<P> As the RAM types used for primary storage are volatile (uninitialized at start up), a computer containing only such storage would not have a source to read instructions from, in order to start the computer . Hence, non-volatile primary storage containing a small startup program (BIOS) is used to bootstrap the computer, that is, to read a larger program from non-volatile secondary storage to RAM and start to execute it . A non-volatile technology used for this purpose is called ROM, for read - only memory (the terminology may be somewhat confusing as most ROM types are also capable of random access). </P> <P> Many types of "ROM" are not literally read only, as updates to them are possible; however it is slow and memory must be erased in large portions before it can be re-written . Some embedded systems run programs directly from ROM (or similar), because such programs are rarely changed . Standard computers do not store non-rudimentary programs in ROM, and rather, use large capacities of secondary storage, which is non-volatile as well, and not as costly . </P> <P> Recently, primary storage and secondary storage in some uses refer to what was historically called, respectively, secondary storage and tertiary storage . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> It has been suggested that Auxiliary memory be merged into this article . (Discuss) Proposed since November 2017 . </Td> </Tr> </Table>

A small program that sends itself to other computers