7 Managing and sharing information
Drives are digital storage devices that help you store, manage, share, and access information. Your computer has an internal hard drive or a solid state drive that stores your computer's software, operating system, and also provides storage for all of your personal files. Some computers have a
For added capacity or functionality, connect an external drive (purchased separately), such as an optical drive or hard drive, or insert a digital storage card directly from your phone or camera. A USB flash drive, connected to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port on your computer, also allows quick data transfer. Some devices use the computer's power to run; others have their own power source. Some devices come with software that must be installed.
NOTE: For information about connecting external wireless devices, see Connecting to a network on page 17.
NOTE: For more information about required software and drivers, or to learn which computer port to use, see the manufacturer's instructions.
Using a USB device
Most computers have more than one USB port, because this versatile interface allows you to connect to numerous kinds of external devices to your computer, such as a USB keyboard, mouse, external drive, printer, scanner, or USB hub.
Your computer has more than one type of USB port. See Getting to know your computer on page 4 for the types of USB ports you have on this computer. Be sure to purchase devices that are compatible with your computer.
Type | Description |
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USB 2.0 | Transfers data at 60 MB/s. |
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USB 3.0 | Transfers data at 640 MB/s. USB 3.0 ports, also known as |
| SuperSpeed ports, are also compatible with USB 1.0 and 2.0 |
| devices. |
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Using a USB device 55