2: System Description
23
Using Disks and Disk Drives
A disk is a magnetic storage device which holds information such
as computer programs and data.
The computer uses disk drives to write information to a disk and to
read information from the disk. There are three types of disk
drives: hard disk drives (HDD), floppy disk drives (FDD) and
compact disk drives (CD-ROM drives). An LED is lit while the
computer is reading information from or writing to a disk.
Hard Disks
A hard disk is a non-removable disk which is built into the system.
You can write to and read information from a hard disk much faster
than from a floppy disk. A hard disk can also store larger amounts
of information than a floppy disk.
Hard disks cannot be seen from the outside of the computer. If you
have a standalone computer (i.e. the computer is not connected to
a network), you can find out whether or not your computer has a
hard disk as follows: switch on the computer without a floppy disk
in drive A, if the operating system loads automatically the
computer is fitted with a hard disk.
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