Floppy Disk

FLOPPY DISK:-

The floppy disk is the backing storage device used to store data permanently.  It has been around since early 1970s. It is use to move the data from one computer to another. Floppy disks are slower to access than hard disks and have less storage capacity, but they are much less expensive. And most importantly, they are portable. It comes in different sizes 3½ inch, 5¼ inch and 8 inch sizes.

Construction:

A floppy disk is a data storage medium that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible (floppy) magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic shell. Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive. A floppy disk, also called simply a diskette or disk, is a small flexible Mylar disk coated with iron oxide on which data are stored. Today it is available in three 3½ inch, 5¼ inch and 8 inch sizes. The 5¼ and 8 inch diskettes are covered by stiff protective jacket with different holes.

Working:

 The central big hole called hub ring which is used to hold by disk drive during rotation. The elongated read write window is used to read and write data through read/write head. The small hole next to the hub ring is called index hole which is used to locating data through computer. The cut out on the side of the floppy disk is called write protect notch. If we cover this opening with a piece of paper then we can’t write data on to disk. In small diskette a hard plastic cover and protective metal is used to protect disk. Before using a disk we have to format a disk in which disk is divided into tracks and sectors for storing the data. Diskettes may be double sided and single sided while the storage capacity becomes less or more. Floppy diskettes are more convenient to use with microcomputers.

APPLICATIONS:-

• ·       Any use where small files such as word processing, small spreadsheets and databases need to be moved from one computer to another.
• ·       Useful to backup small data files.

Advantages:

• ·       A floppy disk which is a random access device can access data fast than magnetic tape.
• ·       A floppy disk is a portable device. It can easily be use to move data from one computer to another.
• ·       A floppy disk is a less expensive storage device.

Disadvantages:

• ·       It stores fewer amounts of data in KB’s.
• ·       It disk can easily be damage.
• ·       It cannot frequently used for data storage.

Internal parts of a 3 ¹⁄₂‑inch floppy disk.
1) A hole that indicates a high-capacity disk.
2) The hub that engages with the drive motor.
3) A shutter that protects the surface when removed from the drive.
4) The plastic housing.
5) A polyester sheet reducing friction against the disk media as it rotates within the housing.
6) The magnetic coated plastic disk.
7) A schematic representation of one sector of data on the disk; the tracks and sectors are not visible on actual disks.
8) The write protection tab (unlabeled) is upper left.