A direct access storage device. See floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic disk, optical disc, CD-ROM and DVD.
Disk and Memory Work Together
On the disk, data are stored in sectors, which hold a chunk of data (typically 512 bytes) and are the smallest unit that can be read or written. Memory is broken up into squares like a checkerboard, each square holding one byte. The contents of any single byte or group of bytes can be calculated, compared and copied independently. That is how fields are put together to form records and broken apart when read back in.
Disk and Memory Work Together
On the disk, data are stored in sectors, which hold a chunk of data (typically 512 bytes) and are the smallest unit that can be read or written. Memory is broken up into squares like a checkerboard, each square holding one byte. The contents of any single byte or group of bytes can be calculated, compared and copied independently. That is how fields are put together to form records and broken apart when read back in.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Smart Defrag 1.20 (Windows)
- Disk fragmentation is generally main cause of slow and unstable computer performance. Smart Defrag helps defragment your hard drive most efficiently. Smart Defrag not only defragments computer deeply but optimizes disk performance. With 'install it and forget it' feature, Smart Defrag works automatically and quietly in the background on your...
- Software downloads 2009-07-03
- TweakNow PowerPack 2009 1.4.0100 (Windows)
- TweakNow PowerPack is a fully-integrated suite of utilities that let you fine-tune every aspect of your computer's operating system and Web browser. The Registry Cleaner module provides you with a safe and simple way to clean Windows Registry. To keep your computer always at top performance, we recommend to clean...
- Software downloads 2009-07-03
- OutlookAttachView 1.06 (Windows)
- OutlookAttachView scans all messages stored in your Outlook and displays the list of all attached files that it finds. You can easily select one or more attachments and save all of them into the desired folder, as well as you can delete unwanted large attachments that take too much disk...
- Software downloads 2009-07-03
- Windows 7 pricing: Some users fume as the rose-colored discounts fade
- Windows 7 pricing: Some users fume as the rose-colored discounts fadeTalk about beating a horse to death.How many more articles are we going to see about Windows pricing. Let me make it really simple for everyone:You either find the price acceptable for what you get and you buy Windows 7...
- Discussion threads 2009-07-02
- R-Crypto Disk Security 1.5 (Windows)
- R-Crypto is an easy-to-use disk encryption software to protect confidential information and personal data on a desktop, notebook, or a removable data storage device against unauthorized access. R-Crypto creates virtual disks virtual data storage devices encrypted on-the-fly. Such virtual disk is an ordinary file stored on any data storage device...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- Burn4Free CD and DVD 4.7 (Windows)
- Burn4Free CD and DVD is a burning solution that's compatible with more than 3,000 DVD, BLU RAY and CD burners. Burn data and audio from different file types (WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG, FLAC, WavPack, and CDA). Burn and save ISO files, open and save your project to disk, verify content,...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- Glary Utilities Pro 2.14.0.711 (Windows)
- Glary Utilities Pro offers numerous and easy-to-use system tools and utilities to fix, speed up, maintain, and protect your PC. It allows you to clean common system junk files, as well as invalid registry entries and Internet traces. You can manage and delete browser add-ons, analyze disk space usage and...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- Glary Utilities 2.14.0.711 (Windows)
- One Click A Day For PC Maintenance, Keeps Any PC Problems Away. With millions of worldwide users, the first-rank & free Glary Utilities is an INDISPENSABLE friend for your PC, with its 100% safe, thorough & quick cleaning and worry-free restoration. Glary Utilities is a freeware with registry and disk...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- Axence NetTools 4.0.0.4498 (Windows)
- Axence NetTools is a comprehensive set of administration tools. NetWatch is a network monitoring with e-mail alerting, real-time & historical charts of response time & packet lost. WinTools lists exhaustive system information from Windows computers: running processes & services, registry, event log, disk, memory & CPU information. Port scanner checks...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- OnyX 2.0.5b2 (Mac)
