2b(A). ROM, hard and floppy disks, magnetic tape and optical disks are all non-volatile from question 1.
3(Q) ROM and RAM chips make up the computer’s memory. The data is stored in a ROM chip; it is put in when the chip is manufactured. It is never lost and it cannot be changed. The data stored in a RAM chip can be changed and is lost when the power is turned off.
3a(Q) Which type of memory chip stores the computer program that runs when the computer is first turned on? Give a reason for your answer.
3a(A) The ROM chip does this, the above stated. This is because this chip is non-volatile and it is non-rewritable because the programs are so important and have no need to be faltered with.
3b(Q) Which type of memory chip stores a document while it is being word-processed?
3b(A) The RAM chip stores the word document while it is being processed in the volatile memory.
3c(Q) When a word-processed document is completed, it is saved to a hard disk drive. Give two reasons why the hard disk drive is needed.
3c(A) It is needed in order to store data and software; it is also used to prevent the user from needing to carry around other storage pieces of hardware.
4(Q) Why are optical discs often referred to as CD-ROMs?
4(A) ROM stands for read only memory and they store data optically, which is why optical discs are often referred to as CD-ROMs.
5(Q) A random access medium allows data to be recovered in any order. Only one of the media mentioned in Question 1 does not allow random access. Which one is it?
5(A) The ROM media device doesn’t allow random access.
6(Q) What type of backing storage would be most suitable for each of the following situations? In each case give a reason for your answer.
6a(Q) Taking a spreadsheet file home to carry on working on it.
6a(A) A floppy disk would be most suitable because the file would be very small and the floppy disk is small, non-volatile and rewritable.
6b(Q) Storing details of customers and parts for a local garage.
6b(A) A hard disk would be most suitable because the details of many customers would be able to be stored because of the large capacity that modern hard disks incorporate. Also the hard drive is already incorporated in the computer system so it would be easy to access.
6c(Q) Backing-up the hard disk of a home computer.
6c(A) Some magnetic-tape would be the most suitable because even a large hard disk would be able to be backed up, it is non-volatile, data can be written, rewritten and read.
6d(Q) Distributing computer training materials including about 90 minutes of video.
6d(A) A DVD-ROM disk would be the most suitable media in this case especially for the video files as in DVD format high quality would be available for the video length. Also a DVD-ROM disk would have a high storage capacity that is preferable for large files such as video files that take up a lot of space.
6e(E) Distributing a parts catalogue consisting of about 200MB of data to many thousands of customers.
6e(E) Although some computers are not equipped with a CD drive most modern ones today are and therefore a CD-ROM would be the most efficient storage media to put into use for this problem. They have sufficient storage capacity for the catalogue. They are non-volatile, they can be read and have random access. The most important feature though is they cannot be written to or overwritten which is important for keeping the data secure.