Choosing a Hard Disk
The disk that contains your computer’s operating system is called the startup disk or
boot disk. In addition to the operating system, the startup disk also stores your
applications (such as Final Cut Pro), your application preferences, system settings, and
documents. Because the files on the startup disk are your most critical data,
maintaining the startup disk is vital.
Because digital media (especially high data rate video) makes your disks work harder,
you should use dedicated disks for capturing and playing back your digital video and
other media files. Consider your media disks as storage units that work long, hard hours,
while your startup disk keeps your system properly organized. If a disk is going to
malfunction, it’s better if your critical data is separate from your replaceable media files.
Depending on what kind of computer you are using, you may be able to use internal
and external hard disks to store your media files. Each has benefits and drawbacks.
Internal disks:
 May be less expensive because they don’t have external cases or require their own
power supplies
 Are inside your computer, causing less noise
 Are limited by the expansion capabilities of your computer and the heat buildup
they cause
External disks:
 Let you easily switch between projects by switching disks connected to the
computer
 Let you move a project quickly from one computer system to another in a
different location
 May be more expensive because of external cases and power supplies
 May be noisy
Warning:
Heat buildup in your computer can result in dropped frames during capture
and playback and can ultimately cause the failure of one or more disk drives. Consult
the documentation that came with your computer for information about the
maximum number of internal drives that can be installed.
Chapter 13
Determining Your Hard Disk Storage Options
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