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Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
HELP - Tech help with my computer
I just had a horrible computer scare. It seemed my computer had crashed, and I have nothing backed up. Like everyone else, I've got my whole life on there, and I was getting ready to end it all, but after turning it back on it worked. You can bet the very first thing I did was look up external hard drives.
But I don't know the first thing about tech stuff. Here's what I would like – an external hard drive that is plug and play, doesn't require software, automatically backs up everything, and costs under $100, and can be used by a tech-challenged person. I really don't need any huge capacity, all I use it for is internet, word processing, and email. Nothing else. I don't know how much space – or whatever it's called – I'm currently using. All I can find is that my computer has 2.67 GHz / 504 MB RAM / 66GHz CPU. Whatever that means.
I saw a Western Digital at Staples for $80 that looks okay, but truthfully I have no idea. It is - Model: WDBAAF5000EBK-N. Does anyone know this one, or can anyone recommend one that fits my description above. I don't even know what to do when I get one, but I'll figure it out. Appreciate any help.
It cost $25 delivered from Newegg. I set up one of my old IDE drives in one of the rubber boots and a newer SATA drive in the small boot. The device runs on a separate power supply and since either drive connects to the computer through a USB port there are no compatibility issues. It's been a great, simple and cheap solution for extra storage. This isn't a sealed enclosure so there are no problems with either drive overheating and burning up--a common problem with hard case-type enclosures that do not have a fan. This device--or something similar--and a hard drive are all you need for a backup system like this. An easier way to go would be to buy a USB flash drive for about $10, but they are much slower and have less capacity than many hard drives. Hope this helps...
RE: HELP - Tech help with my computer (in reply to Pgh_flamenco)
why buy an adapter like that, when you can get any external USB Hard Drive for under 100$? It will be slower than SATA but if you use it only for backups i see no problem. I cant recommend any but you just have to look for external USB Hard Drives and thats it.
RE: HELP - Tech help with my computer (in reply to Ramon Amira)
If you have so little data (doesn't look like you have pictures), why not just do regular dumps to a CD. Organize your files so that all your actual data is organized in the same folder, I call mine Data, then you can copy everything to the CD with one drag and drop. The next level is to get a software that will compress and do incremental backups, this will save space on the target destination. But if you have so little you can just copy the directory over.
Posts: 377
Joined: Nov. 22 2005
From: Quepos / Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
RE: HELP - Tech help with my computer (in reply to Ramon Amira)
I keep my laptop empty. I have a 400 gig hard drive that I have hooked up to it that has everything - music, pics, files...
I also have another 500 gig hard drive that backs up my 400 gig. I have so much music and so many pics that its well worth the extra $100 for another hard drive as a back up. If I travel I always leave one behind and if my computer crashes its no big deal.
RE: HELP - Tech help with my computer (in reply to XXX)
quote:
why buy an adapter like that, when you can get any external USB Hard Drive for under 100$?
If you already have an HD sitting around--or half a dozen like I have--this device comes in handy. If you upgrade the HD on your computer you can use your old HD for back up and switching between any number of HD's--whether IDE or SATA--only takes a minute. If your computer crashes, but the HD is OK you can run it in any computer that has a USB port. You won't be able to run the OS through a USB port, but all of the files will be available. This saves you the trouble of opening the cases of two computers just to run your old HD. All this for $25 seemed like a great deal to me...
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