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External Drives - Worth Getting One With A lot Of Storage Space?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I need to format my PC or something because I'm having some problems with it (it works fine, but I have to start up explorer.exe when I log on) and would like to back up my files.

I mentioned something about this to a friend of who told me to get a 500GB drive, but the built in one I have is only 160GB and I've only used around 30GB. However, I'm likely to download lots of stuff and have more coursework to put on it. Is it really worth buying a 500GB/similar size?

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'd be tempted to suggest one of the portable passport drives from western digital. Should just plug in and it powers directly from the usb 2.0 cable (though you may need to check your computer has usb 2.0).

    They're pretty popular at work and not too expensive

    Amazon has -

    160gb for 44
    250gb for 55
    and 320gb for 70

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/275-4468630-2657855?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=portable+hard+drive&x=0&y=0

    Other people make similar drives but the only ones I've any experience of are the westerns.
  • JsTJsT Posts: 18,268 Skive's The Limit
    eBuyer are good for them. Mine just backs all my major stuff up every day or two and it has a ton of stuff stored just on there.

    Simply a must for college/uni if you do a lot of work on the computer - just as a backup.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Passports are good, have you considered a Network drive?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I have a passport, it's handy but the transfer speeds are a lot lower than a full-sized, separately powered drive.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Melian wrote: »
    I need to format my PC or something because I'm having some problems with it (it works fine, but I have to start up explorer.exe when I log on) and would like to back up my files.

    I mentioned something about this to a friend of who told me to get a 500GB drive, but the built in one I have is only 160GB and I've only used around 30GB. However, I'm likely to download lots of stuff and have more coursework to put on it. Is it really worth buying a 500GB/similar size?

    Depends on the kind of coursework. If it's just plain good old documents, you won't need that much, but if there's media like sound and video etc., it never hurts with space. Besides, personal hard drives are cheap today :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Just get the cheapest really if you only want it to back up whilst you reformat. I would even ask your friend if he could let you store your stuff on his disk. Bear in mind all your applications will need to be reinstalled anyway, so you may find the stuff you really need to hang onto (photos, documents) can even fit onto a few CDs.

    You can never have too much space on your hard disk though, but if you are not using it then why waste money on something you wont need? The sizes will double in a year probably and the prices will half, so unless you need 500gb now there is no point in future proofing.

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/123442

    4gb - £5.99

    http://scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=501678&Product=6GB+Western+Digital+WD60W028+Passport%2c+1+x+USB+2.0%2f1.1%2c+3600+rpm%2c+2MB+Cache%2c+11+ms%2c+Bus+Powered

    6gb for £20

    http://scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=790364&Product=80GB+Maxtor+Basics+2.5%22+USB+2.0+5400rpm+8MB+Portable+Hard+Drive+Bus+Powered+STM900801EHD3-RK

    80gb for £30
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I have a 500gb one but i only have that because i have alot of films/music etc that i put on there.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Jim V wrote: »
    I'd be tempted to suggest one of the portable passport drives from western digital. Should just plug in and it powers directly from the usb 2.0 cable (though you may need to check your computer has usb 2.0).

    I have the same sort of thing but made by Seagate - works well for me and you can install a free copy of MojoPac on it for a desktop as you like it wherever you go.


    http://www.mojopac.com/
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I have a western digital my book 280 GB one. Very valuable.
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