HDDs Still Rule (for Now)

According to data from Statista from 2015 to 2022, although the HDD market share has been decreasing in comparison to SSD, it still has a large user base. Despite the shrinking HDD market, the current pandemic has given rise to a demand for high-capacity storage drives ideal for large and long-term data storage. Desktops and laptops can use multiple external HDDs for expanding space, such as 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or more. Read on to learn what an HDD is and how to set up a disk conveniently.

Content Outline:

What is HDD in a Computer?
How to Install, Initialize, Partition, and Upgrade an HDD?
HDD Troubleshooting: Common Hard Disk Drive Errors

What is HDD in a computer?

A computer must have a storage device to hold its operating system, programs, and other files. Without a disk, or with a full one, a user cannot save personal documents or the programs they need. As data volumes grow, we need secure ways to store it all. People need a permanent storage device, such as an HDD, for their important data.

HDD stands for "Hard Disk Drive."

A Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is a computer data storage device that contains one or more rotating disks, called platters, coated with magnetic material. The platters are connected to a spindle motor, which rotates them at high speed. Data is written to and read from the disk surfaces by an arm with a read/write head that moves across them. Compared to Solid State Drives (SSDs), HDDs are larger, slower, but can store more data and are generally less expensive.

✔ Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Functionality: A hard disk drive serves two primary functions: storing data and providing space for a computer's operating system and applications. Data is stored on disk platters in concentric circles called tracks. These tracks are divided into multiple sectors, each capable of holding a certain amount of data. As the disks rotate, the read/write head moves along the tracks to read from or write data to them.

✔ Hard Drive Size: Hard drives come in various sizes, ranging from small portable drives to large enterprise-level devices. They also come in different form factors, such as 3.5-inch desktop HDDs and 2.5-inch laptop HDDs. Capacities are measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB).

What is hard drive storage capacity?

Standard storage capacities range from 16GB to 2TB or more. Check out the storage options that suit your needs:  

• Minimum storage capacity: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. Regular desktop and laptop users typically wouldn't consider these. They're often found on older devices.
• Standard storage capacity: 120GB, 256GB, 500GB, and 1TB. For users who only work and store basic documents, 120GB and 256GB are decent options. If you want more space for all your videos, music, games, and other files, 500GB to 1TB is plenty for non-professional users.
• High capacity: 2TB or more. For photographers, video editors, musicians, and others who need to store high-resolution files, your data can fill up a regular capacity drive in seconds. This is where a 2TB or larger hard drive comes in handy.

What are the uses of a hard disk drive in a computer?

We've been talking about storage. What else can a computer hard disk drive be used for? An HDD on a laptop can serve many different purposes, but some of the most common include backup, data transfer, and extra space.

• ✔ Data backup
• ✔ Data migration
• ✔ Space expansion

Backup refers to the process of copying important files and data from one location to another as a safeguard against loss due to damage or corruption. Data transfer involves moving data from one location to another, often used when upgrading to a new computer or sharing files between different computers. Disk expansion refers to utilizing an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) to increase a computer's storage capacity. Since HDDs typically offer larger storage capacities than other devices like SSDs (Solid State Drives), they are commonly employed for this purpose.

SSDs (Solid State Drives) and HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) are both computer storage devices, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Here's a brief comparison: 1. Speed: SSDs are generally much faster than HDDs as they use flash memory technology, without any moving parts, resulting in quicker read and write speeds. 2. Durability: Due to the absence of mechanical components, SSDs are more resistant to drops and vibrations and typically have a longer lifespan. HDDs, with spinning disks and moving read/write heads, are more susceptible to physical damage. 3. Price: HDDs are usually less expensive per unit of storage compared to SSDs, making them more attractive for users on a budget. 4. Storage Capacity: At similar price points, HDDs often offer greater storage capacity. If you need a lot of storage but are not concerned about speed, an HDD might be a better choice. 5. Power Consumption: SSDs typically consume less power, which can prolong the battery life of portable devices like laptops. 6. Data Recovery: Since HDDs have physical components, data recovery may be slightly easier in case of drive failure, though this is not always the case. In summary, if you require fast boot and load times, higher durability, and lower power consumption, SSDs are the better option. If you prioritize large storage capacity and cost-effectiveness, an HDD might be more suitable. Depending on your individual needs and budget, you can weigh these factors to determine which one is best for you.

