Module 1, Concepts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Hard disks consist of a number of rigid magnetic disks in a protective casing. Data is recorded magnetically onto concentric circular tracks, each one divided into a number of sectors.

• Hard disks can hold very large amounts of data (equivalent to thousands or even millions of floppy disks) and are usually very fast in comparison to other storage devices. They vary considerably in terms of price, depending on their speed and capacity.
  
  
• Most hard disks are fixed inside the computer. Removable hard disks are available which can be inserted into and removed from a special bay without opening the computer case. However, these tend to be much more expensive.
  
  
• Because they offer the best performance and capacity in comparison to cost, fixed hard disks are the most common storage devices used in computers.