Data Storage Devices

Even though the RAM (Random Access Memory ) can store data ,it gets erased the moment the computer is shut off or even there is no power for a second.. Therefore to save ,store and retrive Data we have secondary storage devices..Floppy Disc : This is a hard plastic block which contains a thin strip of magnetic film concentric in shape. Its usually denoted by the symbol A:\> (called the A prompt). The floppy can store data upto 1.44 mb .Hard Disk : This is the most popularly used data storage device in personal computers and laptops. The capacity of a Harddisk is huge and it ranges from 50 GB to 1000 GB's .. The harddisk is usually denoted by the symbol C:\> (called the C prompt ).The study of computers can be divided in to 2 partsSoftware and HardwareSoftware : The computer is a electro-mechanical device which cannot think on its own and is just like any other electronic device like Tape recorders or Television sets.. The computer needs to be told how to perform a particular task or solve a problem before it can actually do that task or solve the problem. for example if a computer has to be told to add 2 no's then the possible steps would beStep 1) Startstep 2) Define Variables (3 variables say a,b and c)step 3 ) Get the Numbers ( a and b)step 4 ) Add the 2 nos and (a + b)step 5 ) store it in the third variable ( in c)step 6) Retrieve the value stored in cstep 7 ) Display the sum (in c)So at least 7 steps are required to tell the computer how to add 2 nos and display the sum. The study of telling the computer these steps or instructions in a logical manner so that they can solve the task or problem is called as Software.