Chapter 9: Hard Disks and Floppy Disks^197
Atonetime,thefloppydiskwastheprimarydatastoragedeviceonthePC,butithaslately
been relegated to a role of removable media for single files or small collections of files. As file
sizes grow, the floppy disk is less able to serve in the role it once did. Where it once was the
media on which new software was released, CD-ROMs or Internet downloads are now used.
The floppy disk still has a role for transferring data from one PC to another (aptly called a
sneaker net), backing up small files and compressed files (zips, tars, and archives), and device
driver distribution, although this is also moving to CD-ROM or downloading.Floppy Disk Construction
The floppy disk drive is an internal device that is mounted into an open drive bay of the
system case. While it is an internal device, its bezel extends through the drive bay opening
and should be visible through a removable bay cover on the case, as well.
A 3.5-inch floppy disk drive is about the same size as most newer hard disk drives.
Newer cases mount the diskette in either a smaller drive bay or require an adapter kit to
mount it into a full-size drive bay. If your system is old enough to have a 5.25-inch drive,
it is most likely a half-height drive (about 1.75-inches in height) and fits into a full-sized
drive bay.
Thefloppydisk,asshowninFigures9-11and9-12,ismadeupofanumberofcom-
ponents that are very similar in name and function to those of a hard disk drive. The
primary components of the floppy disk drive are: Read/write heads
Head actuator
Spindle motor
Connectors and jumpers
MediaFigure 9-11. The 5.25-inch disk’s components