A hard disk or hard drive (HD) is a non-volatile storage device which stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces
2007-02-15 23:09:11
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answer #1
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answered by Neo was Here 3
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The hard drive, also called the hard disk or fixed disk, is the primary storage unit of the computer. It is always labeled the C drive. Additional drives are labeled after it as the D, E, F, etc. It has several read/write heads that read and record data magnetically on platters, a stack of rotating disks inside the hard drive. It is important for the following reasons:
It stores programs that must be installed to the hard drive before they can be used.
It stores data files that can be accessed later.
It organizes files like a file cabinet so they can be accessed more easily.
The Hard Drive is a hard disk that can store a large amount of computer data on it. Many advancements have made it possible to store a large amounts of data in a small space.
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Myths
Some people think that the platers that are in the hard drive are made of glass. The truth is that the platers are made of a metallic material that is magnetized.
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How does it work?
The hard drive's speed is discussed in terms of access time. This is the speed at which the hard drive finds data. The average access time is measured in milliseconds. One millisecond equals 1/1000 of a second. The average drives had 9 to 14 ms access time. The lower the access time the faster the hard drive.
The capacity, or amount of information that a hard drive can store, is measured in bytes. Buy the largest hard drive you can afford. Most programs take up large amounts of disk space.
Types of Hard Drive Connections
Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)
It is a connector that can connect up to two hard drives at one time to a computer. The drives have the capacity of storing only 528 MB of data each.
Small Computer Interface (SCSI)
It is a connector that is a fast and easy way to connect a hard drive. It is expensive, but can also be used to connect other devices such as scanners, printers, CD-ROM drives that can all be "chained together". Three types of SCSIs include:
SCSI-1:
It connects up to 7 devies to a computer.
SCSI-2:
This is the current industry standard. It is faster but is also more compatible with more devices.
SCSI-3:
It can connect more than 8 devices together. It is the most expensive and has the fastest data transfer rate.
Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (EIDE)
This is the drive that most computers come with. It can connect up to 4 devices to a computer such as hard drive, CD-ROM, and tape drives. Each hard drive capacity is at 528 MB of data.
2007-02-16 07:11:53
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answer #2
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answered by ♥!BabyDoLL!♥ 5
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A hard drive is the place the computer puts all its happy thoughts and memories when its not working on them.
Seriously, if you can't handle reading a paragraph, you have bigger problems than anything that has to do with a hard drive.
2007-02-19 14:34:22
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answer #3
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answered by ? 6
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hard drive is an electronic storage device that hold digital information ie word docuements videos games music pictures and mutch more basically only things u can see on a screen nothing physical. originally they were only in computers but are now located in many other devices sutch as dvd players, cameras, mobiles, and more. they come in many different sizesnormally they are sized as megabyites mb or gigabyites which are bigger 1000mb = 1gb
2007-02-16 07:15:44
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answer #4
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answered by DARREN H 1
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a hard drive is area where you storage info like music, photos, etc. If you do not have it you can not save info and the computer will not load the OS.
2007-02-16 09:13:48
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Is more formally known as a Winchester Drive.
It is a stack of magnetic discs, each with its own read / write heads.
Think of it as a stack of floppy disks, all spinning together on one spindle.
And they were much bigger, and slower too.
Be happy with your little 'hard drive'.
2007-02-16 07:07:43
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answer #6
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answered by Anyone know? 2
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its hard....and its a drive..put them together. I dont even think its legal to tun on a computer without knowing what a hard drive is
2007-02-16 07:23:27
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answer #7
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answered by wicked_lunchbox 2
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Short answer: permanent, rewriteable storage for computer programs and data.
BOY that was hard. I like to write a LOT. :)
2007-02-16 07:19:56
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answer #8
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answered by Meg W 5
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YOUR HARD DRIVE IS YOUR HARD DISK IF YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS...BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN A COMPUTER USER VERY LONG. ITS A SILVER DISK WHICH IS VERY SENSITIVE TO DUST AND SMOKE AND IS ATTACHED TO YOUR MOTHERBOARD AND IS WHERE ALL YOUR PROGRAMS ARE LOADED INTO.
2007-02-16 13:01:28
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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hard drive is a device use for storing data and where your OS is installed.
2007-02-16 07:10:16
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answer #10
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answered by arbie_pogi 4
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