Computer science
  • Edexcel GCSE CS
    • Past papers >
      • 2020 Current spec (coming soon) >
        • Programming Language Subset (PLS)
      • Old 2016 SPEC >
        • Paper 1 (specimen1)
        • Paper 1 (specimen2)
        • Paper 1 (2018)
        • Paper 1 (2019)
        • Paper 2 (specimen1)
        • Paper 2 (2018)
        • Paper 2 (2019)
      • OLD 2013 SPEC >
        • Sample assessment 1 (old spec)
        • Sample assessment 2 (old spec)
        • June 2017 (old spec)
        • June 2016 (old spec)
        • June 2015 (old spec)
    • Paper 1 (by topic) >
      • Algorithms
      • Application software
      • Ascii
      • Binary
      • Cache
      • Client Server
      • Cloud
      • Compression
      • Computational thinking
      • CPU
      • Cyber security
      • Database
      • Fetch decode execute cycle
      • Embedded system
      • Encryption
      • File size
      • Flow chart
      • Hexadecimal
      • High Level language
      • ISP/Internet
      • Logic
      • Magnetic HDD
      • Networking
      • Open source
      • Operating system
      • Peer to peer
      • Images (Data representation)
      • Protocols
      • RAM
      • ROM
      • Run length encoding
      • Simulation software
      • Solid state HDD
      • Sound
      • Stored program concept
      • Utility software
    • Curriculum >
      • Binary
      • Hex
      • Data Representation
      • Compression
      • Encryption
      • What is a computer
      • How does a computer work
      • Hardware
      • Operating system
      • The CPU
      • Input devices
      • Data storage
      • Networks
      • Microcontrollers
      • Computational models
      • Emerging trends
      • Virtual machine
      • Models and simulators
      • Algorithms
    • Python >
      • Help with Python >
        • Finding python
        • Python coding >
          • Comments
          • Data types
          • Variables
          • If Else
          • If Elif Else
          • Functions
          • For loop
          • While loop
          • Data structures >
            • Looping thru 2D array
          • String slicing/indexing
          • user defined function
          • Local/global variable
          • Validation and try
          • methods
          • File I/O
          • Pseudocode
          • Modules >
            • Turtle
          • Classes
          • NEA/Projects
        • Python questions
  • KS3/Other
    • KS3 >
      • E-Safety >
        • E-Safety intro
        • Screen time
        • E-Safety questions
      • Hardware >
        • All Hardware
        • Magnetic hard disk drive
        • Optical disk drive
        • Solid state drive
      • Software
      • Binary/Hex/Algorithms >
        • Binary
        • Hexadecimal - 1 digit
        • Hexadecimal - 2 digits
        • Algorithms
        • ASCII
        • Tests
      • Networks
      • Protocols/Cyber attacks
      • Scratch
      • Logic >
        • CPU
        • AND gate
        • OR gate
        • NOT gate
        • Logical statements
      • Python >
        • Getting started
        • Functions
        • Variables
        • VariablesToo
        • inputs
        • Selection
        • Flowcharts
        • Data types
        • Pseudocode1
        • Pseudocode2
        • Subprogram1
        • Subprogram2
        • Coding challenges
      • HTML
    • BTEC CS
    • OCR GCSE CS >
      • Past paper JUNE 2015
      • Past paper June 2014
      • Past paper MAY 2012
      • Past paper JAN 2011
      • Past paper JUN 2011
    • AQA AS-Level CS >
      • AS Curriculum >
        • Multiple choice questions
    • Business studies >
      • Keywords
      • BS Revision - Multiple choice
      • Paper 1 (9-1)
      • Paper 2 (9-1)
  • Contact/More
    • Code editor
    • Contact us
    • upload
    • Microbit ideas
    • More
  • Self test
    • 01 Random topics
    • 02 Programming
    • 03 Data
    • 04 Computers
    • 05 Communication and the internet
    • 06 The bigger picture
    • 07 Paper 2

Magnetic had disk drive

Computers have a (secondary) storage device called a disk drive, It is where all your apps are stored. There are currently two types of storage device, the magnetic hard disk drive and the solid state disk drive.

A computer (unopened)
Picture
A computer (opened) - Magnetic hard disk shown
Picture
A working magnetic hard disk drive
Picture

​Magnetic had disk drive labelled

Picture
Picture

How does it work when I click save?

