The majority of the software today requires a hard disk to perform effectively. The current trend for programs to get larger and more powerful shows no sign of diminishing, so superior hard disks, both in terms of size and performance, are becoming more and more essential. This text is a guide to hard disks, covering every aspect from the disk manufacture, the drives and their components, organization, utilities and data safety. The utilities covered include disk manager, Norton utilities, PC tools, SpinRite II and XTree. The book also looks at CD-ROMS and their future as well as examining floppy disks by way of an introduction and then investigating what the future may hold for data storage. Also included is an extensive glossary with comprehensive definitions of the terms, acronyms and data associated with hard disks.