Chapter 7 Storage

Chapter 7 Objectives
Differentiate between storage and memory Identify various types of storage media and storage devices Explain how a floppy disk stores data Identify the advantages of using high-capacity disks Describe how a hard disk organizes data
Next p. 7.2

Explain how a compact disc stores data

Understand how to care for a compact disc

Differentiate between CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, and DVD-ROMs

Identify the uses of tape

Understand how an enterprise storage system works Explain how to use PC Cards and other miniature storage media Identify uses of microfilm and microfiche

Identify the advantages of using an Internet hard drive

Memory Versus Storage

What is storage?

The media on which data, instructions, and information are kept, as well as the devices that record and retrieve these items

Next p. 7. 2 Fig. 7-1

Memory Versus Storage

What is memory?

A temporary holding place for data and instructions Consists of one or more chips on the motherboard Sometimes called primary storage

Nonvolatile memory
Volatile memory Loses its contents when the computers power is turned off Most memory is volatile Does not lose its contents when power is removed from the computer

Next p. 7. 3

Memory Versus Storage

How does storage differ from memory?

Storage also called secondary storage, auxiliary storage, permanent storage, or mass storage Storage holds items such as data, instructions, and information for future use Storage is nonvolatile

When you want to work with a file, you remove it from storage and place it in memory

When you are finished with the file, you remove it from memory and return it to storage

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Memory Versus Storage

How does volatility compare?
State of Computer Screen Display Volatile Contents of Memory Contents of (most RAM) Storage Volatile Nonvolatile

ON

C6578 print cartridge $30.25 per cartridge 2 cartridges $60.50 total due

Contents of storage retained when power is off

OFF
Next p. 7. 4 Fig. 7-2

Screen display and contents of most RAM (memory) erased when power is off

Memory Versus Storage

What is a storage medium and a storage device?
storage device The computer hardware that records and retrieves items to and from a storage medium

storage medium

Next p. 7. 4

The physical material on which a computer keeps data, instructions, and information

Memory Versus Storage

What is reading and writing?
Reading Process of transferring data, instructions, and information from a storage medium into memory Serves as a source of input

Writing Process of transferring items from memory to a storage medium Serves as a source of output

Next p. 7. 4

Memory Versus Storage

What is access time?

The amount of time it takes the device to locate an item on a disk Defines the speed of a disk storage device

Memory (RAM)

Hard Disk

cost
Compact Disc

speed

Floppy Disk

Next p. 7.4 Fig. 7-4

Tape

Memory Versus Storage

What is capacity?
Storage Term Abbreviation Number of bytes 1 thousand 1 million 1 billion 1 trillion 1 quadrillion

The number of bytes (characters) a storage medium can hold Manufacturers use many terms to define the capacity of storage media

Kilobyte Megabyte Gigabyte Terabyte Petabyte

KB MB GB TB PB

Next p. 7. 4 Fig. 7-3

Technology Trailblazer
Al Shugart

Joined IBM as a customer engineer in 1951 Supervised a team in 1967 responsible for developing a removable, portable data storage device Founded Shugart Associates in 1973 and Seagate Technology in 1979

Click to view Web Link then click Al Shugart Next p. 7.7

Floppy Disks
What is a floppy disk?

Next p. 7. 7

A portable, inexpensive storage medium Consists of a thin, circular, flexible plastic disk with a magnetic coating Enclosed in a square-shaped plastic shell Todays standard disk is 3.5 wide

Floppy Disks
What are the parts of a floppy disk?

A thin circular flexible film is enclosed between two liners A piece of metal called a shutter covers an opening to the recording surface

liner

shutter metal hub

Click to view Web Link then click Floppy Disks Next p. 7.6 Fig. 7-5

shell

magnetic coating

flexible thin film

Floppy Disks
What is a floppy disk drive (FDD)?

A device that can read from and write on a floppy disk Most personal computers have a floppy disk drive, in which you insert and remove a floppy disk

floppy disk

floppy disk drive

Next p. 7.7 Fig. 7-6

Floppy Disks
How are floppy disk drives designated?
One floppy drive
drive A

Two floppy drives

drive A

drive B
Next p. 7. 6

Floppy Disks
How does a floppy disk store data?

