Click to go
The process of storing information is called "SAVING"
Information is saved onto a computer using Disk Drives. These are very similar to tape recorders in that they store the information as magnetic data. Disks are made of the same materials used in ordinary cassette recorders and function in exactly the same way. The only difference is that Disk Drives have a magnetic head that moves over a spinning disk, similar to a record player, and in tape recorders, the tape moves from reel to reel past the fixed recording head.
The information is saved onto a disk as dots that are called BYTES
1 Byte = 1 character. (Takes up 1 chunk of memory space)
Kilobyte = 1,000 bytes. (Kb)
Megabyte = 1,000,000 bytes. (Mb)
Gigabyte = 1,000,000,000 bytes. (Gb)
A Drive or Disk is a physical permanent storage device.
Computers usually have 3 Drives known as;
A:\ Drive: Uses 1.44 Megabyte floppy disks. (Enough space for a small Paperback)
C:\ Drive: Can be anything from 1.2 Gigabytes up to 12 Gigabytes.
D:\ Drive: Stores up to 640 Megabytes. Uses CD- ROM's. or DVD
(Return to top of page)
The latest technology means that there are now other types of special Disk Drives that can hold even larger amounts of information.
Computers can also be fitted with extra Disk Drives.
CD ROM's can also be used as ordinary Disk Drives if used with a special type of CD ROM Drive called a Read /Write CD ROM.
DVD Discs (Digital Versatile Discs)
These are now becoming the preferred storage device. DVD discs contain twice as much information as a standard CD-ROM. They do however need a special DVD drive to read them, and at the current time cannot be used to write information, making their use limited to pre-recorded software and video programmes.