Hard Disks and Solid State Drives

The various files and other data that you create need to be stored somewhere on your computer. This is done on either a hard disk or a solid state drive, both of which provide persistent storage (i.e. your data won't disappear when you turn your computer off).

Hard disks, as the name implies, are rigid disks which store information in magnetic format. Solid state drives use electronic memory to perform the same function.

Each type has advantages and disadvantages. The main advantages of solid state drives are:

  • There are no moving parts, so they're more robust than hard disks, and therefore less suspceptible to accidental damage (e.g. if you drop your laptop).
  • They're smaller and lighter, so are better suited to very small computers like netbooks.

The main advantages of hard disks are:

  • They have a much greater storage capacity.
  • They're cheaper, especially when you compare equivalent amounts of storage.

Your decision on which one to go for will probably be based mainly on two factors - size and capacity. If you're looking for a computer with the minimum size and weight (such as a netbook), and storag of large amounts of data isn't an issue for you (either because you don't have that much or because you'll be storing it elsewhere), then a solid state drive is a good choice. Otherwise, a hard disk is the best option.

Whichever you decide on, this is a good time to also think about back-ups. The last thing you want is to build up your collection of family photos and other data, and then lose it all. So, you should think carefully about how you're going to back-up your data (see our pages on How to Back Up Your Data for Windows Vista and XP for more information).

An option which is offered on some computers is to have 2 hard drives and software to backup from one to the other automatically. This ensures that you'll always have a copy of your data in the event that your primary disk fails. Be aware though that having the backup in the same physical location as the primary disk doesn't give you any protection in cases such as fire or other physical damage.

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