A type of magnetic media Uses magnetic patterns to store items such as data, instructions, and information on a disks surface Able to access (read) data from and place (write) data on a magnetic disk any number of times The read/write head in the floppy disk drive is the mechanism that actually reads items from or writes items on the floppy disk

Next p. 7. 8

How does a floppy disk drive work?

Step 1: When you insert the floppy disk into the drive, the shutter moves to the side to expose the recording surface on the disk.

Step 2: When you initiate a disk access, the circuit board on the drive sends signals to control movement of the read/write heads and the disk. Step 3: If disk access is a write instruction, the circuit board verifies whether the disk can be written to or not. Step 4: A motor causes the floppy disk to spin.

Step 1 Step 6

Step 2

Step 5: A motor positions the read/write heads over the correct location on the recording surface of the disk. Step 6: The read/write heads read data from and write data on the floppy disk.

Step 5 Step 4 Step 3

Next p. 7. 7 Fig. 7-7

Floppy Disks
What is density?

The number of bits in an area on a storage medium A floppy disk drive must support that floppy disks density Most floppy disks today are high density (HD) with a capacity of 1.44 MB

Downward compatible Able to recognize and use earlier media Floppy disk drives are downward compatible

Upward compatible Able to recognize newer media Floppy disk drives are not upward compatible

Next p. 7. 7

Floppy Disks
What are tracks and sectors?

Next

Track: a narrow recording band that forms a full circle on the surface of the disk Pie shaped sections break the tracks into small arcs called sectors A sector can store up to 512 bytes of data A typical floppy disk stores data on both sides of the disk

sector 18 per track track 80 per side

p. 7.8 Fig. 7-8

80 tracks per side X 18 sectors per track X 2 sides per disk X 512 bytes per sector = 1,474,560 bytes

Floppy Disks
What is a cluster?

The smallest unit of disk space that stores data Also called an allocation unit 2 to 8 sectors depending on the operating system Each cluster holds data from only one file One file can span many clusters
cluster 2 to 8 sectors

Next p. 7.8

Floppy Disks
What is formatting?

The process of preparing a disk for reading and writing Formatting marks bad sectors as unusable

Next p. 7. 8 Fig. 7-9

Floppy Disks
How do you care for a floppy?

A floppy disk can last at least seven years Proper care helps to maximize a disks life
Never open the shutter and touch the disks recording surface

Avoid exposure to heat and cold

Avoid exposure to magnetic fields

Avoid exposure to contaminants such as dust, smoke, or salt air

Next p. 7.9

Keep disks in a storage tray when not using them

Floppy Disks
What is a write-protect notch?

A small opening with a cover that you slide up or down Protects floppy disks from accidentally being erased

notch open means you cannot write on the disk notch closed means you can write on the disk

write-protected

not write-protected

Next p. 7. 9 Fig. 7-10

High-Capacity Disks
What is a high-capacity disk drive?

A disk drive that uses disks with capacities of 100 MB and greater
SuperDisk drive HiFD (High-Capacity Floppy Disk) drive Uses a 120 MB or a 250 MB SuperDisk Developed by Imation

Uses a 200 MB HiFD disk Developed by Sony Electronics, Inc.

Click to view Web Link then click Zip Drives Next p. 7.9

Zip drive Uses a Zip disk that can store 100 MB or 250 MB of data Developed by Iomega Corporation built in Zip drive

High-Capacity Disks
What is a backup?

A duplicate of a file, program, or disk that you can use if the original is lost damaged, or destroyed High-capacity disks are often used to back up important data and information

Next p. 7.9

Hard Disks
What a hard disk?

Next p. 7. 10 Fig. 7-12

Hard disk installed in system unit

Consists of several inflexible, circular platters that store items electronically Also called a hard disk drive or a fixed disk A platter is coated with a material that allows items to be recorded magnetically on its surface The components of a hard disk are enclosed in an airtight, sealed case to protect them

Hard Disks
How does a hard disk work?
Step 1: The circuit board controls the movement of the head activator and a small motor Step 2: A small motor spins the platters while the computer is running

Step 3: When software requests a disk access, the read/write heads determine the current or new location of the data
Step 4: The head actuator positions the read/write head arms over the correct location on the platters to read or write data

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Next p. 7.11 Fig. 7-13

Step 4

Hard Disks
cylinder track

What is a cylinder?

Click to view animation Next

The location of a single track through all platters A single movement of the read/write head arms can read all the platters of data

p. 7. 11 Fig. 7-14

Hard Disks
What is a head crash?