When it comes to choosing between a high-capacity HDD or a smaller SSD, both types of storage devices have their pros and cons. It's essential to understand the differences before making a purchase for your computing device. There are two main types of storage drives in computers: Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD). 1. **Hard Disk Drive (HDD):** - **Capacity:** HDDs typically offer more storage space at a lower cost per GB. - **Price:** HDDs are generally cheaper than SSDs. - **Performance:** Accessing data on an HDD is slower due to mechanical components like spinning disks and read/write heads. - **Durability:** HDDs are more susceptible to damage from physical shock and vibrations. 2. **Solid State Drive (SSD):** - **Capacity:** While SSDs usually have less storage space than HDDs, capacities are increasing and becoming more competitive. - **Price:** SSDs tend to be more expensive per GB but prices are decreasing over time. - **Performance:** SSDs provide faster data access times, resulting in quicker boot-up and application loading times. - **Durability:** With no moving parts, SSDs are more resistant to physical shock and are generally more durable. The choice between the two depends on your specific needs: - **If you need large storage capacity** for media files, documents, and games, and are not as concerned about performance, an HDD might be the better option. - **If you prioritize speed and responsiveness** for your operating system, applications, and frequently used files, or if you want a more reliable and durable drive, an SSD is recommended. - **Combination:** If you can't decide, consider using both. Use an SSD for your operating system, applications, and frequently accessed files, and an HDD for secondary storage. Ultimately, weigh the trade-offs between price, capacity, and performance to make the most suitable choice for your situation.

[Read More] HDD vs SSD Lifespan

HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is an older technology that stores data on spinning disks. This makes them slower than SSDs (Solid State Drives), but they are cheaper and can hold more data. They are better suited for storing large amounts of infrequently accessed data, like media files or backup copies.

SSDs (solid-state drives) are newer and faster than HDDs (hard disk drives), but they're also more expensive. They store data on chips rather than spinning disks, which makes them much quicker at reading and writing data. However, they have less storage capacity than HDDs. They're best used for storing frequently accessed files like operating systems, applications, and games.

Which one is better? It depends on your needs. If you want speed and are not concerned about cost, go for an SSD. If you need a lot of storage space and have a limited budget, then choose an HDD.

Articles about HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and SSD (Solid State Drive):

How do I install, initialize, partition, and upgrade a HDD?

#1. How to Install a Hard Drive

A hard disk drive (HDD) is essential to any computer. It's what stores all of your data, programs, and operating system. Without it, you can't do anything. Of course, you won't be able to use it without installing it, either. Installing a new hard drive isn't difficult, but it's important to follow the steps carefully to do it right.

The first step is to turn off your computer and unplug everything from it. This includes the power cord, USB cables, and Ethernet cable. Once everything is unplugged, open up the case of your computer. Inside, you'll see your existing hard drive and a few open slots. Find an empty slot, then carefully slide in the new hard drive. Make sure it's secure before closing the case and plugging everything back in.

Once everything is reconnected, turn on your computer. Your computer should detect the new hard drive and prompt you to format it. Once it's formatted, you'll be able to use it just like any other hard drive. Now that you know how to install a new hard drive, you can easily upgrade your storage or replace a faulty hard drive with a new one.

Follow a detailed step-by-step tutorial:

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#2. How to Initialize a Hard Drive

If you've just installed a brand new HDD into your computer and it's not showing up in File Explorer, you'll need to initialize the HDD before you can use it on your PC or laptop. Once initialized, you can format the HDD and use it for data storage.

There are three primary ways to initialize a hard drive: using third-party software, Windows Disk Management, or the Command Prompt. Each method has its pros and cons, so choosing the one that suits your needs is essential.

Windows Disk Management is a tool that lets you initialize and manage your hard drive from within the Windows system. It's user-friendly but doesn't offer as much control as the Command Prompt. In contrast, the Command Prompt provides a lot of flexibility when initializing a hard drive. However, it can be intimidating for those unfamiliar with it. If you're looking for a quick and easy one-stop solution, you might want to set up your HDD another way.

You can initialize the hard drive with tools like Partition Master Free. It's software that's friendly to both beginners and experts.

Step 1: Run Partition Master and get into the "Partition Management" interface.

Step 2. Right-click on the target disk - HDD or SSD, and choose "Initialize as MBR" or "Initialize as GPT." Click "Execute Task" and "Apply" to save the changes.

0:00-0:18 Initialize as MBR; 0:19-0:44 Initialize as GPT;

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Alternatively, you can initialize the hard drive through Windows Disk Management and Command Prompt with just a few simple steps. Follow the method outlined in the article to initialize your hard drive.

