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internal drive

internal drive

1 4.2
A device inside a computer that stores files, like a hard drive or solid-state drive
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : unidad interna
  • The computer runs faster because I upgraded to a new internal drive with more storage space.
  • an internal drive or an external

Examples

  • My current method is to insert the SD card, transfer footage to a folder on an external FW400 drive, and transcode to my second internal drive.

    Blog text (6)
  • This is when you do the network access trick by unplugging the network cable during system load to load the backup internal drive, giving you admin access, and plugging it back in right after Y:// fails to load.

    Blog text (29)
  • No matter how big or small your computer is, there is at least one internal drive to host its operating system and programs.

    Blog text (7)
  • Now I either almost double the cost of my machine, or I just live with the small internal drive and no SSD.

    Blog text (7)
  • It was an internal drive, and darn it, I would make it happen one day.

    Blog text (32)
  • Having said that, I just bought my sixth iMac, and not once have I ever felt the need to replace the internal drive.

    Blog text (7)
  • I suspect this might be a good way around this internal SATA interface problem but still have internal drive performance.

    Blog text (7)
  • The system, called PILIT (pronounced "pilot"), has a 60-gigabyte internal drive that can store as many as 45 hours of video images.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The site integrates with amicable networks like Flickr, Facebook, Google+, and Instagram, as well as storage spaces like an internal drive and Dropbox.

    Blog text (22)
  • As I write, I'm transcoding directly from an SD card to my second internal drive (500GB HDD).

    Blog text (6)

Synonyms

drive
vsinternal drive
  • Specialized
272 3.3

A device that stores or reads data on a computer

is specifically an internal unit installed inside the computer case
hard drive
vsinternal drive
  • Specialized
106 2.8

A device inside a computer that stores files and lets you open them

is internal storage used inside computers rather than only spinning media
hard disk
vsinternal drive
  • Specialized
12 3.0

A fixed part inside a computer that stores files and data

is broader, covering any internal storage including solid state and magnetic forms
disk drive
vsinternal drive
  • Specialized
6 3.5

A device in a computer that holds and spins a disk to read or write data

is internal storage installed in the computer case rather than external readers
storage device
vsinternal drive
  • Specialized
5 3.5

A thing that stores computer files, like a hard drive or USB stick

is limited to devices installed inside the computer case rather than all storage
secondary storage
vsinternal drive
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A device like a hard disk or flash drive that keeps data when the computer is off

is specifically the internal installed storage rather than any permanent storage

How Large

internal drive
  • Specialized
1 4.2
microdrive
  • Archaic
6.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

internal + drive

The meaning is directly compositional: 'internal' (located within) plus 'drive' (a storage device) yields 'a drive located inside the computer', so the overall sense is derivable from the parts. This follows a common English noun + modifier pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

The noun internal drive comes from the idea of a drive, a device that stores data, kept internal, or 'inside' the computer. So it means 'a storage device installed inside a computer'.