chip and

electronic circuits that control the transfer of
data, instructions, and information from a disk to and
from the system bus and other components of the
computer
SATA EIDE

SCSI SAS
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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Flash Memory Storage

• Flash memory chips are a type of solid state

media and contain no moving parts
• Solid state drives (SSDs) have several advantages
over magnetic hard disks:

Generate less heat and

Faster access time Faster transfer rates Last longer
consume less power

Pages 362 - 363 20

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Flash Memory Storage

Page 363 21
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-17
Flash Memory Storage

• A memory card is a removable flash memory

device that you insert and remove from a slot in a
computer, mobile device, or card reader/writer
Secure Digital
CompactFlash Secure Digital
High Capacity microSD
(CF) (SD)
(SDHC)

xD Picture Memory Stick

microSDHC Memory Stick
Card Micro (M2)

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Flash Memory Storage

Pages 364 – 365 23

Figures 7-18 – 7-19 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Flash Memory Storage

Page 366 24
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-20
Flash Memory Storage

• USB flash drives plug into a USB port on a

computer or mobile device

Page 367 25
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-21
Flash Memory Storage

• An ExpressCard module
is a removable device
that fits in an
ExpressCard slot
• Developed by the
PCMCIA
• Commonly used in
notebook computers

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-22
Cloud Storage

• Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides

storage to computer users

Page 368 27
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-23
Cloud Storage

Page 368 28
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-24
Cloud Storage

• Users subscribe to cloud storage for a variety of

reasons:
Access files from any computer

Store large files instantaneously

Allow others to access their files

View time-critical data and images immediately

Store offsite backups

Provide data center functions

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Optical Discs

• An optical disc consists of a flat, round, portable

disc made of metal, plastic, and lacquer that is
written and read by a laser
• Typically store software, data, digital
photos, movies, and music
• Read only vs. rewritable

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-25
Optical Discs

Page 370 31
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-26
Optical Discs

• Optical discs commonly

store items in a single
track that spirals from
the center of the disc to
the edge
• Track is divided into
evenly sized sectors

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-27
Optical Discs

• Care of optical discs

Page 371 33
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-28
Optical Discs

A CD-ROM can be read from but not written to

• Read from a CD-ROM drive or CD-ROM player

A CD-R is a multisession optical disc on which

users can write, but not erase

A CD-RW is an erasable multisession disc

• Must have a CD-RW drive

Pages 372 – 373 34

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-29
Optical Discs

Archive disc Picture CD

• Stores photos from an • Single-session CD-ROM

online photo center that stores digital
• Resolution usually is versions of film
7200 pixels per photo • Typically uses a 1024 x
• Cost is determined by 1536 resolution
the number of photos • Many photo centers
being stored offer Picture CD
services

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Optical Discs

Page 374 36
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-31
Optical Discs

A DVD-ROM is a high-capacity optical disc on

which users can read but not write or erase
• Requires a DVD-ROM drive

A Blu-ray Disc-ROM (BD-ROM) has a storage

capacity of 100 GB

DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD+RAM are high-

capacity rewritable DVD formats

Pages 375 – 376 37

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-29
Other Types of Storage

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Other Types of Storage

• Tape is a magnetically coated ribbon of plastic capable of

storing large amounts of data and information
• A tape drive reads and writes data and information on a
tape

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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-35
Other Types of Storage

• A magnetic stripe card

contains a magnetic
stripe that stores
information
• A smart card stores
data on a thin
microprocessor
embedded in the card

Page 377 40
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-36
Other Types of Storage

• Microfilm and microfiche store microscopic

images of documents on a roll or sheet film

Page 378 41
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-37
Other Types of Storage

Page 378 42
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-38
Other Types of Storage

• Enterprise storage stores huge volumes of data

and information for large businesses
– Uses special hardware for heavy use, maximum
availability, and maximum efficiency

Page 379 43
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-39
Putting It All Together

Home user Small Office/Home Office Mobile

• 500 GB hard disk user • 250 GB hard disk
• Cloud storage • 1 TB hard disk • Cloud storage
• Optical disc drive • Cloud storage • Optical disc drive
• Card reader/writer • Optical disc drive • Card reader/writer
• USB flash drive • External hard disk for • Portable hard disk for
backup backup
• USB flash drive • USB flash drive

Page 380 44
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-40
Putting It All Together

Power User Enterprise User Enterprise User

• 2.5 TB hard disk (desktop computer) (server or mainframe)
• Cloud storage • 1 TB hard disk • Network storage server
• Optical disc drive • Optical disc drive • 40 TB hard disk system
• Portable hard disk for • Smart card reader • Optical disc server
backup • Tape drive • Microfilm or microfiche
• USB flash drive • USB flash drive

Page 380 45
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Figure 7-40
Summary

Internal hard disks, external and

removable hard disks, solid state
drives, memory cards, USB flash
Various storage media and storage
drives, ExpressCard modules, cloud
devices
storage, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray
Discs, tape, smart cards, and
microfilm and microfiche

Page 381 46
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 7
Discovering
Computers 2012
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World
Chapter 7 Complete