My laptop has a full hard drive and is overflowing with media files -- TV, movies, and music from iTunes. Has anyone else out there had this type of problem and found a good solution?
I want to add storage capacity (at least 100 GB) and want to store and transfer these files as easily I do from a flash drive.
Do most USB 2.0 external hard drives just show up as an extra drive the way a flash drive / jump drive does? Or do you have to use the included "backup" software to manage files? Online descriptions and product reviews have left me confused.
I use a wireless / ethernet router at home but is a network attached storage drive the best/only option? I've setup a network to share a printer and files but that is about the limit of my abilities so options involving a great deal of technical expertise aren't what I'm looking for.
Laptop is using Windows XP home edition if that matters.
2007-12-02 11:00:53 · 5 answers · asked by ruggedmind76 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
Your question mentioned just your laptop.. so if that's the only device you want to access the files, an external USB Hard drive is your BEST/Easiest/Cheapest option.
The Drive will show up as just another drive letter.. So you don't need to use the included backup software. Personally I wouldn't
USUALLY it shows up as D:\ drive, which pushes your CD/DVD drive to E:\ So don't be confused by that.
If you have need for additional computers to access the files, just disconnect the HD and manually plug it into the other computer.
If you ARE going to share it with more then 1 PC, just make sure you don't go into the Properties | Security Tab and lock down the permissions or the OTHER computer might not be able to access the files.
Network attached storage is your 2nd More Expensive/Complicated alternative but I would not get into configuring it unless you REALLY want multiple computers to be able to all Read and Write to the external HD simultaneously.
My recommendation...
go to newegg.com and buy the largest 5.25 inch (desktop) HD you can afford. Then search for External 5.25 inch external enclosures -- probably find one for about $13-20
Then search on external enclosures
2007-12-02 11:22:22 · answer #1 · answered by John S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would explore this option. The first thing, is to find out what upgrade options are available for your laptop internal hard drive.
You may be at the max size that your laptop will use, but that is a physical function thing and not related to Xp. My laptop uses a 9.5mm thick drive, and they do not make one larger than 160GB that will fit into my machine physically. But your machine may be able to take up to a 500GB drive. It just depends on the maximum size that your laptop will hold. A 12.5mm drive will go much higher in GB's than my 9.5mm drive.
If you go to the web site http://www.powerleap.com and use the upgrade configurator you will find on the front page, you will be able to see what exact hard drive you currently have, and may even be shown upgrade options for larger hard drives. Note the specs on the drive(s) and you can check out eBay or other sources for best price and max size options.
The critical thing is that the new drive much match the max physical size that your laptop will hold. width thickness and also connection type - SATA or IDE or SCSI
If you find a drive that will work, you can then buy a USB external drive case that will hold either the old or new drive. Place the new drive into the external case without closing all the covers. Boot your machine and use the disk utility that should have come with the new drive to format and setup the new drive. If you want to install the new drive inside you laptop, then select the option to make the new drive bootable, and to copy all files over on to the new drive. When setup is finished, it will tell you to move the drive to the master location. Remove the new drive from the external case, and install in the laptop, in place of the original drive. If you are not sure of this, then have a tech at a local repair center move the drive. Then install your old drive into the external case and close all the lids. You will now have a much larger main drive, as well as a reasonably large external drive to transfer files.
2007-12-02 11:19:05 · answer #2 · answered by Mcgoo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a good way to do it for a laptop is to get a bus powered usb enclosure for a 2.5" laptop harddrive in the gb of ur choice ...
2007-12-02 11:05:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
external drive, and move lots into it.
2007-12-02 11:15:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's a tricky question.
2016-08-26 09:23:08 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