HP Pavilion dv4-5110us Entertainment Notebook PC - Manual (Page 56)

7 Managing and sharing information
Drives are digital storage devices or solid-state drives that help you store, manage, share, and
access information. Your computer has an internal hard drive that stores your computer's software
and operating system, as well as provides storage for all of your personal files. Some computers also
have a built-in optical drive that allows you to read or write to a CD, DVD, or (on select models) Blu-
ray Disc (BD), to play and record audio and video.
For added capacity or functionality, connect an external drive (purchased separately), such as an
optical drive or hard drive, or insert a digital storage card to import information directly from your
phone or camera. A USB flash drive, connected to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port on your
computer, also allows quick data transfer. Some devices use the computer's power to run; others
have their own power source. Some devices come with software that must be installed.
NOTE: For information about connecting external wireless devices, see Connecting to a network
on page 15 .
NOTE: For more information about required software and drivers, or to learn which computer port to
use, see the manufacturer's instructions.
46 Chapter 7 Managing and sharing information