List Of Most Commonly Used Disk Drives On A Computer

Disk storage or disc storage is a general category of storage mechanisms, in which data are digitally recorded by various electronic, magnetic, optical, or mechanical methods on a surface layer deposited of one or more planar, round and rotating platters. 

A disk drive is a device implementing such a storage mechanism with fixed or removable media; with removable media the device is usually distinguished from the media as in CD drive and CD disc. In this post lets discuss the notable types of disk drives in a computer.

Local: A hard magnetic disk (or hard disk) on which you can store large amounts of data. The Local Disk (C:) stores all the files on your computer.

Floppy A soft removable magnetic disk that comes in a 3½-inch size, which stores up to 1.44 MB of data. Floppy disks are slower to access than a hard disk, but are portable and much less expensive.

Removable A removable magnetic disk on which you can store computer data, such as a Zip disk (requires software). Another is a Flash memory card the size of a large stamp that holds128, 256, 512 MB or greater. Flash drives connect directly into a USB plug without software.

CD-ROM Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory An optical disk on which you can stamp, or burn, up to 1 GB (typical size is 650 MB) of data in only one session. The disc cannot be erased or burned again with additional new data.

CD-R Compact Disc-Recordable A type of CD-ROM on which you can burn up to 1 GB of data in multiple sessions. The disc can be burned again with new data, but cannot be erased.

CD-RW Compact Disc-Rewriteable A type of CD-ROM on which you can read, write, and erase data, just like a hard disk.

DVD Digital Video Disc A type of DVD-ROM that holds a minimum of 4.7 GB, enough for a full-length movie.

DVD-R Digital Video Disc-Recordable A type of DVD-ROM on which you can burn up to 4.7 GB of data in multiple sessions. The disc can be burned again with new data, but cannot be erased.

DVD-RW Digital Video Disc-Rewriteable A type of DVD-ROM on which you can read, write, and erase data, just like a hard disk.

HD-DVD High Density Digital Video Disc A type of high density DVD-ROM on which you can read data; the disc appears as a high density drive.

Blu-ray High Density Blu-ray Disc A type of high density DVDROM on which you can read data; the disc appears as a high density drive.