Is there a way that an external hard drive can essentially act as an internal one, holding programs and files?
I'd like my large external hard drive to hold programs like itunes for example. I'd also like my computer to be able to access them, just like the internal drive. How can this be done? I'd like to know also if it is possible to scrap the internal drive and simply use the external one in its place. Tell me all you know!
2007-01-21 12:13:05 · 3 answers · asked by Antonio v 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
As long as the drive has power, and is connected to the system, it is the same as an internal drive to the computer, when installing and downloading files andsoftware, at some point you'll usually be asked where to save to, just click browse, and find the drive letter assigned to the external drive, and it'll be downloaded, or installed there, and the computer will automatically keep track of the file, or whatever- unless you disconnect the drive, then you would still see your shortcut (if it's an app) on your desktop, but windows obviously wont be able to find the file...but the computer will give you an option to tell it where it is, and you just have to attach the drive and maybe point it in the right direction...and you should be ready to go...
2007-01-21 12:33:42 · answer #1 · answered by JERRY P 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure can. In fact, I recommend it. As a rule, you often need to choose which one will be the start-up disk. That will usually be your internal HD. However, its very common to stash music and videos on an outboard disk, which keeps your main one less cluttered. The trick lies in doing good housekeeping and defragmenting reasonably often. Pick ONE for your main Internet use and keep your antivirus programs up to date there. When you dump to the outboard disk, things will be clean. Don't scrap your internal HD. Just keep it tidy. Its also a good idea to do an occasional total dump to another HD, as they DO eventually blow up. Some models
have a one-touch backup process that's painless to use. The day your main one dies and you have everything but the last week's new material on another, you'll do a little dance in the yard. I recommend Seagate or Maxtor, as they have good reputations over many years. Also look for a Firewire drive, if you have a FW port, as USB drives are a lot slower. Also make CD-R safeties of crucial things. CDs can sometimes give up the ghost, but most of mine are still healthy. BTW, I like pie.
2007-01-21 20:30:23 · answer #2 · answered by gamerathon 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just keep it plugged in. Can do bout anything with an external that you can with an internal.
2007-01-21 20:17:06 · answer #3 · answered by lonebear76 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