The primary computer storage device, which spins, reads and writes one or more fixed disk platters. In practice, the terms "hard drive" and "hard disk" are used synonymously. Hard drives are the storage medium in desktop and laptop computers as well as all servers and mainframes throughout the world. They are also used in printers for storing fonts and print jobs as well as digital music players and a myriad of other portable and stationary computer-based devices. Although removable disks encased in cartridges use the same "hard" disk media and a similar drive technology, they are mostly called "removable drives" rather than hard drives.
The term "hard" differentiates high-capacity rigid disks made of aluminum or glass from low-capacity floppy disks made of plastic. See hard drive capacity and hard disk.
The term "hard" differentiates high-capacity rigid disks made of aluminum or glass from low-capacity floppy disks made of plastic. See hard drive capacity and hard disk.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Could the latest LaCie LaCinema Classic HD streaming media device be The One?
- Unless Apple decides to make Apple TV as irresistible as it's made the iPod and iPhone, it's still anybody's game when it comes to the streaming media device that could capture the living rooms and the HDTVs installed within of the masses. There are cheap streamers, slightly less cheap streamers...
- Blog posts 2009-11-29
- Toshiba Satellite A505-S6980
- Do Not Buy!!!I am on my fourth Toshiba Satellite A505-S6980 in 5 weeks and now this one's hard drive has crashed. The first one had no sound at all. The second one had very little sound. The third one could not read the disc drive and now...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-27
- CD Duplicate Master 1.0.0.1020 (Windows)
- CD Duplicate Master, a powerful CD duplicate utility, is designed to fit for CD duplicate fan's need. It can enables you to extract digital audio tracks from an audio CD into sound files on your hard disk; burn audio CD, data CD to blank CD disc, and data files to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- NeoDownloader Lite 2.4 (Windows)
- NeoDownloader Lite will allow you to download and view thousands of pictures from Web sites. With NeoDownloader browsing the Web for pictures is made simple and easy - you drag the URL of a page, drop it on the Drop Basket and this smart utility explores it and downloads all...
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- Amnesia 1.1.4 (Mac)
- Many software titles on Mac OS come with the uninstall directions of simply "Drag the application to the Trash and empty it". In reality, this often leaves many related files on the computer taking up valuable hard drive space. Amnesia performs a smart scan to determine all related files to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- MacTopos Utah 3.0 (Mac)
- Camp, geocache, off-road, hike, and bike Utah in style! James Associates, producer of MacGPS Pro software, now offers MacTopos Utah for the ultimate topographic digital map solution.Two DVDs for Utah contain USGS topo maps of the entire state in three crystal-clear map scales: 1:24K, 1:100K, and 1:250K plus US Forest...
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- Alt CD Ripper 7.3 (Windows)
- Alt CD Ripper - excellent CD Ripping tool. With Alt CD Ripper you can make your music library in the easiest and the fastest way. This program is intended and especialy convinient for automatic batch conversion of music CDs. Automatic source deleting: source files can be deleted automatically after convertion,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- Ultra Audio Recorder 7.4.4.79 (Windows)
- Use Ultra Audio Recorder professional software to record your tapes, LPs, live performances, Internet radio, TV, DVD or any sound you can hear and helps you to transfer audio data to your hard drive with on loss of quality. It is also an effective tool to protect your valuable recordings....
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- HP Pavilion dv7-3065dx
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores. Any low-end desktop replacement must cut some corners on its way to providing a serviceable multimedia experience at an approachable price. At $729,...
- Product reviews 2009-11-25
- Gateway DX4300-11
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.Gateway hasn't fared well with its most recent round of DX-series mainstream retail PCs. Neither the DX4300-03 nor the DX4822-01 received positive marks, and...
- Product reviews 2009-11-25
- Maingear Shift
- With its new Shift gaming desktop, Maingear joins the ranks of Alienware, Falcon Northwest, and Velocity Micro in providing its customers a distinctive-looking case you can't get anywhere else. And despite a misstep with the build and a questionable processor choice both of which should be easily remedied, we found...
- Product reviews 2009-11-25
- Sony Vaio FW560F/T (brown)
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores. Several months ago, one of our favorite retail laptops was the Sony Vaio FW480J/T. Besides offering no-hassle Blu-ray playback and a large...
- Product reviews 2009-11-25
- Samsung partners with NYT for Go netbook and digital subscription deal
- Samsung and The New York Times are partnering for a new deal on the Samsung Go netbook, just in time before the real holiday shopping begins. Doesn't really work for existing Go owners, but recent first-time subscribers can still take advantage of it until...
- Blog posts 2009-11-25
- SysCheckUp 2.1.1 (Windows)
- SysCheckUp is software designed for Windows systems (32-bit only) to keep your computer running at maximum performance. The innovative repair tool can repair multiple problems including: missing desktop icons, missing taskbar, missing drives, no audio, and denied access to the task manager and control panel. The registry cleaner can remove...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- Smart Defrag 1.30 (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 2009-11-25
- Yep 2.0.6 (Mac)
- Every computer has loads of PDF, Office and iWork files, probably scattered all over your hard disk. Use Yep to search, view, and manage all these documents wherever they lie on your hard drive. Think of Yep as iPhoto for your documents. Yep does not move or change your files...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- Leap 2.5 (Mac)
- We've all felt that drop in workflow when we've had to locate a file in the Finder. Even if you know exactly where something is, it can take many clicks to navigate to that place in the hierarchy. It always seems like work to remember where you left things. Why...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- BurnAware Professional 2.4.2 (Windows)
- BurnAware Professional is the professional's choice for complete CD and DVD duplication and disc burning. Apart from standard features, such as data, audio and video burning, BurnAware Professional offers a wide scope of advanced functionality, allowing you to duplicate CDs and DVDs, make exact copies of discs on your hard...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- BCWipe 4.01.1 (Windows)
- BCWipe is an ultimate software product that allows you to delete any unwanted data from your hard drive: files, folders, records, private data, cookies, file slacks, content of the swap file, previously accessed pages on the Internet. Standard operating system's deletion procedures remove only a reference to a file from...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- MotorNotes 9.10.1 (Windows)
- When did I last change the oil? Did my fuel economy improve after replacing the fuel filter? How many miles did I drive for my business last year? What were my suspension settings at the last track day? How much did I spend on fuel, tires, and oil last year?"...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Free Six-Month Trial for Eligible Organizations
-
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides fast online access, simple contact management and better sales performance for a low monthly cost - the best value on the market today.
- Learn more about the free, six-month trial offer>>
- Keep Up With The Latest In Document Management with The DocuMentor.
-
Doc delivers the scoop on today's enterprise content management, printer maintenance, and all other issues related to document management. It's the DocuMentor Blog.
- Learn more >>
- New Online Dashboard for IT Leaders
-
Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost-effective solutions to real-life IT problems.
- Learn more >>
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
