Which type of memory stores data and programs for as long as desired, for example on a hard disk drive, and uses sectors and tracks for addressing?

Which type of memory stores data and programs for as long as desired, for example on a hard disk drive, and uses sectors and tracks for addressing?

• A. Primary memory
• B. RAM cache
• C. Main memory
• D. Secondary memory

Answer: (D)

Think about long-term storage that keeps data even when the computer is turned off. This is non-volatile memory, found in devices like hard disk drives that hold programs and files until you delete them or open them again. HDDs organize data using sectors and tracks on the spinning platters, which is how the drive locates specific pieces of information. Primary memory, such as RAM, is volatile—its contents vanish when power is removed—and it holds data the CPU is actively using while a program runs. RAM does not rely on sectors and tracks for addressing; it uses linear memory addresses. RAM cache is a fast, temporary storage near the CPU that also loses data when power is off and isn’t meant for long-term storage. Since the description matches non-volatile, long-term storage that uses sectors and tracks, the correct type of memory is secondary memory.

Think about long-term storage that keeps data even when the computer is turned off. This is non-volatile memory, found in devices like hard disk drives that hold programs and files until you delete them or open them again. HDDs organize data using sectors and tracks on the spinning platters, which is how the drive locates specific pieces of information.

Primary memory, such as RAM, is volatile—its contents vanish when power is removed—and it holds data the CPU is actively using while a program runs. RAM does not rely on sectors and tracks for addressing; it uses linear memory addresses. RAM cache is a fast, temporary storage near the CPU that also loses data when power is off and isn’t meant for long-term storage.

Since the description matches non-volatile, long-term storage that uses sectors and tracks, the correct type of memory is secondary memory.