This book is compiled for all

BS/ADP disciplines. First 10

Chapter 4
Storage Devices
Contents
• Storage Medium
• Storage Device
• Magnetic Storage
• Optical Disc
• Solid State Storage Devices
• Cloud Storage
• Disk Partitions
Storage Medium
Chapter 4 - Storage Devices
 Storage Medium
• Main memory or RAM is volatile
• It cannot be used as permanent storage because when computer is switched off, its
contents are erased
• Its storage capacity is also very small
• Storage medium is used to store data and programs permanently for later use
• It is non-volatile
• A storage medium is also called secondary storage, auxiliary storage, mass storage, or
backing storage
• Examples → hard disk, solid-state drives, memory cards, USB flash drive, optical disc,
magnetic stripe card, and smart cards
• Every computer or mobile device stores software and information on the storage medium
• For example, during booting process, a computer locates an operating system in a storage medium (such
as a hard disk) and loads it into memory (RAM)
• Similarly, when a user issues a command to open an application program, OS locates program in a storage
medium and loads it into RAM
• Storage capacity of the storage medium is the number of bytes storage medium can hold
• Storage capacity of the storage medium is up to Terabytes (TB) for personal computers
Storage Medium
Storage Device
Chapter 4 - Storage Devices
 Storage Device
• A storage device is a computer hardware component that writes and reads
information or instructions to and from the storage media
• Examples of most popular storage devices are hard disk drive, CD/DVD drive,
and USB flash drive
• A computer performs two operations on the storage devices
• Writing → In a writing process, storage device records/stores information or
instructions from memory to a storage medium
• Reading → In a reading process, storage device transfers information or instructions
from storage medium into computer’s memory (for use by OS or application program)
• When a storage device writes data (or programs) on storage medium, it
performs a function as an output device
• Similarly, when a storage device reads data from disk and loads it into RAM, it
performs a function as an input device
 Storage Device
Characteristics of Storage Devices
• Access Mode
• It is the sequence or order in which the storage medium can be accessed
• There are two major access modes → sequential and random
• Sequential access mode
• Storage medium can be accessed only in serial order
• Magnetic tape is a sequential access storage device
• Random access mode
• Storage medium can be accessed randomly or directly
• RAM and hard disk are random access storage or memory devices
 Storage Device
Characteristics of Storage Devices
Speed
• Speed of storage devices and memory is defined by access time and data transfer
rate
• Access Time
• Time taken by storage device to locate data items from a storage medium
• Usually, access time is measured in nanoseconds (ns)
• A nanosecond is one-billionth of a second
• Access time of sequential access memory devices is larger than that of random access memory
devices
• A memory device that has less access time is faster
• For example, accessing data in RAM can be more than 200,000 times faster than accessing data
on a hard disk
• Data Transfer Rate
• Time taken to transfer data to and from storage device
• It is measured in kilobytes per second (KBps), or MBps, or GBps
 Storage Device
Characteristics of Storage Devices
Storage Capacity
• Maximum amount of data that can be stored on the storage medium is called
storage capacity
• Today, storage capacity of different storage devices is up to terabytes (TB)
• Storage devices with large storage capacity can be used to save a large amount
of data
Magnetic Storage
Chapter 4 - Storage Devices
 Magnetic Storage
• Magnetic storage is one of the most widely used secondary storage in
computers
• It consists of a magnetic medium on which information is stored
• Magnetic disks (i.e. hard disk) and magnetic tapes are examples of magnetic
storage
• Disk drive or tape drive is used to write data on the disk/tape or read data
from the disk/tape
• Read-write head of the disk drive or tape drive performs read and write
operations on the magnetic medium
 Magnetic Disk
• A magnetic disk is a thin circular metal or plastic disk
• It is coated with magnetic material (ferrous oxide) on which data/information is stored
• Data/information is accessed directly or randomly
• Disk drives are used to write and read data/information to and from magnetic disk
• Hard disk, floppy disk, and zip disk are examples of magnetic disks (The shape of zip disk is
similar to floppy disk)
• Today, hard disk is commonly used in computers as secondary storage
• Floppy disks and zip disks are not in use nowadays
• These disks have been replaced by optical disks and USB flash drives which are more
reliable and have large storage capacity
 Magnetic Disk
Organizing Data on Magnetic Disk
• Before storing data on magnetic disk, it is prepared through OS
• Actually, disk’s surface is magnetically mapped
• Process of mapping the surface of disk is called formatting or initializing
• During formatting a disk, OS divides disk into different circles called
