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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Storage

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Storage

• Capacity is the number of bytes a storage medium

can hold

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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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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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Hard Disks

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

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

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What’s in a Hard Drive?
Before we can describe how a hard drive stores data, we will first need to become
acquainted with the various parts that make up the hard disk drive. There are several major
components that are essential to every hard disk drive.

• Case: Modern hard drives will be 2.5 inches for laptops and 3.5 inches for desktops.
• Platter(s): Shiny disks that actually store the data. There will almost certainly be more
than one, but it is within the realm of possibility that your hard drive has one platter.
• Spindle Motor: Responsible for spinning the platters when the hard drive is connected to
a power supply. The platters will also rest on the spindle motor.
• Read-Write Heads: Pointy pieces of metal that transmit or receive electrical current. As
you may have already determined, read-write heads are responsible for reading or
writing data.
• Head Stack: A metal container that is used to hold the read-write heads.
• Actuator Arm: A metal arm to move the head stack
• Motor for the Actuator Arm: Connected to the other end of the actuator arm, enables
the arm to move.

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Hard Disks

• Hard disks can

store data using
longitudinal
recording or
perpendicular
recording

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Hard Disks

• Characteristics of a hard disk

include:
Read/Write
Capacity Platters
Heads

Sectors and Revolutions

Cylinders
Tracks per Minute

Transfer
Access Time
Rate

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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

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Hard Disks

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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

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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

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Hard Disks

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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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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)

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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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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

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Flash Memory Storage

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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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Flash Memory Storage

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Flash Memory Storage

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Flash Memory Storage

• USB flash drives plug into a USB port on a

computer or mobile device

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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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Cloud Storage

• Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides

storage to computer users

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Cloud Storage

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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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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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Optical Discs

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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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Optical Discs

• Care of optical discs

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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

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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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Optical Discs

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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

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Other Types of Storage

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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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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

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Other Types of Storage

• Microfilm and microfiche store microscopic

images of documents on a roll or sheet flim

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Other Types of Storage

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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

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Putting It All Together

Home user Small Office/Home Office Mobile

• 320 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

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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

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