Storage Devices and Media
Would the program for an automatic washing machine be held in RAM or ROM?
(a) Write down what each of the following abbreviations stands for:
(i) ALD.
(ii) RAM.
(iii) ROM.
(iv) TAS.
(b) Describe the difference between ROM and RAM, and give an example of the use of each.
SEB Standord Specimen.
Topic: Computer Systems
(a)
Which computer has the larger random access memory and what size has it?
(b) Most computers also have some ROM. Explain why ROM is needed.
(c) A friend buys a NDCRON. As he types in a correct COMAL program he keeps getting error messages. Why might this be?
Files held on disc have been compared to songs held on a long playing record and files held on magnetic tape have been compared to songs held on tape.
Give one advantage of holding files on tape. Give one advantage of holding files on disc.
Backing storage on most commercial computer systems uses either magnetic tape or magnetic disc.
(a) (i) Which must use serial access?
(ii) Which can use direct access?
Several computer applications are described below. Complete each sentence with either ‘disc system is needed’ or ‘tape system could be used’. Give also the reason for your choice.
(b) In an airline for storing the flight details in an airline booking system a .
(c) In a factory for storing the records needed to calculate the weekly wages a .
(d) At British Telecom for storing all the frames that make up the PRESTEL database a .
Explain the meaning of serial access and direct access. Give an example of a backing storage device which uses each of these methods of access.
(a) The diagram below shows the layout of data stored on a floppy disc. Complete the labelling on the diagram.
(b) Complete the diagram below to show the layout of data on a magnetic tape for a mainframe computer. You should include records, fields and blocks.