tracks
• Usually, a floppy disk has 80 tracks on each side of the disk
• Similarly, a hard disk may have a hundred tracks on each side of each platter
• Each track is further divided into pie-shaped areas called sectors
• Information is stored in sectors, in one sector, 512 bytes are stored
• Disk surface may have some bad sectors
• When a disk is formatted, OS marks bad sectors as unusable and these are not
used to store data
• The number of tracks on the disk and number of sectors per track
depend upon the density of the disk
• Each track and sector is assigned a unique number or address
• Data is read or written with reference to sector numbers
• Computer goes directly to the specified sector and reads or writes data
• Disk drive reads or writes the whole sector at a time
 Magnetic Disk
Floppy Disk
• A floppy disk is a portable magnetic storage media
• It is also called simply a diskette
• The standard floppy disk size is 3.5-inch
• Storage capacity of the floppy disk is very low (i.e. 1.44 MB for 3.5-inch floppy
disk)
• Data access speed of the floppy disk is slower than the hard disk
• Today, floppy disks are rarely used
• These disks have been replaced by optical disks and USB flash drives which are
more reliable and have large storage capacity
Zip Disk
• ZIP disk is similar to a floppy disk but its storage capacity is about 100 (or
more) times greater than a floppy disk
• Today, zip disk is rarely used
 Magnetic Disk
Hard Disk
• Most application programs and OS require hard disk for installation and operation
• A hard disk is also called a hard disk drive or hard drive
• Most personal computers and laptops contain at least one hard disk
• However, large computers contain multiple hard disks
• Hard disk contains multiple metal circular platters (disks) mounted on a central spindle
• Each platter is coated on both sides with magnetic material
• Both surfaces of each disk or platter are used to store information except for top and bottom platters
• The surface of each disk (platter) is logically divided
into concentric circles called tracks
• Each platter contains many tracks
• A track is divided into sections called sectors
• Data/Information is stored in sectors in the shape of
tiny magnetized spots called bits
• The set of tracks of different platters that are at a
particular head position is known as a cylinder
 Magnetic Disk
Hard Disk
• Hard disk and drive is a single unit
• It includes hard disk and motor that rotates platters
• All platters move together with high speed
• They rotate from 5400 to 15000 revolutions per minute (rpm)
• Each platter has two read/write heads, one for each side
• Hard disk has also arms that move the read/write heads to the proper location on
the platter to read or write data
• Entire unit is enclosed in an airtight, sealed case to protect it from dust
• A standard or traditional hard disk is not portable
• It is permanently fixed in the system unit
• It is because hard disk is also referred to as a fixed disk
• However, portable hard disks are also available
 Magnetic Disk
Hard Disk
• A hard disk is formatted before storing data on it
• OS makes logical tracks on both sides of each platter and divides each track into
sectors
• Each platter of hard disk has a very high density
• A large number of tracks are made on each surface of the platter
• If a computer contains only one hard disk, OS assigns it as drive letter C:
• Additional hard disks (logical hard disks) are assigned the next available drive letters
• Today, storage capacity of hard disk in PCs is up to 8 TB (Tera Bytes) or more
• Storage capacity of a hard disk is determined by the number of platters it contains
and the density of the platter
• Accessing speed of hard disk is also very high as compared to other secondary
storage devices
• It is from 5 to 15 MBps (megabytes per second)
 Magnetic Disk
Hard Disk
Hard Disk Performance
• Performance of hard disk depends upon following factors
• Seek Time
• Seek time is the time required to move a read/write head to a particular cylinder or track
• Seek time is variable; because it will take more time to reach track 300 from track 1 than to reach track 100
• Therefore, seek time is expressed as average seek time
• It is measured in milliseconds (ms)
• Rotational Latency
• Once a cylinder or track is selected, disk controller waits until read/write head reaches an appropriate sector
• Time required to reach the head at the beginning of an appropriate sector
• It is measured in milliseconds (ms)
• Transfer Time
• Transfer time is the time required to transfer data, read from the disk into the main memory
• Alternatively, it is the time required to write data on the disk from the main memory
• Access Time
• Access time is the sum of average seek time, rotational delay, and transfer time
• Mathematically it is written as: Access Time = Average Seek Time + Rotational Latency + Transfer Time
• Once read/write head is in position, read or write operation is performed
• Typically, a disk can transfer several megabytes of data per second
 Magnetic Disk
External Hard Disk
• External hard disk is separate magnetic storage which is an external part of
computer
