Last updated: 27 May 2004

Removable hard disks are standard IDE hard disks that are pre-installed in a tray (or "cartridge"). The tray then slides into an empty bay designed to accept that tray, and is locked into place with a special key.

To handle variations in project/research needs, some software is pre-installed on a removable hard disk.

Depending on the needs of the project or research, the student may choose to use the pre-installed software or to install project-specific software, either by overwriting the pre-installed software (e.g., an operating system) or supplementing it (e.g., a DBMS). Note that lab staff can help only with problems with the pre-installed software and listed hardware.

Once a removable hard drive is assigned, here is the work flow that a student would undergo:

1. unlock locker and retrieve removable hard drive from it

2. find an available workstation with an empty drive bay

3. insert the removable hard disk tray into the bay

4. using a bay key, lock the drive in the bay

5. turn on the workstation

6. be vigilant and take action to secure your operating system and applications

7. perform the work

8. backup data to recordable CDs or DVDs

9. shutdown and power off the workstation

10. unlock the drive from the bay

11. remove the removable hard disk tray from the bay

12. insert removable hard drive into locker and lock it

Change Log

27 May 2004

Original document