  1. The spindle spins the platter.
  2. The actuator arm moves across the platter.
  3. Your saved information moves down the actuator arm to the read/write head.
  4. The head changes the polarity in a particular sector (an area on the platter - see below) on the platter to either a number of north poles or south poles.
  5. Having e.g. North pole, South pole, North, North, South etc is much like ones and zeros of binary (as per diagram on left).
Picture

Loading Magnetic hard drive
Home
Contact
Upload
Log in
  • Edexcel GCSE CS
    • Past papers >
      • 2020 Current spec (coming soon) >
        • Programming Language Subset (PLS)
      • Old 2016 SPEC >
        • Paper 1 (specimen1)
        • Paper 1 (specimen2)
        • Paper 1 (2018)
        • Paper 1 (2019)
        • Paper 2 (specimen1)
        • Paper 2 (2018)
        • Paper 2 (2019)
      • OLD 2013 SPEC >
        • Sample assessment 1 (old spec)
        • Sample assessment 2 (old spec)
        • June 2017 (old spec)
        • June 2016 (old spec)
        • June 2015 (old spec)
    • Paper 1 (by topic) >
      • Algorithms
      • Application software
      • Ascii
      • Binary
      • Cache
      • Client Server
      • Cloud
      • Compression
      • Computational thinking
      • CPU
      • Cyber security
      • Database
      • Fetch decode execute cycle
      • Embedded system
      • Encryption
      • File size
      • Flow chart
      • Hexadecimal
      • High Level language
      • ISP/Internet
      • Logic
      • Magnetic HDD
      • Networking
      • Open source
      • Operating system
      • Peer to peer
      • Images (Data representation)
      • Protocols
      • RAM
      • ROM
      • Run length encoding
      • Simulation software
      • Solid state HDD
      • Sound
      • Stored program concept
      • Utility software
    • Curriculum >
      • Binary
      • Hex
      • Data Representation
      • Compression
      • Encryption
      • What is a computer
      • How does a computer work
      • Hardware
      • Operating system
      • The CPU
      • Input devices
      • Data storage
      • Networks
      • Microcontrollers
      • Computational models
      • Emerging trends
      • Virtual machine
      • Models and simulators
      • Algorithms
    • Python >
      • Help with Python >
        • Finding python
        • Python coding >
          • Comments
          • Data types
          • Variables
          • If Else
          • If Elif Else
          • Functions
          • For loop
          • While loop
          • Data structures >
            • Looping thru 2D array
          • String slicing/indexing
          • user defined function
          • Local/global variable
          • Validation and try
          • methods
          • File I/O
          • Pseudocode
          • Modules >
            • Turtle
          • Classes
          • NEA/Projects
        • Python questions
  • KS3/Other
    • KS3 >
      • E-Safety >
        • E-Safety intro
        • Screen time
        • E-Safety questions
      • Hardware >
        • All Hardware
        • Magnetic hard disk drive
        • Optical disk drive
        • Solid state drive
      • Software
      • Binary/Hex/Algorithms >
        • Binary
        • Hexadecimal - 1 digit
        • Hexadecimal - 2 digits
        • Algorithms
        • ASCII
        • Tests
      • Networks
      • Protocols/Cyber attacks
      • Scratch
      • Logic >
        • CPU
        • AND gate
        • OR gate
        • NOT gate
        • Logical statements
      • Python >
        • Getting started
        • Functions
        • Variables
        • VariablesToo
        • inputs
        • Selection
        • Flowcharts
        • Data types
        • Pseudocode1
        • Pseudocode2
        • Subprogram1
        • Subprogram2
        • Coding challenges
      • HTML
    • BTEC CS
    • OCR GCSE CS >
      • Past paper JUNE 2015
      • Past paper June 2014
      • Past paper MAY 2012
      • Past paper JAN 2011
      • Past paper JUN 2011
    • AQA AS-Level CS >
      • AS Curriculum >
        • Multiple choice questions
    • Business studies >
      • Keywords
      • BS Revision - Multiple choice
      • Paper 1 (9-1)
      • Paper 2 (9-1)
  • Contact/More
    • Code editor
    • Contact us
    • upload
    • Microbit ideas
    • More
  • Self test
    • 01 Random topics
    • 02 Programming
    • 03 Data
    • 04 Computers
    • 05 Communication and the internet
    • 06 The bigger picture
    • 07 Paper 2