Abstract: A high speed compact disk read only memory drive. In one embodiment, a local storage device containing an optical disk drive, a fast local storage device and RAM are all coupled to controller circuitry. The controller circuitry is coupled to interface circuitry which may be coupled to the bus of an ordinary computer system. The data storage device behaves and responds similar to an ordinary CD-ROM, DVD or hard disk drive to the coupled computer system. The RAM of the disclosed data storage device is configured to store directory information and the local storage device is configured to store executable files from the optical disk drive and cache non-executable data. Non-executable data is replaced in the local storage device in accordance with a least recently used algorithm. Information requests from the coupled computer system are read directly from the RAM or the local storage device as requested with significant increases in read access time and data transfer rates.