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General discussion

Newbie Question - Do I really need an external hard drive?

May 11, 2005 2:06PM PDT

I tried to research this question on this website & on Google - just confused about what to do.

I have a Sony Vaio Desktop with a 160 GB internal HD - I am an average user but in the process of moving my music collection on to my computer. I have plenty of space so it should fit fine - but do I need backup?

My computer savvy friend is discouraging me from buying one - saying that it doesn't save in 'real time'. He says that I should back up any important documents on to a DVD (I have a built in DVD burner).

So I am just confused about what an external HD does (I assume it just stores my info when I want it to).

Will it work with my laptop & desktop?
Do I need a separate HD for both of my computers?
Do I even need the external HD?
Is there anywhere I can read up on this subject?
Is the Seagate 300 GB a good one?

Thanks in advance to any help on this subject...

Discussion is locked

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What makes you happy
May 12, 2005 7:20AM PDT

You do need to back-up sometime its an important safe guard. What you back-up to is another matter. If you have a DVD burner already, you should have the required s/w to complish this as well or upgrade to it or find what options are open under that s/w. The ext. HD is simply another storage method that you can back-up to and is promoted in that aspect. You may find using the ext. HD alittle simpler to back-up to or not, but can be "unplugged" and stored. Pick the one you want or have both, it won't hurt. Of course, cost for the ext. HD seems steep to me but worth it to many an user. The ext. HD is seen as another storage drive, period.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Internal/external HDD
May 12, 2005 11:03PM PDT

It's a personal decision to buy either an internal or external HDD. When I needed some repairs years ago I had to back up all my shared documents, etc to 3 or 4 CD's before giving it to CompUSA to repair. They advised that no foramt was necessary. But, when I got the computer back quess what?. All my documents were missing. So,I'm glad I did a backup.

I now have an extra internal Seagate 200 Gig HDD to compliment my 200 Gig HDD on my new Sony Vaio RB30. I'm planning on dubbing 55 home videos that I've accumulated over the years to DVD.I had to buy an external adapter because the Sony HDD isn't attached to the IDE port in the usual manner(I'm also discussing this with Sony). But that's another story.

All my computers have an extra HDD to back up all the work I've saved over the years. I have some home videos,pictures,letters and spradsheets etc on the HDD. Files currently total 2.5 Gig. Yes I could have burned to a DVD. But choose an internal/external drive for peace of mind. So it's your decsion. BTW- the HDD was only $80.00 after $50.00 rebate which went to pay for the external inclosure. It works fine and is faster then setting up a disc to back up your work.

Finely, there's a recent thread on this same subject somewhere in this forum. It came via Email. But couldn't find it.

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Wrong attribution.
May 12, 2005 11:07PM PDT

I just posted a reply about HDD's. It says it was submitted by GETBREAD. I'm krysjay/shadow or greybeard. Now I've got to notify the moderators.