- OnyX is a multifunction utility for Mac OS X PowerPC and Intel. It allows you to verify the Startup Disk and the structure of its System files, to run misc tasks of system maintenance, to configure the hidden parameters of the Finder, Dock and of some of Apple's own applications,...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- PodWorks 2.9.4 (Mac)
- PodWorks is a Mac OS X application that compensates for the iPod's only downside: Apple only allows you to copy songs to your iPod. If you have two Macs and want to use your iPod to transfer music from one to the other, or you only store your music and...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- SystemUp Defrag 2009 1.0.4.156 (Windows)
- Professional hard disk acceleration and maximum performance for your data mediums. SystemUp Defrag optimizes your hard disks, USB sticks, memory cards, etc. thanks to innovative defragmentation methods. The 3-zone optimization algorithm increases the access speed of your data mediums and protects them against refragmentation. A further 8 optimization methods enable...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- Supervisor 1.91 (Windows)
- Supervisor enables you to record and view screenshots of the activities of other users in your local network. You can see what any user did any day/hour, you can browse through the screens using sophisticated user-interface and search tools. You can even set alerts on specific words or actions. Supervisor...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- Xilisoft iPod Rip 2.1.34.0701 (Windows)
- Xilisoft iPod Rip is all-around iPod ripping and iPod copy software with high speed and concise interface. It can easily rip and copy music, songs, video, photo, movie, podcast and TV program from iPod to PC, iPod to iTunes. It also supports PC to iPod transfer and can manage your...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- CleanApp 3.1.3 (Mac)
- Why does Mac OS X need an Uninstaller?Have you ever unsuccessfully tried to get rid of a program and all the files that came with it? Are logfiles, plists and caches cluttering folders and volumes on your Mac? Don't you ask yourself from time to time where the multiple gigabytes...
- Software downloads 2009-07-02
- Maxtor BlackArmor PS 110 - hard drive - 500 GB - Hi-Speed USB
- Maxtor's new 500GB BlackArmor PS 110 external hard drive ($160) provides trustworthy storage and data backup solutions for the consumer that needs more space. The shape and design of the drive isn't a far departure from the FreeAgent Go, another thin external HDD from Maxtor's parent company Seagate. The PS...
- Product reviews 2009-07-01
- PC OEMs: Please Cut the Crap!
- PC OEMs: Please Cut the Crap!CrapwareYour average non geek will get a fair amount of pressure at the point of sale to drop another $35-$50 to get the junk off the computer. Let's see, now... If you crank the subsidy to Dell,etc from the crapware makers, then that extra...
- Discussion threads 2009-07-01
- Why Windows 7 should be free
- Why Windows 7 should be freeAm I the only one who had zero problems with Vista?This issue has been debated thoroughly across zdnet, so I have no desire to rehash it. But I am still not convinced that Vista's problems are systemic...and I think they are more a PR issue....
- Discussion threads 2009-07-01
- Toybox Ten: 10 full-featured laptops for less than $750
- Toybox Ten: 10 full-featured laptops for less than $750It's a laptop.If you need a terabyte get a server with Raid 1 or better.Ok here you go.A 1TB Hard Drive laptop, decent specs, 18 inch screen.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220538Sometimes it is hard find what you want, now if you need something cheaper then I...
- Discussion threads 2009-07-01
- Image for Windows 2.40a (Windows)
- Image for Windows is an affordable and reliable drive image backup and restore solution that enables you to easily create a complete system backup to CD/DVD, external drives (such as USB or 1394), or other media. It even includes a recovery boot disk for efficient bare-metal disaster recovery when your...
- Software downloads 2009-07-01
Neighboring Terms
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- Innovate your business' process model, play against the market, compete against others on our scoreboards and WIN! Try INNOV8 2.0: A BPM Simulator
- Enabling Real-World Business Transformation through IBM Service Management Read the EMA Analyst Report
