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This section explains how disks work and tells you how to do
the following:
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Use different types of diskettes and diskette drives
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Care for your diskettes and diskette drives
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Insert and remove diskettes
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Write-protect diskettes
Make backup copies of your diskettes
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Use a single diskette drive
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Use two diskette drives
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Use a hard disk drive.
How Disks Store Data
The diskette you insert in your computer’s diskette drive is
made of flexible plastic coated with magnetic material. It is
enclosed in a square jacket that is either hard (3
‘/z-inch
diskettes) or slightly flexible (5
‘/+-inch
diskettes).
Unlike a diskette, a hard disk is rigid and fixed in place. It is
sealed in a protective case to keep it free of dust and dirt. A
hard disk stores data the same way that a diskette does, but it
works much faster and has a much larger storage capacity.
All disks are divided into data storage compartments by sides,
tracks, and sectors. Double-sided diskettes store data on both
sides. On each side, there are concentric rings, called tracks
(or cylinders), on which a disk can store data. Double-density
diskettes have either 40 or 80 tracks on each side, and high-
density diskettes have 80 tracks on each side.
3-10
Using the Equity 386SX