A+ Hardware Service Technician: Computer Hardware, System Boards, and Storage Devices

Previous Page - Next Page

CD-ROMs

CD-ROM (Compact Disc – Read Only Memory) was developed by Sony and Phillips. It has a standard capacity of 650 Megabytes of information and is burned onto a disc using laser light.

CDs have expanded over the years and a typical CD-ROM today can hold 700 MBs of information or 80 minutes of music.

Most typical home machines and some business-class PCs come with a CD-R or CD-RW drive. A CD-R drive allows you to write once to a CD-R or CD-RW disc. A CD-RW drive allows you to write once to a CD-R disc or many times to a CD-RW disc.

There are many advantages to using CD-Rs and CD-RWs to store data or backup data. Cost per megabyte is very cheap on CD-Rs, most for pennies per megabyte. In addition, CD media is fairly long lasting if you care for it.

CD media can become unreadable if you leave discs in sun or heat for too long or if they become scratched.

CDFS (Compact Disk File System) is the type of filing system CD-ROMs use to store information.

Previous Page - Next Page