Secondary Storage

Secondary Storage

1. Data is stored permanently unless you delete the data yourself. Therefore, data will be saved and can be used on other devices without having to do it again or look for it again on another device.

2. Secondary storage is non-volatile storage. It is needed in a computer system to store your programs, operating systems and files.

   • Non-volatile means that the data is not deleted when the computer system has no power connected to it.

3. Solid state storage

   • USB flash drive
   • Hard drive
   • Faster read/write speed compared to magnetic storage. Therefore it will load programs and files much quicker.
   • It is non-volatile and stores data permanently even when the computer is switched off.
   • It is expensive compared to optical and magnetic storage. Therefore, less people would buy it because it is not as cost effective as other storage devices.

4. Optical storage

   • CD
   • DVD
   • Very cheap compared to magnetic and solid state drive. Therefore it will be easier to gain access to.
   • The optical shape of a disk makes the surface area easier to get scratched/damages compared to solid state. Therefore, it may cause damage to the view of the data when projected.

5. Magnetic storage

   • Floppy disks
   • Magnetic tape
   • Capacity. One of the greatest things about magnetic disk storage is its ability to fit a tremendous amount of information into a small amount of space. Therefore, more files can be saved to one small storage device.
   • If the data is stored near a strong magnetic field or a large speaker, the tape can be damaged. Therefore, it is very delicate and it can break or get damaged really easily and so you would need to be extremely careful.