Occurs when a read/write head touches the surface of a platter The platters of the hard disk rotate at a high rate of speed while the computer is running The spinning creates a cushion of air that floats the read/write head above the platter
hair

Clearance is approximately two millionths of an inch

Next p. 7. 12 Fig. 7-15

read/write head
dust smoke gap

platter

Hard Disks
How does access time compare for a hard disk and a floppy disk?
A hard disks access time is significantly faster than a floppy disk The hard disk spins much faster than a floppy disk A hard disk spins constantly, while a Click to view floppy disk starts Web Link then click spinning only when Hard Drives it receives a read or Next write command p. 7. 12

Hard disk Approximately 5 to 11 milliseconds

Floppy disk 84 milliseconds or approximately a second

Hard Disks
What is a disk cache?

A portion of memory that the processor uses to store frequently accessed items A cache controller manages cache and thus determines which items cache should store
processor

disk cache hard disk

Next p. 7. 12 Fig. 7-16

first request for data to disk cache

second request for data to hard disk

Hard Disks
What is a partition?

You can divide a formatted hard disk into separate areas called partitions Done by issuing a special operating system command Each partition functions as if it were a separate hard disk drive

drive C Designation for first partition or for a single partition on the hard disk

drive D Designation for second partition on the hard disk

Next p. 7. 12

Hard Disks
USB port

What is a disk controller?

Next p. 7. 13

A special purpose chip and associated electronic circuits that control the Enhanced Integrated Drive transfer of data, Electronics (EIDE) instructions, and information from a disk to One of the most widely used controllers the rest of the computer Supports up to four hard disks Sometimes called an interface small computer system A hard disk controller interface (SCSI) (HDC) is the interface for a hard disk Supports multiple disk drives, as well as other peripherals May be part of the disk drive or a separate card You can daisy chain devices inside the system unit together

Used as interface for many external hard disk drives

Hard Disks
What is a removable hard disk?

A disk drive in which a plastic or metal case surrounds the hard disk so you can remove it from the drive A popular, reasonably priced, removable hard disk is the Jaz disk by Iomega

Next p. 7. 13 Fig. 7-17

Company on the Cutting Edge

Kingston Technology

Click to view Web Link then click Kingston

Click to view video Next p. 7. 13

The worlds leading independent manufacturer of memory products of computers, servers, digital cameras, and other electronic devices Founded by John Tu and David Sun in 1987 Markets more than 2,000 products Designated as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in the United States by Fortune magazine

Hard Disks
What is RAID?

Redundant array of independent disks A type of hard disk system that connects several smaller disks into a single unit that acts like a single large hard disk More reliable than a traditional disk system but quite expensive

Next p. 7.14 Fig. 7-18

Hard Disks
How does RAID work?

RAID duplicates data, instructions, and information to improve data reliability Level 1, called mirroring, has one backup disk for each disk Levels beyond level 1 use a technique called striping, which splits data, instructions, and information across multiple disks in the array

Mirroring (RAID Level 1)

Striping
Next p. 7. 14 Fig. 7-19

Hard Disks
What utilities maintain a hard disk drive?
Windows provides many maintenance and monitoring utilities for a hard disk on the System Click to view Web Tools Link then click Utilities submenu

Next p. 7. 15 Fig. 7-20

Hard Disks
What is an Internet hard drive?

Next

A service on the Web that provides storage to computer users Sometimes called online storage Many offer storage free of charge Revenues come from advertisers

p. 7. 16 Fig. 7-21

Hard Disks
What are advantages of an Internet hard drive?

Large audio, video, and graphics files can be downloaded to an Internet hard drive instantaneously

Files can be accessed from any computer or device that has Web access

Others can be authorized to access data from your Internet hard drive
Next p. 7. 16

Allows offsite backups of data

Compact Discs
What is a compact disc (CD)?

Next p. 7. 17

A flat, round, portable, metal storage medium that usually is 4.75 inches in diameter and less than one-twentieth of an inch thick Most personal computers today include some type of compact disc drive Also called an optical disc Available in a variety of formats

Compact Discs
How do you use a compact disc?

CD drives can read compact discs, including audio discs Most CD drives include a volume control button and a headphone jack The drive designation of a CD drive usually follows alphabetically after that of the hard disk

Push button to slide out the tray

Insert disc, label side up

Next p. 7. 17 Fig. 7-22

Push the same button to close the tray

Compact Discs
How does a laser read data on a compact disc?

