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General discussion

I would like to buy External Hard Drive

Feb 23, 2007 8:55PM PST

I got desktop P4 Win XP. with an 80GB HDD. I would like to buy external Hard Drive. What do I need to know before buying? I want even 120GB only. Please advise

Discussion is locked

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Tell us what problem you're trying to solve...
Feb 23, 2007 11:02PM PST

Might be the case an external HDD is not the best solution

Do you really need portability ?

Read any of the other posts on the FORUM about external HDDs ?

VAPCMD

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Thank you
Feb 24, 2007 8:01PM PST

I will. thank you so much.

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2 internal HDD
Feb 24, 2007 8:26PM PST

Hi, I've seen an issue regarding 2 internal HDD, 1 would be for OS & Programs and the 2nd would be for the data. In ur opinion is it gud? I thot of having external before coz Im travelling on May and wanted to take some files & programs from my Desktop with me and vise versa.

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Re: two internal HD
Feb 24, 2007 8:43PM PST

Vanngile,

It's common to install the Windows and Program Files folders on the c:, and it's common also to install all programs in that one Program Files folder. But both are only a convention, and not a necessity. And there's no single rule for the location of data, nor any need for such. Having your data on a separate internal disk comes in handy if you make a habit for formatting and reinstalling Windows XP. But hardly anybody does so.

An external hard disk is a good way of taking data with you. But I should give a serious warning, and that it is absolutely a very bad idea to have your data on a such an external hard disk ONLY. The chance of losing it is just much too big, especially if you happen to format it FAT32. I would use a removable hard disk only for transport and backup, not as a replacement for an internal hard disk when travelling.

You can use an external hard disk to transport the setup-programs of your applications, but even if you install them to a removable, it's far from sure you can run it on another machine without reinstalling. And you might run into license and activation problems with some of them if you install them on another PC.

Hope this helps.


Kees

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Keep in most programs won't work if installed
Feb 26, 2007 4:57AM PST

on an external HDD.

Re two internals I like that idea and here's my drive/backup strategy:

I (always) use two drives and set them up like this

Internal HDD 1.

Partition 1 (40GBs) OS and APPs
Partition 2 (80GBs) All DATA ....PICs downloads, drivers, etc.
All applications are set to default directories on HDD 1 Partition 2

Internal HDD 2
Partition 1 (5GBs) Pagefile for Windows
Partition 2 (195GBs) Backups and Ghost Images of Drive 1 Partition 1 and Partition 2. I usually keep at least 2 versions of my drive C and Drive D: image files... the last one and the one before it.

In addition...the image files on HDD 2, part 2 are ...I also put copies on an external HDD.

So ... I have the original data on internal HDD 1 partition 2, an image of the entire partition 2 and a copy of that same image on an external HDD.

Backups and restores (if necessary) are prettty quick and easy. And because the OS-APPs are on one partition and the data on the same drive nbut different partition...I can do restores to C: (drive 1 part 1) any time without affecting data/information on data partition.

That's my approach and it's served me plus others well over the years. I sleep well.

VAPCMD

PS...A good UPS is another way to protect your system, minimize data loss and prevent corruption.