Using Disks and Disk Drives

The disk drives in your computer allow you to store data on disk, and then retrieve and use your stored data. This section explains how disks work and tells you how to:

❏Use different types of diskettes and diskette drives

❏Care for your diskettes and diskette drives

❏Write-protect diskettes

❏Use a single diskette drive system

❏Insert and remove diskettes

❏Format diskettes

❏Make backup copies

❏Use a hard disk drive.

How Disks Store Data

Diskettes are made of flexible plastic coated with magnetic material. This plastic is enclosed in a square jacket that is either slightly flexible (5¼-inch diskette), or hard (3½-inch diskette).

Unlike a diskette, a hard disk is rigid and fixed in place. It is sealed in a protective case to keep it free of dust and dirt. A hard disk stores data the same way that a diskette does, but it works much faster and has a much larger storage capacity.

All disks are divided into data storage compartments by sides, tracks, and sectors. Double-sided diskettes store data on both sides. On each side are concentric rings, called tracks, on which the computer stores your data.

3-10 Using Your Computer