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Hard drives are the primary storage devices found in computers and other electronic systems. They serve as the repository for data, applications, and operating systems, providing persistent memory that retains information even when the power is turned off. Hard drives come in various form factors, including 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch models, with varying capacities ranging from a few gigabytes to multiple terabytes. They can be internal or external, with internal hard drives typically installed in desktop or laptop computers, while external hard drives provide additional storage for portable devices or serve as backup solutions. Hard drives use magnetic recording technology to store data on rotating platters, which are accessed by a read/write head that moves across the surface of the disk. The speed at which the platters spin and the data transfer rate between the drive and the computer determine the overall performance of the hard drive. Despite the emergence of newer storage technologies such as solid-state drives (SSDs) and cloud storage, hard drives remain a popular choice for users who require large amounts of affordable storage.