Items are stored using microscopic pits (indentations) and land (flat areas) that are in the middle layer of the disk A laser light reads items from the compact disc

Step 1 3 2

Compact disc label

Step 2: If light strikes a pit, it scatters. If light strikes land, it is reflected back toward the laser diode.
Step 1: A laser diode shines a light beam toward the compact disc.

pit
lens

land
lens

0
prism prism

Step 3: Reflected light is deflected to a light-sensing diode, which sends digital signals of 1 to the computer. Absence of reflected light is read as a digital signal of 0.
Next p. 7. 18 Fig. 7-23

laser diode

Lightsensing diode

laser diode

Lightsensing diode

Compact Discs
How is data stored on a compact disc?

A compact disc typically stores items in a single track It spirals from the center of the disc to the edge of the disc The track is divided into evenly sized sectors in which items are stored
Single track spirals to edge of disc Compact disc sectors

Next p. 7. 18 Fig. 7-24

Compact Discs
What is a jewel box?

A protective case for a compact disc Place a compact disc in a jewel box to protect data

Next p. 7.19 Fig. 7-25

Compact Discs
How should you care for a compact disc?
1: Do not expose the disc to excessive heat or sunlight. 2: Do not eat, smoke, or drink near a disc. 3: Do not stack discs. 4: Do not touch the underside of the disc.

5: Do store the disc in a jewel box when not in use.

Next p. 7.19 Do7-26 6: Fig. hold

a disc by its edges.

CD-ROMs
What is a CD-ROM?

Next p. 7. 20

A silver-colored compact disc that uses the same laser technology as audio CDs for recording music Can contain text, graphics, audio, and video The manufacturer writes, or records, the contents of standard CD-ROMs You cannot erase or modify the contents A CD-ROM drive or CD-ROM player is used to read items on a CD-ROM

CD-ROMs
What is the storage capacity of a CD-ROM?

A typical CD-ROM holds about 650 MB of data, instructions, and information Manufactures use CD-ROMs to store and distribute todays multimedia and other complex software

Click to view Web Link then click CD-ROMs Next p. 7. 20 Fig. 7-27

CD-ROMs
What is the data transfer rate of a CD-ROM drive?

The time it takes a drive to transmit data, instructions, and information from the drive to another device Slower CD-ROM drives produce choppy images or sound Drive speed measured relative to original CD-ROM drives (150 KB per second) 40X
range of current rates

40 X 150 KB per second = 6,000 KB per second or 6 MB per second

75X
Next p. 7.20

75 X 150 KB per second = 12,250 KB per second or 12.25 MB per second

CD-ROMs
What is a PhotoCD?

A compact disc that contains digital photographic images saved in the PhotoCD format Based on a file format developed by Eastman Kodak Used by commercial and professional users A multisession disc, which means you can write additional data, instructions, and information to the disc at a later time

Next p. 7. 21 Fig. 7-28

CD-ROMs
What is a Picture CD?

Click to view Web Link then click Picture CDs Next p. 7. 21

A single-session disc offered by Kodak Stores digital versions of photographs for consumers Single-session means all items are written to the disc at one time Film developers create the images on the disc from photographic negatives at the time a roll of film is developed

CD-R and CD-RW

What is a CD-R (compact disc-recordable)?

Next p. 7. 22

A multisession compact disc onto which you can record your own items such as text, graphics, and audio You write on the CD-R using a CD recorder or a CD-R drive and special software The CD-R drive can read and write both audio CDs and standard CD-ROMs You cannot erase the discs contents Most CD-ROM drives can read a CD-R

CD-R and CD-RW

What is a CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable)?

An erasable disc you can write on multiple times You must have CD-RW software and a CD-RW drive

Discs can be read only by multiread CD-ROM drives Drives that can read audio CDs, data CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs Most recent CD-ROM Click to view Web Link drives are multiread then click

CD-RWs Next p. 7. 22

CD-R and CD-RW

How is an audio CD created?
Step 1: Artist composes a song and creates a CD. Step 2a: Song is stored on audio CD and purchased by the user. Step 3a: User inserts audio Step 2b:CD-ROM drive, CD into Song is compressedand copies it to plays song, and stored on Step 4: User copies file to the hard disk. Internet. CD-RW disc. Step 5: User listens to 3b: User downloads song on audio file to hard as personal computer or removes CD disk. and listens to song on portable CD player.
Next p. 7. 23 Fig. 7-29

1 2a

2b

3a

3b

DVD-ROMs
What is a DVD-ROM (digital video disc-ROM)?