• It means that external hard disk is not fixed in the system unit
• It can be connected to the computer through a USB port or FireWire port or
wirelessly
• Some external hard drives contain built-in wireless functionality to
communicate with the computer through a Wi-Fi connection
• Like an internal hard disk, an external hard disk also consists of multiple
platters that are air-sealed inside a casing
• Storage capacity is very high which is up to 4 TB or more
• It is used for backup of data and sharing data and programs from one
computer to another
• Data transfer rate of external hard disks is slower than the internal hard disk
 Hard Disk Floppy Disk
• May contain multiple metal plates or • Contains only one plastic disk
disks • Portable
• Fixed inside the system unit and it is • Less expensive than a hard disk
not portable
• Storage capacity is very low which is
• More expensive than a floppy disk only up to 1.44MB
• Storage capacity is very large which is • Data access speed is slower than a hard
up to 8 TB or more disk
• Data access speed is faster than a • Today, it is rarely used for data storage
floppy disk
• Has a high chance of damage
• Today, it is commonly used for data
storage • Not reliable storage media
• Has a low chance of damage
• Reliable storage media
 Magnetic Tape
• Magnetic tape is the most popular and oldest storage medium
• It consists of a plastic strip (or ribbon) with a magnetic coated material, which
can be magnetized
• Data/information is stored on the tape in the form of magnetized and non-
magnetized spots representing 1’s and 0’s respectively
• Magnetic tape is either in the form of a cassette or a big reel
 Magnetic Tape
• Like magnetic disk, magnetic tape is also formatted before storing data on it
• Tape is divided into vertical columns called frames
• Each frame is further divided into horizontal rows called tracks (or channels)
• Each frame represents one character and each track of frame stores one bit for the
code of the character
• Typically, a frame is divided into 9 tracks
• First 8 tracks are used for recording the code of a specific character and the ninth track
is used for recording the parity bit or check bit
• Parity bit is used to detect errors during reading or writing data on the tape
 Magnetic Tape
• Magnetic tape is used for storing a large amount of data (especially used for
backing up of data)
• Amount of data that can be stored on a tape depends upon its length, its type,
and density
• Today, storage capacity of magnetic tape is up to 5 TB or more
• It is used with minicomputers and mainframe computers for data backup
• It is an inexpensive (cheap) storage device
• However, it is slow in data accessing because it is a sequential access storage
device
 Magnetic Tape Drive
• A magnetic tape drive is a storage device that writes/reads data to and from a
magnetic tape
• The write head encodes the magnetic signals on the tape as it moves across
the write head
• Similarly, the read head reads the stored data from tape and transfers it into
the RAM
Optical Disc
Chapter 4 - Storage Devices
 Optical Disc
• An optical disc is a type of storage media that consists of a flat, round,
portable disc made of metal or polycarbonate plastic
• It is coated with a thin metal or plastic or other material that is highly
reflective
• Optical discs used in computers typically are 4.75 inches in diameter and less
than one-twentieth (1/20) of an inch thick
• Mini-optical discs are used in mobile devices that have a diameter of 3 inches
or less
• A large amount of data, software, movies, and songs, etc. can be stored on a
single CD
• Some optical storage media is read-only while others are read and write
• Spelling disk is used for magnetic media, while disc is used for optical media
 Optical Disc
• An optical disc has a single spiral track that spirals from the center to outside
edge
• Information on the optical disc is stored in the form of microscopic pits (small
holes) and lands
• A binary digit ‘0’ is represented by a pit and a binary digit ‘1’ is represented by
a land
• Pits are tiny reflective bumps that are created with a laser beam
• Lands are flat areas separating the pits
• A land reflects laser light, which is read as binary digit 1
• A pit absorbs or scatters light, which is read as binary digit 0
• High-powered laser beam creates the pits
• A lower-powered laser light reads data from the disc
• Different types of optical discs
• CD
• DVD
• Blu-ray Discs
 CD
• CD stands for Compact Disc
• It is an optical disc used for storing digital data
• It was originally developed for sound recording but now it is widely used for
storing computer data and programs
• Storage capacity of CDs ranges from 350 MB to 800 MB
• CDs are mostly used for storing huge amount of data, application programs,
operating systems, and device drivers
• Types of CDs
• Read-only (CD-ROM)
• Recordable (CD-R)
• Rewritable (CD-RW)
 CD
CD-ROM
• CD-ROM stands for Compact Disc Read-Only-Memory
• CD-ROM is a type of optical disc
• A large amount of data can be stored on a single disc
• Once data/information is stored on CD-ROM, it becomes permanent and
cannot be modified
• Data/information can only be read
• That is why it is called Compact Disc Read Only Memory
