Second Hard Drive

Ednpeach,

Presumably your BIOS doesn't support booting from an external usb-drive. But you should check that in the documentation, or in the BIOS itself.

But an external hard disk (even with usb2) is slower than an internal hard disk, so I don't suppose it's a good idea to do it, even if it's possible. Just use it for backup (a copy of data you don't want to lose) and transport. Or for data for a project you want to work on at different locations. Not for the OS or swap space.

Note that having data at only one place (be it a fixed hard disk, a removable hard disk, a diskette or a cd) is a sure recipe for losing it. Maybe tomorrow, maybe in 10 years, but losing it is certain.
Two years ago I gave a copy of my Windows 3.11 diskettes to my sister. When she needed them yesterday for install on another computer, she couldn't find them. That's just one example of what can go wrong. Well, I'm her backup for this.

Hope this helps,


Kees

ONLY, if the USB port is supported as a bootable device in the BIOS. Even then USB has its own issues and I wouldn't trust it over the long haul. Considering the cost for ext. HDs and such plus the hassle to get to work if possible, it may not be practical but that's up to you. You can check the ext. HD support website for FAQ on the topic as well before any purchase, see what they have and if they don't, well that's another problem, IMHO. A 2nd int. HD maybe more practical cost alot less. Just be sure your power supply is huge and adequate case cooling is present for than added 2nd HD.

good luck -----Willy

1. You can get much more storage space for the same cost with an internal drive.

2. The new drive will run at least at the same speed as the old internal drive; that can't always be guaranteed with a USB drive - even if it can be made bootable.

3. Installing and setting up a new internal hard drive is easy. If your PC supports the cable select system, you can just jumper the new drive to that setting (instructions come with the hard drive kit) and the PC will recognize the drive immediately.

4. With WinXP, you can partition (if you want to) and format the new drive from within the OS; no more FDISK or DOS-based routines.

Just use the new drive for backups of that stuff that you really don't want to lose (downloads, browser bookmarks, data/music/video files). Get a good backup program - defined as one that does what you want and that's easy for you to use - and proceed!

Having a external hard drive with more capacity is a great Idea .. I just purchsed a 160 gig external .. I save all my music , video and pix to it .. It has freed up my computer main hard drive to work like it is designed to do ! ... It is also a great for backing up your programs and software to also , just in case your main ever crashes ... but I do not think you can use it as main operating system ...