The correct answer is A. Hard disks and diskettes are direct access storage devices.
A direct access storage device (DASD) is a data storage device that allows random access to individual data records. This means that any data record can be accessed directly, without having to read all of the data records that come before it. DASD devices are typically used for storing large amounts of data that needs to be accessed quickly, such as databases and operating systems.
Hard disks and diskettes are both examples of DASD devices. Hard disks are the most common type of DASD device, and they are used in most computers. Diskettes are a type of removable DASD device, and they were once commonly used to store data, but they have been largely replaced by other storage devices, such as USB drives.
Option B is incorrect because hard disks and diskettes are not sequential access storage devices. Sequential access storage devices are devices that can only access data in a sequential order, from the beginning of the device to the end. This means that if you want to access a data record that is in the middle of the device, you have to read all of the data records that come before it. Sequential access storage devices are typically used for storing large amounts of data that does not need to be accessed quickly, such as audio and video files.
Option C is incorrect because hard disks and diskettes are not rarely used with microcomputers. Hard disks are the most common type of storage device used in microcomputers, and diskettes were once commonly used to store data, but they have been largely replaced by other storage devices, such as USB drives.
Option D is incorrect because hard disks and diskettes are not both direct access storage devices and rarely used with microcomputers. Hard disks are the most common type of storage device used in microcomputers, and diskettes were once commonly used to store data, but they have been largely replaced by other storage devices, such as USB drives.
Option E is incorrect because hard disks and diskettes are not none of the above. Hard disks and diskettes are both direct access storage devices.