TECH HEADZ: Question

[ThaAnsa3]

I have a question about external hard drives. Are they reliable? I have heard stories of them crashing and burning a lot. Is this true? I was interested in getting a 500GB external drive to backup all of my files on the computer that I am using. Can anyone shed some light for me?

For your troubles:

Italia Blue - Assume the Position
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3HT3FQJ6

 

[dwnsouth]

I have a question about external hard drives. Are they reliable? I have heard stories of them crashing and burning a lot. Is this true? I was interested in getting a 500GB external drive to backup all of my files on the computer that I am using. Can anyone shed some light for me?

For your troubles:

Italia Blue - Assume the Position
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3HT3FQJ6

its very debatable. i have an external Western digital because i have been lucky enough to not have an issue with any of their drives. i also dont keep it plugged in and dont boot it each and every time i am on the pc. I believe that the ones that fail are usually cheaper and abused by their owners. however, i do plan on buying another one to back up the one that i have...it will be my fail safe drive...only to see daylight when backing up the one that sits on my desk.

 

[knightmelodic]

^^^^^^c/s
reputable manufacturers have less problems. do yaself a favor and get an internal blu ray burner (around $400) then you have hard copies of ya shit and the cost will even out quickly.

 

[Word]

they also sell raid based external drives. western digital sells a 1tb one and so does buffalo. Buffalo's version has 4 drives in it they can be morrired or raid 5. So a drive dying is less of an issue.

 

[dwnsouth]

they also sell raid based external drives. western digital sells a 1tb one and so does buffalo. Buffalo's version has 4 drives in it they can be morrired or raid 5. So a drive dying is less of an issue.

thought about this...but the ability to take the drive with me (parties, etc) would not work. taking one drive out and putting it in a case for mobility is not something i want to do..... not discounting the idea....but you gain reliability and loose mobility.

 

[Mo-Better]

I suggest you purchase your own hard drive. That way you know what manufacturer's drive your getting. Then purchase and external USB enclosure. This way you get the size drive you want and there's no guessing what type of drive your getting. A good enclosure will run about $30. Check the net. I got mine from Fry's.

 

[Anikulapo]

Western Digital external drives are pretty good. I assume you'll be going with the "MyBook" drive? It will definitely have a WD drive in it and WD make pretty reliable drives. Like the other poster said, as long as u treat it right (defrag often, don't toss it around, unplug or move it while transferring files and make sure to fire it up at least once every two weeks or so) you should be good.

 

[Big J from da shelta]

I suggest you purchase your own hard drive. That way you know what manufacturer's drive your getting. Then purchase and external USB enclosure. This way you get the size drive you want and there's no guessing what type of drive your getting. A good enclosure will run about $30. Check the net. I got mine from Fry's.

Word up. I got an enclosure and now any internal HD becomes a low cost (if not more releiable than one of those high cost external hd's) external hd. That is the best way to go.

 

[ThaAnsa3]

Western Digital external drives are pretty good. I assume you'll be going with the "MyBook" drive? It will definitely have a WD drive in it and WD make pretty reliable drives. Like the other poster said, as long as u treat it right (defrag often, don't toss it around, unplug or move it while transferring files and make sure to fire it up at least once every two weeks or so) you should be good.

Thanks. That's what I figured. WD seems to be leading in the category of external drives right now. Would you suggest that I get it from a retail store (Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.) or would it be okay to get it from EBAY for a much cheaper price?

 

[AristotlesOwn]

Western Digital; 150GB and 250GB (2 laptops); Best Buy. The 150GB one is portable also it's easy to unplug and take with me...it's about the size of a Microsoft Zune, but thinner. They have been pretty reliable so far.

 

[ThaAnsa3]

Western Digital; 150GB and 250GB (2 laptops); Best Buy. The 150GB one is portable also it's easy to unplug and take with me...it's about the size of a Microsoft Zune, but thinner. They have been pretty reliable so far.

Do you know anything about the 500GB Western Digitals?

 

[daBronx]

I suggest you purchase your own hard drive. That way you know what manufacturer's drive your getting. Then purchase and external USB enclosure. This way you get the size drive you want and there's no guessing what type of drive your getting. A good enclosure will run about $30. Check the net. I got mine from Fry's.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Good Intel...I have 2 Adaptec external USB enclosures that perform flawlessly.
Best Buy $35

 

[ThaAnsa3]

I will definitely look into this information. Thanks fam.

 

[ThaAnsa3]

Does anyone know if I would have any problems if I plugged in two 500GB External hard drives in at one time? I had one and just got another one. I would like to have them both plugged in. Will this be an issue? Have any of you done this?

 

[dwnsouth]

Does anyone know if I would have any problems if I plugged in two 500GB External hard drives in at one time? I had one and just got another one. I would like to have them both plugged in. Will this be an issue? Have any of you done this?

never tried it....but i dont see any reason why there should be a problem. as long as you dont exceed the number of allowable drives....(i think is 26) that you can have at one time...due to lettering assignments.

now if they are the same brand...and use the same software.....then you may want to question if the software will know who is who

 

[ThaAnsa3]

never tried it....but i dont see any reason why there should be a problem. as long as you dont exceed the number of allowable drives....(i think is 26) that you can have at one time...due to lettering assignments.

now if they are the same brand...and use the same software.....then you may want to question if the software will know who is who

Yeah, I thought about that. I think I'll wait before hooking up the new drive. Thanks for the input. This board is the reason I needed another one.