What are Computer Drives?

Drives are the “hardware/equipment” that read and write the information the various disks.

Disc drives rotate the disk very fast and have one or more heads that can read and/or write data to them..

When “drives” are put into the computer, the computer will assign them a “letter” – such as:

• "C" is typically the Hard Drive on almost all computers is
• "D" is often times the CD or DVD Drive
• "E" or "F"- when you put your flash drive in the USB Port in one computer it might be the “E” Drive – in another computer it might be the “F” drive..

The "letter" the computer assigns, allows you to know where things are..

There are different types of disc drives, but the common ones that we work with are:

• CD-Rom can read audio and data CD discs
• CR-RW drives can read and record (burn) audio and data CD discs
• DVD-ROM drives can read cd and dvd discs
• Dvd+rw/+r Drives, can read and write (burn) CD and DVD discs
• COMBINATION DRIVES, combine the functions of 2 rives into one-either a DVD+RW/+R drive and a CD-RW drive or a DVD-RIM drive and a CR-RW drive
• Flash/jump drive and read and write to a flash/jump drive
• Hard disk drive (HDD) reads and writes hard disks (can be internal or external or totally portable)
• “6 in 1” - “50 In 1” Memory Card Readers – allows you to read from the memory cards of digital cameras and other media devices

Disk drives can be either internal (housed within the computer) or external (housed in a separate box that connects to the computer)

What is software & what are the 4 types??

WHAT IS SOFTWARE? It is simply electronic instructions that tell your computer what to do - the 4 types are:

OPERATING SYSTEM: IS THE COMPUTER ENGINE and sets the rules on how computer hardware & application software work together - such as Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Vista and as of Oct. 22, 2009 - the new Windows 7

APPLICATION SOFTWARE: helps you write letters, analyze number, draw pictures and even play games (Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Publisher, Power Point and games, such as Solitaire, FreeCell, Golf, Barney, Barbie, etc).

BROWSER SOFTWARE: allows you to “surf the web” - and the most popular are Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Netscape Navigator for PC's and Safari for Apple Macs..

DRIVERS: allow “installed” equipment to interface and work with your computer, such as your printer, camera, keyboard, mouse, portable hard drive, and flash drives