Most everyone in America owns a personal computer or PC. Your computer is a system that is made up of many different components. Many of the components on your computer such as the operating system, drivers, word processor, games, spreadsheet programs, etc. are all software. The parts of the computer that you can see and touch are the hardware.
Personal computers come with many different kinds of hardware but generally have similar hardware components. Generally, the hardware included with your computer will include the system unit or tower, speakers, a computer monitor, a computer screen, keyboard, mouse, microphone, and sometimes even a webcam. If you own a laptop computer, your computer most likely comes with all of the above-mentioned components, although they are just integrated into one portable unit rather than separately standing units as they are with many desktop models.
The system unit is the actual computer. This is where all of the software is actually stored. Most system units include a CD drive, DVD drive, and some may even still include a floppy drive. There is still another disk drive located within the system unit itself that is called the hard disk. Although, you cannot remove this disk or even see it, but it is there.
Everything that is “in” your computer is stored on this hard disk. All data that you store on your computer or programs that are loaded to the computer are stored on the hard disk. The hard disk can store information forever with or without electricity. Most computers have a hard disk with enough space to make it difficult to use up all the space provided. However, some older computers and some more complex software programs can cause you to use up your space quickly. When this happens you will receive a message that will tell you “you are running low on disk space” long before you have actually run out of space. This allows you to remove items or move things around to make more space on your hard disk.