Question

What part of the computer holds data for long periods of time, even when there is no power to the computer?

Short answer

Answer: Hard Disk Drives (HDD) or Solid State Drives (SSD)

Step-by-step solution

Identifying the main computer components

The main components of a computer include the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Random Access Memory (RAM), and storage devices like Hard Disk Drives (HDD) or Solid State Drives (SSD). We need to determine which of these components can store data for long periods without power.

Determine which components lose data without power

The RAM is a volatile memory, which means it loses its stored data when there is no power. Therefore, RAM is eliminated as an option for storing data for extended periods without power.

Consider long-term data storage options

HDDs and SSDs are both used for long-term data storage. They are non-volatile memory, which means they can store data even when the computer is not powered. Both these types of drives can hold data for extended periods, even when the computer is turned off.

Identify the correct answer

Since the question asks for the part of the computer that can store data for long periods without power, the answer is the computer's storage devices, specifically Hard Disk Drives (HDD) or Solid State Drives (SSD).