Hard drive
A hard disk drive (sometimes
abbreviated as a hard drive, HD,
or HDD) is a non-volatile data
storage device. It is usually
installed internally in a computer,
attached directly to the disk
controller of the computer's
motherboard. It contains one or
more platters, housed inside of an
air-sealed casing. Data is written
to the platters using a magnetic head, which moves rapidly over
them as they spin.
Internal hard disks reside in a drive bay, connected to the
motherboard using an ATA, SCSI, or SATA cable. They are
powered by a connection to the computer's PSU (power supply
unit).
Examples of data stored on a computer's hard drive include the
operating system, installed software, and the user's personal files.
Why does a computer need a hard
drive?
A computer requires an operating system to allow users to
interact with and use it. The operating system interprets keyboard
and mouse movements and allows for the use of software, like an
Internet browser, word processor, and video games. To install a
computer operating system, a hard drive (or another storage
device) is required. The storage device provides the storage
medium where the operating system is installed and stored.
A hard drive is also required for the installation of any programs
or other files you want to keep on your computer. When
downloading files to your computer, they are permanently stored
on your hard drive or another storage medium until they are
moved or uninstalled.
Can a computer work without a hard
drive?
Without a hard drive, a computer can turn on and POST.
Depending on how the BIOS is configured, other bootable devices
in the boot sequence are also checked for the necessary boot
files. For example, if the USB device is listed in your BIOS boot
sequence, you can boot from a bootable USB flash drive in a
computer without a hard drive.
Examples of bootable flash drives include a Microsoft Windows
installation disk, GParted Live, Ubuntu Live, or UBCD. Some
computers also support booting over a network with a PXE
(preboot execution environment).
SSD
Short for solid-state drive, an SSD
is a storage medium that uses non-
volatile memory to hold and access data. Unlike a hard drive, an
SSD has no moving parts, which gives it advantages, such as
faster access time, noiseless operation, higher reliability, and
lower power consumption. The picture shows an example of an
SSD made by Crucial.
As the costs have come down, SSDs have become suitable
replacements for a standard hard drive in both desktop and
laptop computers. SSDs are also a great solution for netbooks,
nettops, and other applications that don't require a lot of storage.
Note
Although an SSD uses flash memory, it should not be confused
with a USB jump drive or Adobe Flash.
Note
An SSD may also be short for solid-state disk, although it
doesn't use a disk mechanism.
HDD VS SSD
Modern computers often use an SSD (solid-state drive) as the
primary storage device, instead of an HDD. HDDs are slower than
SSDs when reading and writing data, but offer greater storage
capacity for the price.
Although an HDD may still be used as a computer's primary
storage, it's common for it to be installed as a secondary disk
drive. For example, the primary SSD may contain the operating
system and installed software, and a secondary HDD may be used
to store documents, downloads, and audio or video files.
Tip
New computer users may confuse RAM (memory) with their disk
drive. Unlike an HDD or SSD, RAM is a "volatile" data storage
device, meaning it can store data only when the computer is
powered on.
How is a hard drive connected to a
computer?
An internal hard drive connects to the computer using two means:
a data cable (IDE, SATA, or SCSI) to the motherboard and a power
cable to the power supply.
Where is the hard drive found in a
computer?
All primary computer hard drives are found inside a computer
case and are attached to the computer motherboard using an
ATA, SCSI, or SATA cable. Hard drives are powered by a
connection to the PSU (power supply unit).
Note
Some portable and desktop computers may have newer flash
drives that connect directly to the PCIe interface or another
interface and not use a cable.
What is stored on a hard drive?
A hard drive can store any data, including pictures, music, videos,
text documents, and any files created or downloaded. Also, hard
drives store files for the operating system and software programs
that run on the computer.
What are the sizes of hard drives?
The hard drive is often capable of storing more data than any
other drive, but its size can vary depending on the type of drive
and its age. Older hard drives had a storage size of several
hundred MB (megabytes) to several GB (gigabytes). Newer hard
drives have a storage size of several hundred gigabytes to several
TB (terabytes). Each year, new and improved technology allows
for increasing hard drive storage sizes.
Note
If you are trying to find the physical dimensions of a hard drive,
their physical sizes are either 3.5" for desktop computers or 2.5"
for laptops. SSDs range from 1.8" to 5.25".
References
https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/h/harddriv.htm
https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000413.htm
https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/ssd.htm
