Never bought hard drive, what to do?

[Chrispyphillips]

I'm in desparate need of a hard drive upgrade, and have been looking at external drives. Seem easy enough, buy, plug into computer, and transfer.

I notice a lot of you are recommending internal SATA drives (which by the way doesnt mean much to me really) and a lot of people are quoting the "Samsung spinpoint" as being very good.

Now, I have no problem buying this type of device, I just wouldnt have a clue what to do with it! I understand you need to buy an 'enclosure' so it can be stored externally, but how does it work. Are there certain ones that work with certain drives, do you just slide them in? Do they use USB to connect to the computer, or do you have to install them internally to the computer?

If anyone can explain (and remember that I'm a real n00b) I would appreciate it. I'm desparate to get one as I want loads more albums, but have no space to store them!

 

[Dave_nt]

The internal SATA drives are ones like this
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=691234 designed to be installed in your computer.
You can however use one of these
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=307998 You would need to install the hard disk into it (an easy job) and then connect it to the computer via USB.
OR... just buy something like this
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=701597 and save yourself the effort!

 

[MrCheese]

you can't really go wrong with one of these

http://www.ebuyer.com/cat/Hard-Drives/subcat/External-Desktop-Drives

i got the Western Digital 640Gb - plugged it in followed the prompts and everything works fine.

One word of warning - don't knock, hit or drop an external drive when it is powered up - at work we have drives fail all the time even with quite minor bumps. Powered off they can take quite big knocks.

 

[planetse]

Just one question.

Is this for a PC or Laptop? Makes a difference, size also whether you need a powered external or self powered unit. (Portable) Also make sure it is SATA interface you’re after and not PATA..

 

[jetinder]

I notice a lot of you are recommending internal SATA drives (which by the way doesnt mean much to me really)

Basically you have 2 types drives IDE (PATA) and SATA.

IDE (PATA) is used in older PCs (from 1988-ish - 2004-ish)

More info see
:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Drive_Electronics

SATA is used from newer PCs (2004-ish to present day).
More info see
:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

If you're using it as an external drive then it doesnt really matter what you get as both are just as good.

I understand you need to buy an 'enclosure' so it can be stored externally, but how does it work.

All it is, is a rectangle metal box which a hard drive is stored in.
see
:-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-ESATA-3-5-SATA-External-Hard-Drive-Caddy-Enclosure_W0QQitemZ310089028715QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item310089028715&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190255368722&ih=009&category=86758&_trksid=p3286.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DK%252BD%252BC%26otn%3D3%26ps%3D5

but you also need to buy a hard drive and you need to know how to wire it up to the encloser.

I prefer this as i can use my old IDE (PATA) drives and if i have to i can buy new IDE (PATA) drive and use that as well.

With either SATA or IDE (PATA) if you can install a Hard drive inside your PC you can install this in to your encloser as the connections are the same.

You can get ready made external drives (as the others have said), even Asda do them see
:-
http://direct.asda.com/500GB-Desktop-Hard-Disk/000574215,default,pd.html

Are there certain ones that work with certain drives

For external drives it doesnt matter if you have IDE (PATA) or SATA, the PC will recognise either.

Do they use USB to connect to the computer

You can get external drives which have an ESATA plug (External SATA) plug but these are rare and your PC has to have an ESATA socket.

But 99% of external drives use USB.

Simple case of plug it in to your USB socket, switch it on and the PC will recognise it as an external drive.

From there you can use it as you use a normal internal drive.

or do you have to install them internally to the computer?

No not for external drives as they are outside the computer and are portable so you can use the same drive on any PC, any where.

 

[Chrispyphillips]

Wow, thanks for the replies guys! It seems the internal with an enclosure is a bit beyond me. Guess I'll stick with the external eh?!

Just one question.

Is this for a PC or Laptop? Makes a difference, size also whether you need a powered external or self powered unit. (Portable) Also make sure it is SATA interface you’re after and not PATA..

Its for a PC mate, about 4/5 years old, I cant remember now the exact year I bought it.

One word of warning - don't knock, hit or drop an external drive when it is powered up - at work we have drives fail all the time even with quite minor bumps. Powered off they can take quite big knocks.

Cracking advice, duly noted mate, thanks!

(...very long but informative post)

Wow, lots of info there pal, thanks, I'll read and digest so I dont ask n00bish questions anymore! I'm gonna look out for a cheap as chips external 1Tb HDD then. Any to avoid? I know the main ones are Maxtor, Western Digital, Iomega, but are there better/worse ones?