Click to view video Next p. 7.24 Fig. 7-30

An extremely high capacity compact disc capable of storing from 4.7 GB to 17 GB You must have a DVD-ROM drive or DVD player to read a DVD-ROM Looks just like a CD-ROM but data, instructions, and information is stored in a slightly different manner to achieve a higher storage capacity

DVD-ROMs
How does a DVD-ROM store data?

Three storage techniques used to store DVD-ROM data Pits are packed closer together to make the disc more dense Two layers of pits are used, where the lower layer is
semitransparent so the laser can read through it to the upper layer Some are double-sided, which means you can remove the DVDROM and turn it over to read the other side

Next p. 7. 25 Fig. 7-31

DVD-ROMs
What are other various DVD formats?
Digital motion picture DVD Used to play a movie on your television set or view on the computer DVD-R (DVD-recordable) A recordable DVD that you can write on once and read from many times
Click to view video Next p. 7. 25

DVD-RAM A rewritable DVD that allows you to erase and record on the disc multiple times

DVD+RW A competing technology to DVD-RAM

Technology Trailblazer
Mark Dean

Click to view Web Link then click Mark Dean Next p. 7. 25

Designs microprocessors, improvements in architecture, and hardware innovations for IBM First African-American to receive an IBM Fellowship, the companys highest technical ranking Inducted into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame

Company on the Cutting Edge

EMC2

Click to view Web Link then click EMC Next p. 7. 26

A provider pf storage systems for some of the worlds largest corporations Founded in 1979 by Richard Egan and Roger Marino to fill a demand for add-on memory boards in the minicomputer market

Tapes
What is tape?

A magnetically coated ribbon of plastic capable of storing large amounts of data and information at a low cost A tape drive reads from and writes data and information on a tape Older computers used reel-to-reel tape drives A tape cartridge is a small, rectangular, plastic housing for tape used in todays tape drives

Click to view Web Link then click Tapes Next p. 7. 26 Fig. 7-32

Tapes
Where is tape used?

Used by business and home users to backup personal computer hard disks Both external and internal tape units for personal computers Larger computers use tape cartridges mounted in a separate cabinet called a tape library Three common types of tape drives

Next p. 7.26 Fig. 7-33

Tapes
What is sequential access versus direct access?
Sequential access
Method used for tape
Reading and writing data consecutively You must forward or rewind the tape to a specific point to access a specific piece of data Much slower Utilized most often for long-term storage and backup
Next p. 7. 26

Direct access
Method used for floppy disks, hard disks, and compact discs Also called random access

You can locate a particular data item or file immediately, without having to move consecutively through items stored in front of the desired data item or file
Faster Used as the primary method of storage

Enterprise Storage Systems

What is an enterprise storage system?

A strategy that focuses on the availability, protection , organization, and backup of storage in a company Goal is to consolidate storage so operations run as efficiently as possible

tape library

RAID

CD-ROM jukeboxes

servers

Next p. 7.27 Fig. 7-34

SAN

NAS device

Internet backup

Enterprise Storage Systems

What storage techniques are used in an enterprise system?
Server Storage area network (SAN) CD-ROM jukebox RAID system Stores data, information, Holdshigh-speedof CD-ROMs A hundreds network that and instructions need by Tape library that Ensures storage deviceslost if connects thatapplication can contain data is not users on the network one drive fails programs and data system A high-capacity tape that works with multiple tape Also called a CD-ROM server cartridges for storing backups of data, Internet backup information, and instructions Stores Network-attached storage data, information, and instructions ondevice (NAS) the Web An easy way to add additional hard disk space to the network Next
p. 7. 27

Enterprise Storage Systems

How do organizations handle storage?
Data warehouse A huge database system that stores and manages historical and current transaction data

Enterprise storage system managed in house

Storage management offloaded to an outside organization or online Web service

Next p. 7. 28

PC Cards
What is a PC Card?

A thin, credit card-sized device Fits into a PC Card slot on a notebook other personal computer Different types and sizes add storage, additional memory, communications, and sound capabilities to a computer

Click to view Web Link then click PC Cards Next p. 7. 28 Fig. 7-35

PC Cards
What are the uses of PC Cards?

