CompTIA A+ Prep: How to Install and Configure Storage Devices

Storage devices are given paramount importance because they are one of the most important PC components. Learning about the primary storage devices would be important for an individual’s A+ CompTIA Certification Training. This article covers a round-up of primary storage devices and their configuration.

Storage devices are responsible for carrying valuable data. The hard drive is the most common one example here and it is widely available in computers. A hard drive has the largest capacity.

Here are some of the main storage devices:

CD ROM

CD ROMs power CD disks that store data. CD refers to Compact Disk and generally have a capacity of up to 700 megabytes. CDs have become obsolete nowadays because its far better alternatives with much more capacity have been developed. A CD ROM allows a user to run a CD.

In order to install a CD ROM, one should turn off the computer and cut off power supply from all sources. The PC case should be carefully removed, and then the person needs to find the spot where a CD ROM is installed. In desktop PCs, CD ROMs have a reserved spot and it is large in size. A CD ROM should be fixed in its place and screws should be tightened in order to hold it in place.

Followed by, a user would require connecting the bus and then restart the computer. Once turned on, the computer would detect the drives and automatically install them.

DVD ROM

This device is basically used to run DVD disks. A DVD disk has storage more than a CD, and so they are more in use than CDs. Today, DVD disks have not become obsolete. In fact, a DVD disk today may have a capacity up to 1 terabyte. One has to follow exactly the same procedure as a CD ROM in order to install a DVD ROM in a computer.

Power should be turned off first and the PC case removed carefully. Unplug the buses and then place the DVD ROM in its position. Plug in the buses and restart the computer. Once it is done, the computer would automatically detect the hardware and start installing its drives.

Hard Drive

The hard drive or HD is the most important hardware in terms of computer storage. Without one, a computer cannot even have an operating system. There are many hard drive types and the most common ones are the following:

Magnetic HD

These were quite popular back in the time when there were no floppy disks. In physical appearance, Magnetic hard drive was 54 cm wide and a could only store up to 5 megabytes of data. However, modern Magnetic HDs can store considerably large amounts of data. They got the name Magnetic because they are coated with Iron Oxide which is a magnetic material.

5400 RPM

RPM is the rate by which a hard drive saves data. A 5400 RPM hard drive can save data faster and saves a lot of time.

7200 RPM

This hard drive can save large amounts of data at a much faster rate than the previous one. It generally saves more time than a 5400 one.

10000 RPM

This hard drive disk is expensive and results in greater performance because of its capabilities to store large data at an incredibly faster speed and time-saving abilities.

15000 RPM

This is known to be the most expensive hard drive disk ever and as the RPM number suggests, it has the greatest storage speed and the most time-saving capability.

The types of connections used by storage devices

There are two main types of connections – Internal and External.

Internal connection types are the following:

• IDE Configuration of Setup – A motherboard comprises of two IDE slots which are primary and secondary. The primary one is for a hard drive and the second one is for a CD ROM. They cannot be used alternatively, so they must be used to carry out their designated operation. This is because a computer can only address one device at a given time, so it has a fixed priority. Interestingly, the terms Master and Slave are given for the same exact reason. The configuration of these is needed to be done in the BIOS.
• Hot-swappable devices – It means that those devices that can be taken out without the need of turning off a PC. It saves a user from the hassle of shutting down a computer and plugging out power cords. 
• SCSI IDs (0 to 15) – Devices make the decision of which device should control which bus. SCSI is given ranks called IDs and till number 7, it means high priority should be given. Priority decreases as the number increases.

External connection types are the following:

An important consideration about external devices is that they can be connected to the motherboard and while doing this, a user does not require to power on the computer. Another way of doing it is by opening the PC case and connecting the device to the system.

• Firewire – It is a high-speed bus designed for connecting digital devices.
• SATA – This one connects the computer to a storage device, as in a hard drive.
• USB – Most users know about USBs. It is connected to a computer externally and does not require opening the case of a PC.
• Ethernet – Ethernet cable provides connection to the LAN card when a wireless connection is not in operation. It is also connected to its slot externally on the machine.

Knowledge of storage devices is an important aspect of a person’s A+ CompTIA Certification Training. It is simply to acquire and it is highly recommended that students should conduct some practice in order to fully understand the concepts. For more detailed analysis, one can always enlist CompTIA A+ classes that being offered by this platform. These classes are meant for students who are seeking specialized theoretical understanding as well as practical training of how different types of computer hardware components function, such as storage devices.