External HD questions

vRS · September 5th, 2006, 04:41 PM

Okey ive been thinking about buying one to store music, movies, game mods etc and I have some questions-

1: How do they work? are they like you're normal HD where as you access it through My Computer or are they like a memory stick and classed as a removable Disk?

2: After you add data from you're pc to it can you also add data from you're laptop? or is it only for one and one only.

3: Are they easy to use? i dont want to be taking ages to add files to them the easier and quicker the better.

Cheers

Koenig · September 5th, 2006, 04:54 PM

From my experience with my buddies ext. HD, it is basically like a very large version of a USB memory stick. So that means that you can use it on any PC, including desktops and notebooks. Using them just involves plugging in the power and then the USB cable, and I think it appears on "My Computer" as a removable disk.

//Dave · September 5th, 2006, 04:56 PM

1: How do they work? are they like you're normal HD where as you access it through My Computer or are they like a memory stick and classed as a removable Disk?
They're pretty much like a normal hard drive in a USB enclosure basically, they will act like a flash stick and are basically a removable disk yes. Mine, as you can see by clicking here shows as a normal hard drive.

2: After you add data from you're pc to it can you also add data from you're laptop? or is it only for one and one only.
You can plug it into any system with a USB/Firewire port (depends on HD model)

3: Are they easy to use? i dont want to be taking ages to add files to them the easier and quicker the better.
Plug in, let windows search through the files and then you can do what you want. Access files, move files, copy files. Whatever.

Shadowness · September 5th, 2006, 04:59 PM

They are very easy to use. They are basically a big memory stick, which is detected as a hard drive in my computer. They require a power source too, so they are not powered via USB. Just get a reputable make and you should be fine.
You can plug it into any computer and it will work, no software required. They are pretty fast, so you shouldnt have to wait ages, unless you transferring hundreds of gigs!

mgkdk · September 5th, 2006, 05:00 PM

I had one I used when I only had a laptop for music/movies/stuff.
It worked just like a normal HD, showed up next to C: but I still had to remove it like a memory stick (that safe removal stuff).
I used it as a huge usb memory stick and shared stuff with others, worked without a hitch on all their computers.
Mine was pretty easy to use, but it still took a bit longer to move files, compared to just moving them around within the computer.
If you get one be sure it is atleast usb 2.0, because some of my friends only had usb 1.0 and it took ages to transfer.

Just ask it you need more info images/smilies/smile.gif

fluke667 · September 5th, 2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowness

They require a power source too, so they are not powered via USB.

if you use a 2,5" hdd you can power it via usb images/smilies/wink.gif

it's much more convenient not having to carry a psu with you images/smilies/smile.gif

vRS · September 5th, 2006, 06:39 PM

Thanks guys, i've been looking at this one, it's cheap and has plenty of room, is it any good though?

http://www.usbtech.co.uk/catalog/pro...roducts_id/427

//Dave · September 5th, 2006, 07:45 PM

Go for it. I'm getting the 500G version of that in the morning. Got a 250G WD now and it hasn't let me down at all. images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

Peter3hg · September 6th, 2006, 02:18 PM

Similar question from me.
WHich should I go for.

http://www.levi.cz/image/WD_MyBookEssential.jpg

250gb £74.01

or

http://www.hiperconsumible.com/images/Iomega%20Desktop%20Hard%20Drive.gif

320gb £81.06

I will be using it mostly for recording TV onto.

sandor_ · September 6th, 2006, 06:04 PM

i just picked up a pair of the WD MyBook's (500 GB version) for $179 a piece. they are working splendidly. its a single 500 GB drive vs. a pair of 250's striped. I use mine as storage for my FreeVo (all HD) and it working great.

//Dave · September 6th, 2006, 07:59 PM

My 500G version of that drive arrived today. Formatted to NTFS and currently copying the stuff from my 250G drive to it images/smilies/smile.gif

Working smoothly as.

sandor_ · September 6th, 2006, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by //Dave

My 500G version of that drive arrived today. Formatted to NTFS and currently copying the stuff from my 250G drive to it images/smilies/smile.gif

Working smoothly as.

i love 500 GB drives images/smilies/smile.gif

//Dave · September 8th, 2006, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandor_

Quote:

Originally Posted by //Dave

My 500G version of that drive arrived today. Formatted to NTFS and currently copying the stuff from my 250G drive to it images/smilies/smile.gif

Working smoothly as.

i love 500 GB drives images/smilies/smile.gif

So do I..

http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/3865/drivegz9.png

..so do I. images/smilies/wink.gif

Viper007Bond · September 8th, 2006, 04:18 AM

You can also just buy an enclosure like I did and stick a hard drive it in (I ran outta SATA ports).

