![\"wdexthd.png\"](\"http:\/\/www.trustyetc.com\/trustyblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/wdexthd.png\" "\\"wdexthd.png\\"")
Every\u00a0two years I get a new computer.\u00a0 I’ve done this for the past twenty years.\u00a0 On top of that I always have a laptop or two that I use along side my desktop.\u00a0 Several years ago I started using external hard drives for most of my storage.\u00a0 There are several benefits to doing this.<\/p>\n
1 – I can move the hard drives to a new computer simply by unplugging from the old and plugging into the new.<\/p>\n
2 – External drives make perfect backup drives that can be easily moved off-site.\u00a0 During my recent vacation, I took three external hard drives with me just in case my house blew up while I was gone.<\/p>\n
3 – Most of your files will be data not programs.\u00a0 I have 25 gigabytes of programs installed on my computer and several hundred gigabytes of data.\u00a0 My data files are the most valuable.\u00a0 I created them.\u00a0 I want them backed up and I need to move them to any computer I use.\u00a0 External drives are perfect for data.<\/p>\n
4 – External drives are inexpensive.\u00a0 At my last pilgrimage to BestBuy<\/a>, they had a 160 GB USB drive for $75.<\/p>\n When using external drives, it is important to\u00a0keep things consistent.\u00a0 For instance, my music is always on the M: drive.\u00a0 I have an external drive with my music.\u00a0 Using this technique –\u00a0http:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/kb\/307844<\/a>\u00a0– I change the external music drive letter to M: on every computer that uses that external drive.\u00a0 By doing this, I can unhook the drive from one computer, go to another and the same drive letter is used.\u00a0 Music is always on the M: drive just like pictures are always on the P: drive.<\/p>\n Before you rush out and buy an external drive, check your computer to see what technologies are available.\u00a0 External drives come in three basic flavors: USB, Firewire and Ethernet.\u00a0 You will pay the most for an external drive with an Ethernet connection.\u00a0 On top of that, unless you have a network switch, you won’t be able to attach the external drive to your network.\u00a0 You will most likely use a USB connection to attach an external drive.\u00a0 Make sure your USB port on your computer is USB 2.0.\u00a0 Older USB connections (1.x) will be too slow to be useful.\u00a0 Check your computer’s documentation to find out what you have.\u00a0 If your computer is two years old or newer, you probably have USB 2.0 connectors.\u00a0 If you have a Macintosh, you will have\u00a0Firewire and USB connectors.\u00a0 This means you can use either to connect an external drive.<\/p>\n You can also pay a little more and get an external\u00a0drive with multiple interfaces.\u00a0 There are some circumstances where you might need a drive like this.\u00a0 Depending on your budget, you may find the extra options handy.<\/p>\n TSPY=2.42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Every\u00a0two years I get a new computer.\u00a0 I’ve done this for the past twenty years.\u00a0 On top of that I always have a laptop or two that I use along side my desktop.\u00a0 Several years ago I started using external … Continue reading