Three types of PC Card Advantage of a PC Card for storage is portability between systems

Next p. 7. 28 Fig. 7-36

Miniature Mobile Storage Media

What is miniature mobile storage media?

Handheld devices use miniature mobile storage media to augment internal storage

Device Name

Storage Capacity

Type, Use

Clik! Disk

40 MB

Cartridge
Digital cameras, notebook computers

CompactFlash

2 to 256 MB

Memory Card
Digital cameras, handheld computers, notebook computers, printers, cellular telephones

Microdrive

1 GB

Memory card
Digital cameras, handheld computers, music players, video cameras

SmartMedia
Next p. 7. 28 Fig. 7-37

2 to 128 MB

Memory Card
Digital cameras, handheld computers, photo printers, cellular telephones

Miniature Mobile Storage Media

How is miniature storage media used?

Handheld devices, such as players and wallets, read or display the contents of miniature storage media such as memory cards

Next p. 7. 29 Fig. 7-38

Miniature Mobile Storage Media

What is a smart card?

Stores data on a thin microprocessor embedded in the card Similar in size to a credit card Read smart card with a specialized card reader Information on the smart card can be read and updated

Next p. 7. 29 Fig. 7-39

Miniature Mobile Storage Media

What are the types of smart cards?

Intelligent smart card contains a processor and has input, process, output, and storage capabilities Memory card has only storage capabilities

Store data such as photographs, music, books, and video clips

Store a prepaid dollar amount that is updated when the card is used Store patient records, vaccination data, and other healthcare information

Next p. 7. 29

Store tracking information such as customer purchases or employee attendance

Miniature Mobile Storage Media

What is electronic money?

A means of paying for goods and services over the Internet Also called digital cash

A bank issues unique digital cash numbers that represent an amount of money

When you purchase digital cash, the amount of money is withdrawn from your bank account

To use the card you swipe it through a card reader

Next p. 7. 29

Microfilm and Microfiche

What are microfilm and microfiche?

Store microscopic images of documents on roll or sheet film Images recorded onto film using a computer output microfilm (COM) recorder Images can only be read with a microfilm or microfiche reader
Microfilm

Uses a 100- to 215foot roll of film

Next p. 7. 30 Fig. 7-40

Microfiche
Uses a small sheet of film, usually about four inches by six inches

Microfilm and Microfiche

How do life expectancies of various media compare?

Microfilm and microfiche are inexpensive and have the longest life of any storage medium

Next p. 7.30 Fig. 7-41

Summary
What are suggested storage devices for computer users?
Mobile Mobile Home 3.5-inch HDHD floppy disk drive 3.5-inch floppy disk drive
Large Business
75 250 hard disk GB MB Zip drive 30 GB hard disk 3.5-inch HD floppy disk drive DVD-ROM drive 1 GB PC Card hard disk Internet hard drive CD-RW drive DVD-ROM drive 10 GB Microfilm or microfiche hard disk CD-RW reader Internet hard drive Smart carddrive DVD-ROM drive or 40X CD-ROM drive RAID Tape drive Small Office/Home Office Enterprise storage system Power 3.5-inch HD floppy disk drive DVD-ROM drive CD-RW drive 75 GB hard disk Internet hard drive 2 GB Jaz drive 3.5-inch HD floppy disk drive 40 GB hard disk Internet hard drive DVD-ROM drive CD-RW drive 2 GB Jaz drive

Next p. 7. 31 Fig. 7-42

Summary of Storage

Next

Memory versus storage Floppy disks High-capacity disks Hard disks Compact discs CD-ROMs CD-R and CD-RW DVD-ROMs Tapes Enterprise storage systems PC Cards Miniature mobile storage media Microfilm and microfiche

Magneto-Optical Disc

This is a storage device in which information is stored using optical and magnetic methods. The surface of the disk is covered in a special alloy. When the crystals in this alloy are heated up using a laser. They behave like those found in normal magnetic storage media. Therefore, data can be recorded on the disk using magnetic heads Magnetic- Optical Disk is read using a laser of lower intensity than the one used to heat up the disk during recording. Examples of magneto-optical drives are the Fujitsu DynaMO used in a note book computer, MiniDisc (MD) for storage of up to 74 minutes and, later, 80 minutes, of digitized audio