• Manufacturers write data and software on CD-ROMs
• A standard CD-ROM is called a single-session disc because manufacturers
write all items or information on the disc at one time
• CD-ROM drive is used with a computer to read the information from the CD-
ROM
 CD
CD-R
• CD-R (CD-recordable) is an optical disc on which users can write data only
once but can read it many times
• CD-R is also known as WORM (Write Once, Read Many)
• Data written on CD-R cannot be erased
• Some CD-Rs are multisession optical discs
• Multisession means users can store information on part of disc at one time
and another part at a later time
• However, each part of CD-R can be written only one time, and the disc’s
contents cannot be changed
• Process of writing information on the optical disc is called burning
• CD-writer or recorder (or simply CD-R drive) is used to write data on CD-R
discs
 CD
CD-RW
• CD-RW (CD-rewritable) is an erasable multisession optical disc
• User can write and over-write data on the CD-RW disc many times
• CD-RW disc is also known as an erasable CD (or CD-E)
• However, the reliability of this type of optical disc tends to decrease, each
time we re-write data
• CD-RW drive is used to write/overwrite and read data to and from the CD-RW
• This drive is advanced and more expensive than a CD-R drive
• It can write/read data on both CD-R and CD-RW discs
• Today, most of the PCs have a CD-RW drive
 DVD
• DVD stands for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc
• A DVD is similar to a CD
• It has the same diameter and thickness as CD and is made up of the same
material
• Data is also stored just like a CD on a spiral track in the form of lands and pits
(bumps)
• However, DVD has larger data storage capacity and higher resolution than CD
• Its data storage capacity is up to 17 GB or more
• DVD is specially used to store movie films
• It is also used to store huge amount of data, music, and software of large size
• DVD drive or DVD player is used to read the data stored on a DVD
• A DVD player can play CDs also
• Types of DVDs → read-only (DVD-ROM), recordable (DVD-R), and rewritable
(DVD-RW)
 DVD
DVD-ROM
• DVD-ROM (DVD read-only memory) is similar to CD-ROM
• It is a high capacity optical disc that users can only read but not write or erase
• Only manufacturer writes information on DVD-ROM
• DVD-ROMs are used to store movies, music, and software
DVD-R
• DVD-R (DVD recordable) is similar to CD-R
• Users can write data only once but can read it many times
• Data written on DVD-R cannot be erased
DVD-RW
• DVD-RW (DVD-rewritable) is similar to CD-RW
• User can write and over-write data on DVD-RW many times
 Blu-Ray Disc
• Blu-ray disc (BD) is a new type of optical storage device
• This storage device is reliable, faster, and has higher storage capacity than CD
and DVD
• Its storage capacity is up to 1000 GB or more
• Bumps (pits) on the Blu-ray disc are much smaller and very closely (tightly)
packed than DVD
• This increases the storage capacity of Blu-ray discs
• Blu-ray discs are better storage for storing movies because they require more
storage
• Blu-ray drive is used to read the information on the Blu-ray disc
• Some game consoles contain a Blu-ray drive
Solid State Storage Devices
Chapter 4 - Storage Devices
 Solid State Storage Devices
• Solid-state storage device is also called a flash memory device
• It has no moving parts in it
• It is neither magnetic nor optical
• It contains a solid chip (an integrated circuit) that can store data
• Flash memory chips are a type of solid state storage media
• Information inside solid state storage media is stored and read electrically
• Most of the solid-state storage media are non-volatile
• Solid-state storage devices are widely used in PCs, PDAs, tablets, notebooks,
smartphones, digital cameras, portable media players, and other mobile
devices
• Types of Flash Memory Devices
• Solid-state drives (SSDs)
• USB flash drives
• Memory cards
 Solid-State Drive (SSD)
• Solid-state drive (SSD) is a storage device that typically uses flash memory to store data/information
• It contains its own processor to manage its storage
• It has faster access time than traditional hard disk drives
• SSD has no moving parts (mechanical components)
• SSD can be in the form of a flash memory chip installed directly on a motherboard or an adapter
card
• It also may be housed in a separate casing that is connected to the motherboard
• External SSDs are also available
• SSDs are used in all types of computers such as desktops, servers, laptops, tablets, and mobile
devices (such as DV cameras, portable media players)
• Some computers have both a hard disk and an SSD
• They are available in different sizes such as 1.8 inches, 2.5 inches, and 3.5 inches
• Storage capacity of SSDs can be up to 4 TB or more
+ Faster access time and data transfer rate
+ More durable and has a longer life
+ Light-weight
+ Generates less heat
+ Consumes less power
+ More reliable
- In case of SSD failure, recovery of data can be more difficult than hard disk
- More expensive than a hard disk
 USB Flash Drive
• USB flash drive is also known as a pen drive or thumb drive
• It is a flash memory device
