CD-ROM : Computer Hardware Buyers’ Glossary

by Roedy Green ©1997-2008 Canadian Mind Products
index page for letter ⇒ punctuation 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z (all)

CD-ROM: Compact Disc Read Only Memory. Computer programs come written on discs that look just like ordinary audio CDs. They can hold about 600 MB of data, or the equivalent of 400 floppy diskettes. A computer CD-ROM drive is much like one in a home stereo, except that it spins 2X, 4X, 8X, 12X, 16X or even 48X as fast. The speeds are exaggerated. They only apply to the outermost track and in burst mode. In practice drives won’t be anywhere near as fast as advertised. The faster it spins, the faster data can be read. With the appropriate cable, you can even play audio CDs on a computer CD-ROM drive. Digital CDs can be read, but not written on. This means there is no practical way to brand them with your name, or even with a serial number. Often a magic password comes with a CD, on a piece of paper you are bound to lose. Without the password, you can’t install (or re-install) the software. Use a red Sharpie fine tip permanent marker to write the password/serial number/key on the top side of the CD where you can’t lose it. Don’t apply any sort of sticky label since it may come off inside the drive, unless it is specially designed for CDs. The two most common kinds of CD-ROM are EIDE and SCSI. Unfortunately there are also several other proprietary types that cause nothing but trouble often bundled with sound cards.
Be careful discarding CDs. They may contain passwords, bank accounts, credit card info, identity theft info… A high power shredder will destroy them. A pair of tin snips will cut them. I am told you can melt them in a microwave. For extra safety, discard into two different locations.

backup
CD burning
CD-R
CD-RW
donut maker
DVD
DVD case
multiread
recordable
rewriteable
Sharpie fine tip permanent marker
UDF

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