IGCSE ICT 0417 Storage Devices
magnetic tape - correct answer-Very thin strip of plastic that has been coated in a magnetic
layer. They are read and written to by a read/write head. The data is stored in magnetic
areas that represent ls and Os.
Internal hard disk drive - correct answer-Are available on all computers and are the main
method used for data storage.
Uses
• To store the operating system, systems software and working data/files.
• Storing applications software that needs fast retrieval and storage of data.
Portable hard disk drives - correct answer-These devices work in much the same way as
fixed hard disk drives but are usually connected to the computer via the USB (universal
serial bus) port and can be disconnected and used on different computers.
optical - correct answer-CDs and DVDS are described as ____________ storage devices.
Laser light is used to read data and to write data on the surface of the disk.
CD-ROM, DVD-ROM - correct answer-CD-_____ and DVD-_____: These optical disks are
read-only memory, which means they cannot be written over and can only be read.
CD-R, DVD-R - correct answer-CD-_____ and DVD-_____: The disk is recordable once
only; it becomes a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM once it has been finalised
CD-RW, DVD-RW - correct answer-CD-_____ and DVD-_____: These disks are a rewritable
media and can be written over several
times.
Blu-ray disc - correct answer-Example of optical storage media that can store up to five
times more data than a normal DVD. Used for storing and playing back movies (one
high-definition movie of two hours duration uses up 25 GB of memory).
pen-drive, memory stick - correct answer-They are usually connected to a computer through
the USB port and power to operate them is drawn from the host computer. They are
extremely small and very portable. Most operating systems recognise these storage media,
which means no additional software is needed to operate them.
Solid State Drive - correct answer-Are rapidly taking over from HDDs. They have no
moving parts and all data is retrieved at the same rate no matter where it is stored. The main
advantages are:
• they are more reliable (no moving parts to go wrong)
• they are considerably lighter (which makes them suitable for laptops)
• they don't have to get 'up to speed' before they work properly
magnetic tape - correct answer-Very thin strip of plastic that has been coated in a magnetic
layer. They are read and written to by a read/write head. The data is stored in magnetic
areas that represent ls and Os.
Internal hard disk drive - correct answer-Are available on all computers and are the main
method used for data storage.
Uses
• To store the operating system, systems software and working data/files.
• Storing applications software that needs fast retrieval and storage of data.
Portable hard disk drives - correct answer-These devices work in much the same way as
fixed hard disk drives but are usually connected to the computer via the USB (universal
serial bus) port and can be disconnected and used on different computers.
optical - correct answer-CDs and DVDS are described as ____________ storage devices.
Laser light is used to read data and to write data on the surface of the disk.
CD-ROM, DVD-ROM - correct answer-CD-_____ and DVD-_____: These optical disks are
read-only memory, which means they cannot be written over and can only be read.
CD-R, DVD-R - correct answer-CD-_____ and DVD-_____: The disk is recordable once
only; it becomes a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM once it has been finalised
CD-RW, DVD-RW - correct answer-CD-_____ and DVD-_____: These disks are a rewritable
media and can be written over several
times.
Blu-ray disc - correct answer-Example of optical storage media that can store up to five
times more data than a normal DVD. Used for storing and playing back movies (one
high-definition movie of two hours duration uses up 25 GB of memory).
pen-drive, memory stick - correct answer-They are usually connected to a computer through
the USB port and power to operate them is drawn from the host computer. They are
extremely small and very portable. Most operating systems recognise these storage media,
which means no additional software is needed to operate them.
Solid State Drive - correct answer-Are rapidly taking over from HDDs. They have no
moving parts and all data is retrieved at the same rate no matter where it is stored. The main
advantages are:
• they are more reliable (no moving parts to go wrong)
• they are considerably lighter (which makes them suitable for laptops)
• they don't have to get 'up to speed' before they work properly
