<storage> (In contrast to floppy disk). One or more rigid magnetic discs rotating about a central axle with associated read/write heads and electronics, used to store data. Most hard disks are permanently connected to the drive though there are also removable hard disks.
High speed disks have an access time of 28 milliseconds or less, and low-speed disks run 65 milliseconds or more. The higher speed disks also transfer their data faster than the slower speed units.
See also ATA, IDE, sector, track, winchester, SCSI.
(07 Jan 1996)