CertiGuide to A+ (Core Hardware)  9  Chapter 0110:  Removable Media

Tape Drive Challenges 1 IX  Chapter 0110: Test for Success Questions

In this chapter, you learned how data is stored on removable media. We began by discussing floppy drives; the most commonly used removable media solution.

You learned how the physical mechanics of a floppy drive affect it’s overall performance. You were then shown how a floppy drive interfaces with a PC via a floppy controller and ribbon cable.

You learned how to configure a floppy drive to be Drive A or Drive B by connecting it in the appropriate place on the cable.

Next, we discussed CD-ROM technology. You learned how information is read from and written to a CD-ROM.

We then discussed how to evaluate a CD-ROM’s performance.

You were shown the differences between CLV and CAV drive, and how access time, latency, and seek time affect a CD-ROM’s performance.

We then discussed how a CD-RW drive writes data to special CD-RW media.

You learned about the three formats that are used to write information, CD-DA, ISO 9660, and CD-ROM XA.

You were then shown how CD-ROM’s interface with a PC via ATAPI, SCSI, USB, and IEEE 1394 interfaces.

Next, you learned about ZIP drives.

You were shown how by improving a few components of floppy disk technology, ZIP drives are able to hold over 200 times more information that a floppy disk.

We concluded this chapter with a discussion on tape drives.

You learned about the two most common technologies used to store data on tape, QIC and DAT.

Finally, you learned about some of the more typical challenges that occur when using tape drives.

Tape Drive Challenges 1 IX  Chapter 0110: Test for Success Questions