3. Storage devices and media Flashcards

Question

Advantages + disadvantages of memory sticks / pen drives

Answer 1

ads: Small and lightweight. Robust - less likely to become damaged. Compatible with computers. Large storage capacities disads: No write-protect feature - you can accidently cop over data. Small physical size - easy to lose. More expensive per GB

Answer 2

Known as SD cards - Secure Digital cards Used to store photos on phones. A wide range of devices have slots to read flash memory cards

Answer 3

ads: Very small and so they are easy to transport files from one device to another. Robust - not easily damaged. Easy to connect to mobile devices through SD slots. disads: More expensive per Gb than magnetic hard drives. Lower capacity than magnetic hard drives. Small size - easily to lose. You have to buy an SD card reader to connect to a PC.

Answer 4

Backing up refers to the copying of files and data to a different medium in case of a problem with the main storage device Backing up files and data on a regular basis is seen as good computing practice and many computer systems can be set to back up files automatically on a regular basis The backups are often stored in a different place to the main storage This is in case of fire or some other situation which could lead to irretrievable loss of key data and files Why back up data? Data could be lost due to failure of the original storage device, hardware failure Hackers may corrupt or even cause you to lose the data completely Viruses: usually caused by hackers to delete and destroy your data in a storage device Might need backup if files need to be used elsewhere – original files are then protected against possible corruption or loss However, backups do not necessarily guard against the effect of a virus – the virus could attach itself to the files which could mean that the backups were also affected

Answer 5

Magnetic Optical Solid state

Answer 6

Advantages Very fast data transfer rate and fast access times to data Have very large memory capacities Disadvantages Can be easily damaged They lack portability

Answer 7

Advantages Data access time and transfer rate is very fast Large memory capacities Can be used to transfer information between computers Disadvantages Can be easily damaged

Answer 8

Advantages Generally less expensive and very robust technology Data transfer rate is fast Disadvantages Access time is very slow When updating another tape is needed

Answer 9

Advantages Holds more data than floppy disks Less expensive than hard disk drives Disadvantages Data transfer rate and data access time are slower

Answer 10

Advantages Cheaper than RW disks Once burned (and finalized) they are like ROM Disadvantages Can only be reordered once Not all CD/DVD players and can read CD-R

Answer 11

Advantages Can be re used many times Different file formats can be used each time Less wasteful than R format since files or data can be added at a later stage Disadvantages Relatively expensive media Possible to accidentally overwrite

Answer 12

Advantages Have a long life (30 years) Can be re written on more than the DVD-RWs (100,000 times) Very reliable as they have built in verification software to ensure accuracy of data Access is very fast Very large capacities Ability to read and write data at the same time Disadvantage DVD-RAMS are not as compatible as R or RW, many systems will not recognize this format More expensive than DVD-RW

Answer 13

Advantage Very large storage capacity Data transfer rate is very fast Data access speed is faster than with other optical media Disadvantage Disks are relatively expensive Blu-ray disks still have encryption problems

Answer 14

Solid state systems control the movement of electrons within a microchip: if the transistor conducts a current, this is equivalent to a 1, otherwise it is a 0 Have no moving parts, consume much less power and are extremely robust Used primarily as removable storage devices and are collectively known as flash memory

Answer 15

Advantage Very compact and portable media Very robust Disadvantage Not possible to write protect the data and files Small physical size and are easy to lose.

Answer 16

Advantages Very compact Very robust Disadvantages Very expensive per Gb of memory when compared to hard drive disks Has a finite life in terms of the number of times they can be read from or written to Lower storage capacity than hard disk

Answer 17

Where data is put in a ‘known’ place which we can come back to later and get the data back

Answer 18

RAM - computer memory - volatile - data is erased when computer is switched off - used to store data that is currently in use - very fast reading/writing data

Answer 19

Backing storage devices non-volatile used to store data long term slower reading/writing of data

Answer 20

By Serial Access (sequential) By Direct Access (random)

Answer 21

Data that is accessed at the beginning and gone through in order until the required information is found e.g. video cassettes, music cassettes

Answer 22

The computer is able to calculate where the data is stored and can go straight to it. e.g. hard disks, CDs, DVDs, USBs, Flash memory

Answer 23

Storage media are devices that hold data (not store)

Answer 24

Magnetic media - holds data magnetically e.g. fixed hard drive, portable hard drive Optical media - CD-R, CD-ROM, DVD-RW Solid State Media - memory stick, flash cards solid state hard drives

Answer 25

Fast read/write times Huge capacity

Answer 26

Easily damaged

Answer 27

less expensive can be read only very portable some can be reused

Answer 28

holds less data slow data transfer

Answer 29

last longer fast data transfer times uses less power run silently compatible with most computers large storage capacity easy to connect

Answer 30

more expensive size makes them easy to lose

Answer 31

Advantages: -Less expensive -Robust -Huge capacity -fast data transfer Disadvantages: -Slow data access time -Need 2 to update (transaction tape) -Effected by magnetic fields

Answer 32

Advantages: -Fast data transfer -Fast access times -Large memory capacities Disadvantages -Easily damaged -Moving parts -Noisy

Answer 33

Advantages -Fast access and transfer rate -Large capacity -Can transfer data Disadvantages -Easily damaged -Slower transfer rate the fixed drive

Answer 34

Advantages: -Cheaper then RW discs -Once burned (and finalized) they become like ROM Disadvantage: -Can only be recorded once -Not all players can read them

Answer 35

Advantages: -Can be written over many times -Can use different file formats -Not as wasteful an R Disadvantages: -Expensive -Possible to over write data

Answer 36

Advantages: -Very large capacity -Fast access and transfer rate/speed -Secure(encryption system) Disadvantages: -Expensive -Encryption problems -Introduction on hd

Answer 37

Advantages: -More reliable -Lighter -Work instantly -Low power consumption -Runs cooler -No moving parts -10x access speed -Fast data transfer speeds Disadvantages: -Longevity

Answer 38

Uses a magnetised surface area in order to hold bits of information

Answer 39

Used on all computers / main method of storing data Store operating systems, software applications and files. Used in file-servers on computer networks to store files.

