Maintaining and Troubleshooting Computer Storage Devices

Posted on Feb 28, 2025 in Technology

Maintaining Computer Storage Devices

Laser Cleaning for Optical Drives

For maintaining a reading recorder, perform these functions:

1. Laser Cleaning

To remove the recorder reading from the cabinet:

  1. Remove the 8 screws (4 on each side).
  2. Remove the data bus and its voltage cable.
  3. Open the hole cover to mechanically remove the lid.
  4. Once the lid is open, take out the keypad by pressing it with a screwdriver and removing any obstacles.
  5. Remove the 4 screws on the bottom.
  6. Clean the laser with a cotton swab slightly dampened with alcohol. Carefully clean the lens of the laser.

2. Laser Calibration

To regulate the reading or writing power, adjust the potentiometer (variable resistor):

  1. Mark the current position of the potentiometer with a marker.
  2. Move the potentiometer clockwise to increase reading power, or anti-clockwise to decrease it.

Power Supply Maintenance

  1. Remove the power supply cabinet by removing the 4 screws that hold it.
  2. After removing the cabinet, remove the 4 screws holding the casing.
  3. After removing the casing, clean the dirt with a brush and remove any remaining dust with a vacuum cleaner. Clean the cooler to prevent noise or incorrect speed.

Sequential vs. Random Access

Sequential Access: The reading device must pass through the space occupied by all previously stored data to reach the space occupied by the desired data.

Random Access: The element can directly read the address where the desired information is stored.

Storage Media Types

Magnetic Tape

This consists of a plastic tape coated with ferromagnetic material. Data is recorded as combinations of points on tracks parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tape. These tapes are sequential media, which is inconvenient because accessing a piece of information requires reading all preceding data, resulting in time loss.

Magnetic Drums

These consist of cylinders with magnetic material capable of retaining information. Data is recorded and read by a head whose arm moves along the axis of rotation of the drum. Access to information is direct, not sequential.

Hard Disk

These are currently the main storage subsystem in computer systems. A hard disk persistently stores information on a computer and is considered the most important storage system, saving program files.

Floppy Disk

A floppy disk or diskette is a data storage device comprising a circular piece of magnetic material that allows for recording and reading data. It is thin and flexible, enclosed in a thin plastic shell. Disks are usually 3 ½ or 5 ¼ inches, used in computers, although 5 ¼-inch disks are now obsolete.

Optical Devices

CD-R: A CD with a 650 MB capacity that can be read many times, but whose content cannot be changed once recorded. Because they cannot be erased or re-recorded, they are suitable for storing files or information sets that do not change.

DVD-ROM

A CD with a storage capacity of 4.7GB, with a 9.4GB capacity in the DL Dual Layer version.