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Common reasons for initializing an HDD include: 1. New Purchase: When you buy a new hard disk drive, it typically requires initialization to partition and prepare it for data storage. 2. Data Security: To ensure old data is securely erased and prevent sensitive information leaks, you might choose to initialize the hard drive. 3. Fault Repair: If the hard drive encounters severe errors or becomes unreadable, initialization can be a way to attempt to restore its normal functioning. 4. Redefining Partitions: When you want to change the partition layout, such as expanding or shrinking partitions, initialization is a necessary step. 5. System Reinstall: During a reinstallation of the operating system, it's generally recommended to initialize the hard drive first to create a fresh system partition from scratch. 6. Reselling or Donating: If you plan to sell, donate, or recycle your hard drive, initialization ensures all personal data is removed, protecting your privacy. 7. Upgrade or Replacement: When upgrading to a new hard drive or replacing an existing one, initialization is the first step in setting up the new drive. 8. Restoring Factory Settings: Some computers allow users to revert the hard drive to its factory state, which involves the initialization process.

First of all, if you have just installed the drive and it doesn't show up in Windows, or you are formatting the sector and want to start from scratch, initializing HDD is a necessary step.

#3. How to Partition a Hard Disk Drive

There are several reasons why you might want to partition your hard drive. First, partitions help keep your files better organized. Additionally, you can create a separate area on your hard drive for sensitive data through partitioning. Furthermore, partitions can be used to create a backup of your operating system. Should something go wrong with your primary partition, you can boot from the secondary one and still access your data. Lastly, partitioning can improve your computer's performance by separating frequently accessed files from those that aren't used as often, ensuring that important files are always quickly accessible.

[Further Reading] - Disk Partitioning

Use Disk Management to partition the new drive: Right-click the Unallocated space, and select “New Simple Volume.” Follow the New Simple Volume Wizard to set the size, drive letter, and file system for the volume.

To shrink an existing partition, right-click it and choose “Shrink Volume.” Adjust the partition size as necessary.

If you want to manage your hard drive more professionally, like securely erasing a partition on the hard drive or formatting a partition, you might need a professional and free partition manager.

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#4. How to Replace and Upgrade Your Hard Drive

Every computer user might need to replace or upgrade their hard drive at some point. Maybe you're running out of storage space, or want to boost performance. Whatever the reason, it's not as difficult as it looks. Here's a quick guide to replacing and upgrading your hard drive.

First of all, you need to purchase a new hard drive. Make sure it's compatible with your computer in terms of size and type. Once you have the new hard drive, you should back up all data from the old hard drive or just transfer OS to SSD from HDD. This is important! Something could go wrong even if you're just replacing the drive. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Next, shut down your computer and unplug all cables. Open the case of your PC and locate your old hard drive. It's usually installed in a specific bracket or cage. Carefully remove the old drive without damaging any other parts. Now, carefully install the new drive in the same spot. Make sure it's securely fastened and connected before moving on.

Finally, put everything back together and boot up your computer. Once it's up and running, you can restore your data from your backup. That's it!

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Hard Drive Troubleshooting: Common Errors

Learn how to check and fix hard disk partition errors: Check and Repair HDD Errors.

1. Hard drive not showing up/detected

There are several reasons why a hard drive may not be showing up or being detected. It could be that the drive is not properly connected to the computer, or its driver is missing or needs an update. If you're troubleshooting this issue, first ensure the drive is correctly plugged in, and then check the driver status. If both of these solutions don't work, there's a likelihood that your hard drive has failed.

[Full Guide]:  Hard Drive Not Showing Up or Recognized

2. Hard drive suddenly becomes slow

How long does an HDD last? Generally, three to five years. If your hard drive is running well but suddenly becomes slow, you can fix the slow hard drive by removing viruses, replacing cables, freeing up disk space, disabling startup programs, and more.

3. Hard drive does not spin

The drive's power supply might not be working properly. The drive itself could be damaged. Alternatively, you may have dropped the drive or exposed it to water recently. This could be why it won't spin. If you're unsure of the cause, it's best to have the drive looked at by a qualified technician for further diagnosis.

[In-Depth Tutorial]: Hard Drive Won't Spin Up

4. Hard Drive Failure

When a hard drive is failing but still recognized by your computer, you should create an image of the disk as soon as possible. This will give you a copy of the data on the drive, which you can then use to attempt data recovery. If the drive is no longer recognized, you'll need to send it to a data recovery specialist.

Fixing another hard drive issue: