Hardware Guide

4–2 Hardware Guide
Drives
Understanding Drive Terms
Terms for Types of Drives
A hard drive is usually used for the permanent storage of data
files and of software such as system files, applications, and
drivers. The hard drive in the hard drive bay is the system hard
drive, sometimes called the local disk. The system hard drive can
be replaced, but cannot be used in a MultiBay. A hard drive is
sometimes called a hard disk drive or HDD.
Diskette drives are often used to store or transport data. The
tablet PC can read or write to any MultiBay diskette drive. A
diskette drive is sometimes called a floppy disk drive, floppy
drive, or FDD.
Optical drives include CD and DVD drives. Optical drives are
used to store or transport data and to play music and movies.
DVD media have higher capacities than CD media. The
tablet PC can read or write to optical drives as described in the
following table.
Terms for Drive Media
A diskette or disc that can be inserted or removed from a drive is
referred to as a drive medium. In this guide a diskette is used in a
diskette drive, and a disc is used in an optical drive.
Optical Drive Read Write
CD-ROM drive Yes No
CD-RW drive Yes Yes
DVD-ROM drive Yes No
DVD/CD-RW drive Yes Yes
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