Storage

Devices
In this section, fill in the information below about each method of storage. Include relevant diagrams under each
heading. Delete this red text when youre done.

Magnetic Storage
Definition/Characteristics: It is made up of little magnetic dots
How it works: They can be bits of rust that are created by tiny bits of electromagnets
Examples of Devices/Media: Hard disk drive and backup tapes

Solid State
Definition/Characteristics: wsolid state tips with No Moving Parts
How it works: There are no reels of tape, No spinning discs, No Laser beams are in Solid Sate because then the
backing storage is rewriteable and can be used again. There non-volatile.
Examples of Devices/Media: Memory sticks Flash memory cards SSDs -Solid State Drives

Optical
Definition/Characteristics: Its a form of storage that when using laser it reads data and information from reflective
discs.
How it works: In a series of bumps and flats depends on how much it will read if it is a one or a two.
Examples of Devices/Media: CD, DVD or a Blue ray

Advantages and Disadvantages

Fill in the table below. Use the internet to help you. Delete this red text when youre done.
Type of Storage

Hard Disk Drive

Typical Size

Uses

Advantages

Disadvantages

1-4 tb

Permanently
store operating
system and
programs

It is large amount
of storage. its
cheap and quick

Slower than ROM

and RAM chips.
Contains moving
parts data loss

2tb

Backup or
transferring large
amounts of
information
between
computers

It can be portable

More likely to
drop and brake
because its
portable

6-8 tb

Backups server
backups

Large amounts of
storage

Slow to read and

write data

Portable HDD

Magnetic Tape

Very reliable
32-64 tb
Memory Stick

Personal files and

between
computers

Large amounts of
data in a small
size

They have limited

life span
Easily left or lost

portable
32-64 tb
Flash memory
card

Storing photos
and videos on a
camera or data on
a mobile

Identical to a
memory stick

Easily to lose.

Storage Methods
Youve looked a lot at storage methods and what storage devices are used for. But you havent looked at how the
data is actually stored and accessed on a device.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is SEQUENTIAL storage/Access?
A piece of data that the computer reads in a sequence. Where RAM can be read in any order.
2. Give one storage device/media that uses the sequential method of file storage
SAM
3. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of sequential method of file storage
- everything will get done in the right order
- if the computer is switched of it wouldnt be finished

4. What is Random Access?

5. Give one storage device/media that uses the Random Access method of storage
6. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of the Random Access method of storage

Backup
What is the definition of Backup?

A exact copy of the data stored external to the original.

What is the difference between Backup and Backing Storage?

Give two reasons why backups should be used/made