Answer 40

ads: Fast read Huge capacities - thousands of movies and music files can be stored. Easy to update and delete files. disads: Can easily be damaged when computer is not shutdown properly. Not portable

Answer 41

Similar to ‘Fixed Hard Drive Disk’ but are connected to be computer externally. Transportable Has a USB cable to connect to the computer easily. Comes with protective case to avoid damage. Used to transport files from one device to another.

Answer 42

ads: Small and light to carry around. Designed to plug into almost every device that has a USB port. Huge capacities. Fast - direct data access. disads: Easy to misplace -> can be stolen easily. Quite expensive compared to other ways to store data. If dropped can still be damaged.

Answer 43

Old method of storing data - information is held on a plastic thin disc. Read / written by a floppy disc drive which rotates the disc. Can still be used to transport very small files.

Answer 44

ads: Very light and easy to carry around. Inexpensive. disads: Very low storage capacity compared to other media Few modern computers have floppy disc drive. Easy to damage Transfers data very slowly

Answer 45

OLD Data is stored in binary numbers. Used to backup extremely large amounts of data. Used where speed is not a priority.

Answer 46

ads: Less expensive than the equivalent of hard disk drive. Not easily damaged. Very large storage capacities. disads: Slow data access / transfer (reading data back from the tape is slow.) Needs another to update data (e. g. original tape + tape with the changes = updated tape).

Answer 47

Stores data on a disc as a number of data dots that can be read using light. Data is read by shining the laser beam onto the surface of the disc. In order to read / write data on a disc, you need a ‘disc drive’.

Answer 48

‘Read only memory’ They are bought with pre-loaded data, meaning data is already on them (music, software, films and games) Whatever is loaded on the disc cannot be removed or changed.

Answer 49

ads: Hold more data than floppy discs. Less expensive than Hard Disc Drives. Cannot accidentally erase the file because it’s ‘read only’. Very portable as they are small and light. disads: Holds less data than hard disk drives or memory sticks. Slow data transfer and access rates when compared to hard disk drives. Cannot add your own files to the discs.

Answer 50

‘R’ = that disc is recordable once only. Data can be added but not erased Data is ‘burnt’ onto the discs using a disc burner. CD-R’s: create personalised playlists of music. DVD-R’s: store home recordings of video shot on a digital camera. Can transfer data from one computer to another.

Answer 51

ads: Impossible to accidentally delete Cheaper than RW discs and Hard Disk drives. Easy to transport information from one computer to another. disads: - Only recordable once / cannot be updated. - If an error occurs during burning, the disc is damaged -> thrown away. - Very slow data transfer rate. - Not all CD / DVD players can read them.

Answer 52

‘RW’ = Re-writable Data can be added onto the disc and also be erased. CD-RW: create personalised playlists of music and add / remove the songs as you wish. DVD-RW: record television programmes and be recorded over many times.

Answer 53

ads: Can be re-used many times. Data stored on the discs can be updated -> Not wasteful disads: More expensive than CD/DVD R discs. Can accidently overwrite data. Data transfer to the disc is very low compared to a hard disc drive.

Answer 54

DVD-Random Access Memory. Rewritten over many many times. Data writing + reading can happen at same time. Can be reliably stored for many years because of their high quality. They last long so they are frequently used in video and data archiving.

Answer 55

ads: - Long life - at least 30 years - Can be written over 100,000 times - Very fast - Offer large storage capacity compared to CDs - Read data at the same time it is being written disads: Expensive to other types of CDs and DVDs. Don’t work in as many devices as the -R and -RW discs.

Answer 56

Work in a similar way DVD ROMS but the laser used to read the data is blue rather than red. Used to store high definition videos, home consoles, backup hard disk drive.

Answer 57

ads: Huge storage capacity - perfect for high definition videos. Data can be read and transferred very fast when compared to other media. disads: Very expensive. Only work in Blu-ray drives / players.

Answer 58

Have no moving parts. Smallest form of data storage. Store data binary codes.

Answer 59

Used in desktop PC’s + laptops in place of magnetic hard disk drives Use solid state technology based on electrical circuits so they have no moving parts.

Answer 60

ads: Last longer than magnetic hard disks. Faster data access/transfer times. Use less power and produce less heat. Run silently. disads: Smaller storage than magnetic hard disks. More expensive than hard disks.

Answer 61

Used for transporting files / data between computers. - Backing up data easily and quickly.

Answer 62

ads: Small and lightweight. Robust - less likely to become damaged. Compatible with computers. Large storage capacities disads: No write-protect feature - you can accidently cop over data. Small physical size - easy to lose. More expensive per GB

Answer 63

Flash memory cards

Answer 64

ads: Very small and so they are easy to transport files from one device to another. Robust - not easily damaged. Easy to connect to mobile devices through SD slots. disads: More expensive per Gb than magnetic hard drives. Lower capacity than magnetic hard drives. Small size - easily to lose. You have to buy an SD card reader to connect to a PC.