-Storage is split into two sections either magnetic or optical.

-Magnetic storage stores data in ting magnetised dots. These dots are created, read and erased by
using magnetic fields made by tiny electromagnets.
Examples of these devices are: - Hard drive - Portable hard disk drive - Magnetic tapes.
Solid State Storage means no moving parts. This means that there are no reels of tape moving, no
spinning disk and no laser beams. The data stored on solid state backing storage is rewritable. Found
on memory sticks and flash cards.


Type of Storage Typical
Size
Uses Advantages Disadvantages
Hard Disk Drive Largest size 4
terabytes typically
a desktop hard disk
drive is 500-2000
GB
It controls the
positioning, reading
and writing of the
hard disk. Used as a
backup for storing
files.
-Large storage
capacity.
-Stored items are
not lost when the
computer is
switched off.
-Much slower than
RAM and ROM
chips.
-They are
susceptible to
crashing.
Portable HDD 500 GB Used for storing files
and backing up data
such as pictures,
video or music.
-Doesnt need a
power source.
-Very portable
and easy to carry.
-Easily used by
multiple PCs for
file sharing
-Quick and easy
archiving data.

-Slower transfer
rate than that of an
internal Hard Disk
Drive.
Magnetic Tape Up to 1 TB per
cartridge.
Used for backup/
archiving* data of
important files from
the hard disk.
-Small and
portable.
-Low cost storage
per gigabyte.
-Very slow
especially to read
and write from
-It is sequential
storage so all data
must be read
before you can get
to the data you
want to read.
Memory Stick Typical size is
512MB-32GB
It is a removable
drive that stores a
small amount of
data used to transfer
data from one
computer to
another.
-Able to hold
large quantities of
data.
-Extremely
portable.
Durable as there
are no moving
parts
-Quite likely to be
stolen, lost or
damaged due to
the small size.
*When you take data off your area and it sores it on the tape.

Homework

Back up is a copy of a file of a file stored on an alternative medium to the original. We need backup
storage as the data could be corrupted on the original medium, it could be accidentally or
maliciously deleted or it could be changed.


The two main methods of storing data are random access and sequential.

Data in sequential access is stored in a sequence. Advantages are that it can store a lot of data also it
is quite cheap a disadvantage would be that it would take a while to get through all of the data.

Random access memory is stored in a particular location and the user can access any data they like
at any time and you can access it straight away. An advantage would be that it would be quicker and
easier.





Flash memory 1GB upwards A small, light, non-
volatile and
removable memory
used for erasing and
reprogramming units
of memory.
-Durable, solid-
state device.
-Compact
-Very fast
-Data can only be
stored in chunks.
-It wears out over
time.