September 5th, 2006, 04:41 PM	#1
vRS Joined: Nov 22nd, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Stirling, Scotland Age: 17 Posts: 1,567 Rep Power: 25	External HD questions Okey ive been thinking about buying one to store music, movies, game mods etc and I have some questions- 1: How do they work? are they like you're normal HD where as you access it through My Computer or are they like a memory stick and classed as a removable Disk? 2: After you add data from you're pc to it can you also add data from you're laptop? or is it only for one and one only. 3: Are they easy to use? i dont want to be taking ages to add files to them the easier and quicker the better. Cheers

September 5th, 2006, 04:54 PM	#2
Koenig Joined: May 27th, 2005 Last Online: 12:02 AM Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 980 Rep Power: 20	From my experience with my buddies ext. HD, it is basically like a very large version of a USB memory stick. So that means that you can use it on any PC, including desktops and notebooks. Using them just involves plugging in the power and then the USB cable, and I think it appears on "My Computer" as a removable disk. __________________ Please....for the love of all that is good and righteous....somebody nuke Tibet....PLEASE.

September 5th, 2006, 04:56 PM	#3
//Dave Joined: Jul 23rd, 2006 Last Online: November 11th, 2008 Location: Penrith, England Posts: 157 Rep Power: 0	1: How do they work? are they like you're normal HD where as you access it through My Computer or are they like a memory stick and classed as a removable Disk? They're pretty much like a normal hard drive in a USB enclosure basically, they will act like a flash stick and are basically a removable disk yes. Mine, as you can see by clicking here shows as a normal hard drive. 2: After you add data from you're pc to it can you also add data from you're laptop? or is it only for one and one only. You can plug it into any system with a USB/Firewire port (depends on HD model) 3: Are they easy to use? i dont want to be taking ages to add files to them the easier and quicker the better. Plug in, let windows search through the files and then you can do what you want. Access files, move files, copy files. Whatever. __________________

September 5th, 2006, 04:59 PM	#4
Shadowness Joined: Jun 20th, 2005 Last Online: January 6th, 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Age: 21 Posts: 1,057 Car: RenaultSport Clio 182FF Rep Power: 22	They are very easy to use. They are basically a big memory stick, which is detected as a hard drive in my computer. They require a power source too, so they are not powered via USB. Just get a reputable make and you should be fine. You can plug it into any computer and it will work, no software required. They are pretty fast, so you shouldnt have to wait ages, unless you transferring hundreds of gigs! __________________ Photo gallery----> http://www.danfreemanphotography.com/

September 5th, 2006, 05:00 PM	#5
mgkdk .dk beauty Joined: Mar 19th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Denmark Age: 28 Posts: 4,255 Car: Volvo V40 LFS Status: Rep Power: 51	I had one I used when I only had a laptop for music/movies/stuff. It worked just like a normal HD, showed up next to C: but I still had to remove it like a memory stick (that safe removal stuff). I used it as a huge usb memory stick and shared stuff with others, worked without a hitch on all their computers. Mine was pretty easy to use, but it still took a bit longer to move files, compared to just moving them around within the computer. If you get one be sure it is atleast usb 2.0, because some of my friends only had usb 1.0 and it took ages to transfer. Just ask it you need more info __________________ "Danish is cool" - Jeremy Clarkson

September 5th, 2006, 06:39 PM	#7
vRS Joined: Nov 22nd, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Stirling, Scotland Age: 17 Posts: 1,567 Rep Power: 25	Thanks guys, i've been looking at this one, it's cheap and has plenty of room, is it any good though? http://www.usbtech.co.uk/catalog/pro...roducts_id/427

September 5th, 2006, 07:45 PM	#8
//Dave Joined: Jul 23rd, 2006 Last Online: November 11th, 2008 Location: Penrith, England Posts: 157 Rep Power: 0	Go for it. I'm getting the 500G version of that in the morning. Got a 250G WD now and it hasn't let me down at all. __________________

September 6th, 2006, 02:18 PM	#9
Peter3hg Joined: May 3rd, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Breast Hill Castle, Angleland Age: 19 Posts: 3,832 Car: 2006 Yamaha Fazer LFS Status: Rep Power: 31	Similar question from me. WHich should I go for. 250gb £74.01 or 320gb £81.06 I will be using it mostly for recording TV onto. __________________

September 6th, 2006, 06:04 PM	#10
sandor_ Joined: Mar 16th, 2005 Last Online: December 28th, 2007 Location: Philadelphia, USA Age: 28 Posts: 1,043 Car: 911, 328i, Golf, '71 Vespa Sprint Rep Power: 0	i just picked up a pair of the WD MyBook's (500 GB version) for $179 a piece. they are working splendidly. its a single 500 GB drive vs. a pair of 250's striped. I use mine as storage for my FreeVo (all HD) and it working great.

September 6th, 2006, 07:59 PM	#11
//Dave Joined: Jul 23rd, 2006 Last Online: November 11th, 2008 Location: Penrith, England Posts: 157 Rep Power: 0	My 500G version of that drive arrived today. Formatted to NTFS and currently copying the stuff from my 250G drive to it Working smoothly as. __________________

September 8th, 2006, 04:18 AM	#14
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 21,086 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 237	You can also just buy an enclosure like I did and stick a hard drive it in (I ran outta SATA ports). __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

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