ICT HARD DRIVE

HARD DRIVE - stores information on SSD (Solid State Drive)

your computer. The hard drive is
A modern storage device that uses
important because it stores the
flash memory to store data.
important information a computer
needs to work efficiently. It stores the  Performs the same tasks as an
operating system, applications, and HDD but does so faster and
data files. more efficiently.
 No moving parts; uses flash
 It is where all your installed
memory.
programs and saved files, like
 Much faster at reading and
documents, photos, and music,
writing data.
are stored. Unlike when you
 More expensive but often has
turn it back on. temporary
smaller storage capacities.
memory such as random-
 Lightweight and energy-
access memory (RAM), the
efficient, ideal for laptops and
hard drive keeps your files safe
portable devices.
even when the computer is
turned off, so you can access A file refers to data stored on a hard
them again drive or other storage media as a
separate entity. For example, you
TYPES OF HARD DRIVE
would usually save a thesis or a slide
HDD (Hard Disk Drive) presentation or a photograph as a file.
● A traditional storage device that ❖ Files are saved on the user’s own
uses spinning disks to store and computer or in a remote location.
retrieve data.
❖ Files typically have the following
● Stores operating systems, characteristics
applications, and personal files like
photos, videos, and documents.  A file always has a name.
 A file always takes up storage
● Uses moving parts (spinning disks space. modified.
and a read/write arm).  A file is always saved in a
certain format: a body of text is
● Generally slower in reading and
saved in one of the many text
writing data.
file formats, a photo in one of
● Typically cheaper and offers larger the many image file formats,
storage capacities. e power, making it etc.
less suitable for portable devices  A file contains information on
when it was created and when
 Heavier and uses more power, it was last
making it less suitable for  Files usually have access
portable devices rights, especially if they are
online
 ICT HARD DRIVE
A directory or folder is a place where A file can contain different kinds of
files or other directories are saved. material: text, video and so forth. When
the contents of a word processing
NAME
documents as DOCX or RTF document
The naming conventions for files and files.
directories vary by operating system: in
● In Windows, the file are saved in a
Windows, for example, the dot in the
certain generally known format, it is
file name is usually followed by a file
called a file type. Photographs, for
extension consisting of one or several
example, are often stored as JPEG
characters Linux, on the other hand, no
image files, and file type is evident
extension is necessary. that indicate
from the file extension (usually
the file type.
consisting of three letters) that follows
● Depending on the system, it may not the dot in the file name. The file
be possible to use certain special extension indicates the format in which
characters (: > / * ? ” > |) in the file the data in the file has been stored
name. In addition, using a space or
● To view file extensions, open the
Scandinavian umlauts (å, ä, ö) may
Control Panel and click on Appearance
sometimes cause problems, especially
and Personalization. Then, click File
over the Internet. If you have trouble
Explorer Options. In the window that
posting files online, try removing
opens, go to the View tab and scroll
special characters from the name.
down the Advanced settings list. Untick
In Linux, the use of letters can be used the box for Hide extensions for known
more freely. UPPER CASE and lower file types and accept the change by
case letters in file names makes a clicking OK. File extensions will now be
difference; e.g. Ray.txt is different from displayed (see the picture on the right).
ray.txt. In Windows, upper and lower
Creation and modification dates
case
● When the file window is set to
PATH - A string of text that shows the
display all of the details of the files, you
location of a file or directory is called a
will often see the Date Modified for
Path. The path to a single file on the
each file
hard drive of your home computer (in
Windows) can be e.g.: If you want to check when the file was
originally created (Date Created), right-
○ C:\Users\rkeskiva\Studies\Study
click the file and select Properties from
diary.docx
the menu that opens. The creation and
● The path shows that a file called modification dates are then shown as
Study diary.docx is located on drive C follows:
in a subdirectory called Studies and
Managing file and folder views
stuff that belongs to user “rkeskiva”.
The same information can be ● You can change the folder view in
presented graphically: order to see the file and folder details
in your preferred format (e.g. as
thumbnails or with the dates visible). In
FILE TYPES Windows 10, you can change the view
 ICT HARD DRIVE
by clicking the buttons at the bottom ● Choose a folder (e.g., Documents,
right of the window (see the image Desktop) or an external drive where
below) you want to save the file.
The same options can be accessed via 5. Name the File
the View menu, which can be
● Enter a descriptive file name in the
displayed by pressing the Alt key on
“File Name” field.
the keyboard. again.
6. Select the File Format (Optional)
● You can sort files and folders by
clicking the headings above the list. ● Choose the appropriate file format
For example, to sort files by their date (e.g., .docx, .pdf, .jpg) from the
of modification, click the Date Modified dropdown menu, if available.
heading. You can reverse the order of
the files by clicking the heading 7. Click ‘Save’
● Press the "Save" button to complete
the process
2. FILE SAVING AND RETRIEVING
B. Restoring Files
File saving and retrieving are
processes that allow users to store and 1. Locate the Backup/Stored File
access information on a computer: ● Identify where the file is stored, such
● Saving: The process of a computer as your hard drive, external drive,
storing a file on a computer cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive,
OneDrive), or USB.
● Retrieving: The process of
accessing/ obtaining a file on a 2. Open the File Location
computer ● Navigate to the folder where the file
A. Saving Files is saved using File Explorer or Finder
(on Mac).
1. Open or Create Your File
3. Copy or Move the File (Optional)
● Use an application (e.g., Microsoft
Word, Excel, or Notepad) to create or ● Right-click the file and select "Copy"
open your file. or "Cut" to move it to a new location.

2. Click on ‘File’ 4. Open the File

● In the application, click the "File" ● Double-click on the file to open it

menu at the top left corner. with its associated application.

3. Choose ‘Save’ or ‘Save As’ 5. Restore from Backup (if Necessary)

● Select "Save" to overwrite an existing ● If the file is backed up, restore it by

file or "Save As" to create a new file. 4. downloading it from cloud storage or
Select the Save Location recovering it from a backup drive.
6. Use File Recovery Software (if
Deleted)
 ICT HARD DRIVE
● For deleted files, use recovery tools
like Recuva or built-in features like
Windows File History or Mac’s Time
Machine to restore the file.
7. Save the File to a New Location
(Optional)
● Save the file again to ensure it's
easily accessible for future use.