Hard Disk
A magnetic disk on which you can store computer data. The term hard is used to distinguish it from a soft, or floppy, disk. Hard disks hold more data and are faster than floppy disks. A hard disk, for example, can store anywhere from 10 to more than 100 gigabytes, whereas most floppies have a maximum storagecapacity of 1.4 megabytes.
A single hard disk usually consists of several platters. Each platter requires two read/write heads, one for each side. All the read/write heads are attached to a single access arm so that they cannot move independently. Each platter has the same number of tracks, and a track location that cuts across all platters is called a cylinder. For example, a typical 84 megabyte hard disk for a PCmight have two platters (four sides) and 1,053 cylinders.
In general, hard disks are less portable than floppies, although it is possible to buy removable hard disks.
Read Also:
- Hard Disk Drive
Hard disk drives (also called hard drives or disk drives) is the mechanism that reads and writes data on a hard disk. Hard disk drives (HDDs) for PCs generally have seek times of about 12 milliseconds or less. Many disk drives improve their performance through a technique called caching. There are several interface standards for […]
- hard disk loading
A type of software piracy that occurs when hardware dealers; brick-and-mortar or Internet vendors, install an unauthorized copy of commercial software onto a computer system. In many cases consumers will not receive any manuals or original CD of the software but the hardware dealer may charge for the illegal software in the total system purchase […]
- hard disk type
A number that indicates important features of a hard disk, such as the number of platters and cylinders. However, the numbering scheme has broken down over the last few years and is no longer used by most disk drive manufacturers.
- hard drive enclosure
The casing that holds a hard drive which can be externally connected to a computer system. Also called a hard drive cage. See external hard drive.
- hard error
An error occurence in a computer system that is caused by the failure of a memory chip. Hard errors can appear like chip-level soft errors, but the difference is that the hard error is not rectified when the computer is rebooted. The solution to a hard error is to replace the memory chip or module […]