Whats The Difference Between Burning Onto A CD And A Hard Drive Disk?

Question

i was just thinking the disk in a hard drive is so much smaller how could you put so much FAT onto such a small disk how does it work and whats the difference?

Answer 1

The difference lies in a method that allows to store information. In case with hard disk drives, the method of storage is magnetizing certain areas of disk. Basically a hard disk is a metal plate (or a set of metal plates) that is divided into concentric cylinders and radial sectors, so any unique combination of a sector and cylinder number gives you an area which the drive's head can first magnetize and then measure or change it's magnetized state.

In case of a CD, the optical method is used. The CD has tracks, which are similar to HDD's cylinders, but if a CD is writable, it can only be written once (maybe several times in case it's a rewritable disc) and then it's contents can only be read, not changed as in case with HDD.

This difference leads to a different approach to data storage. HDDs usually utilize different file systems that are called FAT (file allocation table), FAT32 (a 32-bit version of FAT), NTFS (NT file system, I believe, named after Windows NT), ext2, ext3 (linux systems) and so on. All these systems are different in their ways of storing data, but they share one thing: they have the ability to change one part of stored data without rewriting the whole drive.

CDs on the other hand use CDFS system, which was designed to simplify storage of information on a drive that can't be altered without being rewritten from the start.

And the variety in storage capacity is due to the different density of data that both methods allow. Also HDDs can have more than one disc, whereas CDs due to obvious reasons can only have one :)

Answer 2

First, hard drives usually have much more storage capacity than a CD. A CD can hold 750 MB or so of data. Most modern hard drives can store 100 GB or more. Second, your hard drive is rewriteable, whereas a CD you burn data to once, and that's it. Hard drives on a PC are usually formatted using a file system called FAT32 (older OS's) or NTFS. I'm sure you can look up the technical differences for yourself on Wikipedia.

Answer 3

confusing disk is the numerous strorage of a operating laptop or computer or sport consule or Video digicam or DVR and regularly equipped in. yet will be made exterior. Disk is only a time period for the platter on HD or a floppy or Compact Disk or digital Video Disk or Blue Ray disk DVD rigidity is the position a DVD disk suits in

Answer 4

Both works and behaves the same, CD stores limited files white HD store ample space. this depends on the capacity of your HD. But if you want to put big amount of files try to compress everything to save some space in it. hope it helps... good luck