The Floppy, CD-ROM and Hard Disk

Section 3: Disks and Software The Floppy, CD-ROM and Hard Disk Section 3 Standards: 1.1 Identify and use basic features of computer operating system (format/initialize disks, access information on size and format of a file; create folders on local hard drive).

Floppy Disks

A floppy disk is a reusable storage device that holds information. It can transport programs from one computer to another. Disks can be purchased blank or with commercial programs already on them. A floppy disk is 3.5 inches in diameter. The information you save on a disk will not be removed until you give the computer a command to do so. The disks are enclosed in hard plastic to protect the thin sheets of Mylar that store the information. . Flipping up the lock can protect your disk from having information erased. When your disk is locked you cannot save new material onto the disk.

Disks can be purchased blank or with software or information already on them. Disks can save 1.44 megabytes of information. You must format some floppy disks before you can use them on your computer. Formatting is done by the operating system in our computer. It only takes about a minute to format a disk

To format your disk: 1. Put your disk in the disk drive label side up and the metal in first 2. Double click on the My Computer Icon 3. Right Click on Drive A 4. Choose Format or Initialize

26 Section 3: Disks and Software

CD-ROM Disks

A CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) is 4.5 inches in diameter. It is used to save or transport information onto a CD that can hold up to 700 MB (megabytes) of information, which equals about 250,000 pages of text. A CD-ROM looks like a CD that you buy at music store, but it has different formatting for the computer. CD-ROMs have read-only memory. You can only save on blank CD-ROMs once with a CD burner. You can save on a CD-RW (read and write) many times with your CD burner. However, most stereos will NOT play CD-RWs.

Hard Drive or Hard Disk

The hard drives in can store up many GB (gigabytes) of information. One gigabyte equals 1,000 megabytes. This is significantly more space than a 1.44-megabyte floppy or a 600-megabyte CD. If you save an important document on your hard disk, you should save a back-up copy on your floppy or CD-ROM and vice versa!

Storage Capacities:

Floppy Disk 1.44 Megabytes CD-Rom 700 Megabytes Hard Drives 10 Gigabytes in our lab. Many computers have triple this amount!

Click on the My Computer Icon on your desktop.

Drive A is the ______

Drive C is the ______

Drive D is the ______

Reading and Writing

Name ______Room ______

Read and Write CD-R and CD-RW  Read  Write  CD/R  CD/RW

Read- In computer terms, this means your can read from the CD. You cannot save new information onto the CD or document. Example: If you open a document that is “Read Only” means that the user cannot make or save changes to the document. A CD is 4.5 inches in diameter.

Write- To “write” means you can save information onto the CD or document. You need a CD Burner to save on a CD.

CD/R (Compact Disk Read)- These blank CDs allow you to copy information onto a CD from your CD burner once. From then on you cannot save any changes or add any more information to the CD.

CD/RW (Compact Disk Read and Write)- These CDs allow you to copy information onto a CD many times. You can erase and use the CD over and over again.

1. Explain the difference between the terms READ and WRITE.

______2. Explain the difference between a CD/R and a CD/RW? ______3. To save or copy information onto a CD you need to purchase a ______.

Taking Care of Your Disks

You must take care of your disks the same way you care for your computer. IF you do not take care of them correctly you could destroy the disk and all the information you have saved. Here are some rules to help you take proper care of your disks.

1. Handle CDs by the edges so you do not get fingerprints or scratches on them. You can buy CD cleaner at your local electronics store, which may be able to clean your dirty or scratched CDs. 2. Do not touch the metal part of your floppy disk. 3. Store the disks in jackets or cases. 4. Keep the disks in room temperature 5. Keep disks away from heat and direct sunlight 6. Keep food and drinks away from disks 7. Label all of your disks and CDs so you know what information is on each one 8. Keep your disks away from magnets 9. Make backup copies of all important disks or save the information on your hard drive as well 10.Think of your own rule and write it below.

______

Name______Room ______

Review Activity 1

Directions: Answer the following questions from the reading.

1. A floppy disk is ______inches in diameter. It can hold ______MB of data. 2. A CD can hold up to ______of data. 3. If a CD can hold 700 MB of data, and a floppy disk holds 1.44 MB of data, how many floppy disks would you need to equal one CD?______4. How many pages are in your math book?______How many pages in your science book?______How many pages are in your history?______Total number of pages in all 3 books=______5. Approximately how many pages of text can fit onto a CD? ______6. Will all 3 of these books fit onto a CD? ______7. Our classroom hard drive holds 10 Gigabytes of information. If 1 Gigabyte=1000 Megabytes then our 10 Gigabytes hard drives=______Megabytes. 8. If a CD holds approximately 600 MB, how many CDs are equal one of our classroom hard drives? ______Hint: Take the answer from question 8 and divide by 650.

9. Review: Take the answers from above to fill in the chart below 1 CD= ______floppy disks 1 CD= ______pages of text 1 of our 10 GB hard drive= ______CDs