Wait Kayla, What are you doing to your laptop?

I just want to see what's inside.

I've learned that the music I download gets storage in my computing device.

As a bunch of ones and zeros.

How is that even possible?

I'm not so sure you can actually see ones and zeros inside of it.

It looks like you are troubleshooting a problem.

Who are you and what are you doing on my laptop?

I'm Techne and I love helping people learn about computer science.

I also like helping them earn badges like this awesome troubleshoot badge.

Are you some kind of computer virus?

Good question.

But no, I'm not.

You can run a virus scan, though, if you'd like.

Franklin that's Techne.

I just watched you in a video about how computers run on electricity and how hardware and software talk to each other using a bunch of ones and zeros.

That's right, Kayla.

The ones and zeros are what we call binary code.

So what's wrong with your laptop?

Oh, nothing.

I just wanted to see how it works.

I totally understand.

But opening up a laptop is some pretty advanced troubleshooting.

Many things could go wrong if you don't know what you're doing.

I'm sure we can find out more without opening it.

What would you like to know?

Well, for one, how does the computer store all the information that I download to it like music and games?

That's a great question.

It looks like laptops can store information on something called the hard drive.

That's a type of hardware, right?

Exactly, Franklin.

A laptop needs a place to store information, and a hard drive is one of those places.

The hard drive can permanently store all the software, apps, games.

Even the operating systems, along with data files like text images, videos, and sounds.

That brings me to something called computer memory.

What's computer memory?

Does that mean the computer can help me remember things?

Not quite.

Computer memory is a smaller storage area that keeps track of software and information that is active on your computing device.

That sounds pretty complicated.

I'm not sure I understand.

Don't worry.

Let's think about it this way.

Your hard drive is like a library full of books, and the computer memory is like your work table in the library.

For example, if you open too many applications or download too many files on your computing device, you might run out of memory.

That's like having too many books on your library table to be able to work efficiently.

So how does the CPU factor into that?

Well, think of this CPU as a librarian who carries the books back and forth from the shelves to the table.

Oh, I get it now.

So do all computing devices have memory and a hard drive?

Computing devices have some type of storage, but the amount of storage depends on the type of device.

For instance, smartphones usually have more limited storage compared to most laptops.

It looks like phone data can be stored on something called the cloud.

What's the cloud?

Cloud computing is a system of computing devices that you access through the Internet.

Just like your laptop, the cloud contains hardware and software input and output CPUs and storage.

But on a much larger scale.

Wow.

I'd really like to get in there.

Cloud computing is a concept that is part of another computer science strand called Networks and the Internet.

But let's get back to your laptop, Kayla.

Ahh.

You still want to look inside?

Let's take a look inside someone else's laptop.

Where do you think the music you download is stored.

On the hard drive?

Very good.

And, Franklin, when you are searching for answers on the Internet, what is the CPU doing?

It is processing the keys I type as input, then outputting those letters into the search box.

Right.

You are really getting it.

Here's another quick question.

When you download music on your laptop, what part of the storage helps play the song?

Computer memory.

Correctamundo.

When you think about it, it's pretty amazing how everything works together on my laptop.

Yes, it is.

All the hardware and software on your laptop or any computing device is carefully designed to work together as a system.

And when one thing goes wrong, it can impact lots of other things.

And remember, you are learning some valuable skills and concepts if you ever do need to troubleshoot a problem with it.

I'm glad nothing is wrong with your laptop Kayla.

Me too.

I guess.