• It is connected to a USB port in a computer or mobile device for writing and
reading data
• It is a non-volatile memory
• It is small in physical size and light-weight storage device
• Today, USB flash drive is commonly used as portable storage
• Today, USB flash drives are widely used in PCs and other mobile
computers/devices for transferring data from one computer/device to another
• USB flash drives are available in different shapes, sizes, and storage capacities
• Storage capacities of USB flash drives can be up to 256 GB or more
 Memory Card
• A memory card is sometimes called a flash memory card or a storage card
• It is a small size removable flash memory device
• Flash memory cards are widely used in digital cameras, mobile phones, PDAs,
video games, and other portable devices
• A memory card can be inserted into a slot in a computer, mobile device, or
card reader/writer
• Usually, card reader/writer is used to store or read information to and from
memory cards
• A card reader/writer is usually connected to the USB port of computer
• Some computers and photo printers have built-in card readers/writers or slots
that read memory cards
 Memory Card
• Types of flash memory cards
• CompactFlash (CF)
• Used in digital cameras, smartphones, PDAs, photo printers, portable media players, notebook
computers, & desktop computers
• Its storage capacity is up to 512 GB or more
• Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC)
• It is used in digital cameras and video recorders
• Its storage capacity is up to 32 GB or more
• microSDHC
• It is also used in smartphones, tablets, portable media players, and handheld navigation devices
• Its storage capacity is up to 32 GB or more
• xD Picture Card
• It is used in digital cameras and photo printers
• Its storage capacity is from 256 MB to 2 GB or more
• Memory Stick & Memory Stick Micro (M2)
• These both types of flash memory cards are used in smartphones
• Storage capacity is up to 32 GB or more
Cloud Storage
Chapter 4 - Storage Devices
 Cloud Storage
• Cloud storage is also known as online storage
• It is an Internet service that provides remote storage to users
• This service is provided and managed by cloud storage service providers on
their storage servers
• Many cloud storage service providers are available on the Internet
• They offer different types of storage services for users
• Some cloud service providers offer limited storage service for free of cost
• We can get more storage services through some payment through credit cards
• Some important cloud storage services are Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive,
and iCloud
 Cloud Storage
Dropbox
• Dropbox is a popular cloud storage service that is used for storing and sharing
files online
• Files are stored on Dropbox’s servers
• Dropbox was launched in 2007 by two American students
• Today, Dropbox service is used by more than 50 million users
• Dropbox offers free storage accounts up to 2GB
Google Drive
• Google Drive is a cloud storage service from Google and was launched in 2012
• It is also used for storing and sharing files online
• Google Drive provides 15 GB of free storage
 Cloud Storage
SkyDrive (OneDrive)
• SkyDrive is a cloud storage service similar to Dropbox and Google Drive
• It is developed by Microsoft
• Now SkyDrive is called OneDrive (because Microsoft renamed its name from
SkyDrive to OneDrive)
• It provides up to 15 GB of free space for storing files
iCloud
• iCloud is a cloud storage service and cloud computing service from Apple Inc
• It was launched in 2011
• This service provides its users to store files on Apple cloud servers
• It provides up to 5 GB of free space for storing files
Disk Partitions
Chapter 4 - Storage Devices
 Disk Partitions
• Logical division of a hard disk into multiple parts or sections is called disk
partition
• Hard disk can be divided into multiple partitions (parts) during its formatting
process
• Each part of the physical disk drive is treated as a separate disk drive such as C
drive, D drive, and E drive
• Some OS such as Windows and Linux require multiple partitions of hard disk
• Disk partitioning allows for installing and running multiple OS on the same
computer
• Types of disk partitions
• Primary Partition
• Extended Partition
 Primary Partition
• Partition on which OS is installed is called a primary partition
• It is also called system partition
• It contains OS folders and files
• Windows and other OS boot from a primary partition
• Primary partition may use entire disk or only part of it
• We can create a maximum of four primary partitions on a hard disk
 Extended Partition
• Extended partition is a part of a physical hard disk
• A hard disk can have only one extended partition
• It cannot be formatted and assigned any drive letter
• Extended partition is used only for creating multiple logical partitions (logical
drives)
• Each logical partition is formatted and assigned a unique letter
• In this way, multiple logical hard disk drives can be created
• Data of users is usually stored on logical partitions (logical drives)
For more details, refers to

PM Series

Introduction to Computer

by
CM Aslam, Aqsa Aslam, Mussadiq Fida, & Mudassir
Ahmad

Publisher:Majeed Sons
22- Urdu Bazar, Lahore