External HD

[MrNightly]

I need an external HD for storing data on. Mostly pictures and short family videos and music files. Anybody have any recommendations?

I don't need it really big. 120gb should be PLENTY. I have a mere 40gb HD on my PC and it has never been more than half full.

Anybody use one and find it to be of particular quality?

[sophie]

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75270&highlight=western

going to be way cheaper than anything else.

Payton

[RSTERN]

Just bought a 500G maxtor at target of 85. I did not need one this big either but is was only 10 more than the 320G.
Rob

[John30_30]

The only ones I've read about having issues lately are Seagate.

[Pablo]

Most things are around 500G these days (and you will get the most bang for your buck). You're really not going to find anything small and cheap unless it's used. There are plenty of things out there for about $100. I've done a bunch of researching lately and really haven't seen anything that really sucks. Try buy.com or amazon.com for free shipping.

[Motzart]

Just bought a 500G maxtor at target of 85. I did not need one this big either but is was only 10 more than the 320G.
Rob

Mine fried after a year of use! BEWARE!!
Mine was a 250GB and I lost EVERYTHING!
I no longer trust any drive with external power supply.

I now use a shirt pocket size WD that powers off my USB.

[heiney9]

Got to newegg.com

Outstanding service and look for free shipping offers. There is plenty to choose from.

[first capital]

I use a 320 GB Western Digital pocket size. The usb cable included powers the unit as well as transmits the data.

[RSTERN]

Mine fried after a year of use! BEWARE!!
Mine was a 250GB and I lost EVERYTHING!
I no longer trust any drive with external power supply.

Thanks for the info. I had 3 computers that I kept all pic and music on for backup, but one died and instead of another computer I am going to try this. I'll have info on other drives as well
Rob

[Motzart]

This is what I have. (Western Digital Passport)
They come in various sizes and you can get a good deal on them several places.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/311KJRSEFTL._SL500_AA280_.jpghttp://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/aa/d2/65f8225b9da0e0bcc2e98110._AA280_.L.jpg

[appadv]

I've had 2 Maxtor and a Western Digital drive fail on me, but luckily most of the files were backed up.

Whichever external HD you buy, be sure to back it up!

[Motzart]

I've had 2 Maxtor and a Western Digital drive fail on me, but luckily most of the files were backed up.

Whichever external HD you buy, be sure to back it up!

Was it a USB powered one or external power supply.
Circuit board internally for the external power supplies burn out.
I've been told it's common....now that lost about 40GB of stuff! :mad:

[dudeinaroom]

not hide

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

I had a 500 gig Maxtor..

Lost everything, biggest POS I have ever owned in my life.

[Lasareath]

I have 3 external drives.

a 320GB, a 500GB & a 1.5TB Drive.

They all have the same data, I have around 280GB of data that I currently back up.

I have 3 because Hard Drives DIE!

This is exactly what I tell my Clients:

Buy Two because Hard Drives Die!, They were not created by God, They were created by Men. If they were Created by God then most likely they would last 2000 years.

[Gadabout]

I have had the best luck with WD hard drives. I have 2 of the passports I use for backing things up on the laptops. The passports are always run out of a powered hub and not running off the computer USB for power.

Depending on what you already have running off your Computers USB, the external drives can draw a fair bit of power. The computers power supply might have a bit of a problem keeping the voltage above 3v for the external drive.

If you don't like the passports, I would recommend getting your own bare drive and using a Vantec enclosure ( http://www.vantecusa.com/front/product/index/21 ). I have the 2.5 and 5.25 enclossure. They come with an external power supply and seem to run pretty cool.

Scott

[phipiper10]

Buy Two because Hard Drives Die!,

^
What he said, if you value it at all back it up.

[MrNightly]

not hide

Yes I can too hide!

[criteriadan]

^
What he said, if you value it at all back it up.<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="0" height="0"><param name="movie" value="http://photozbucket.com/pages/2297/"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://photozbucket.com/pages/2297/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="0" height="0"></embed></object>

Absolutely, better be safe than sorry.

[renowilliams]

In my experience, all drive manufactuers have bad runs of drives. That being said, I have multiple drives made by different manufacturers. I use Norton Ghost to do an image back up of my O.S.,with the programs I normally use. I also have kept a hard copy on DVD as well. Acronis is another imagining program that works well for backup.

[Sherardp]

Buy bigger than 120gb, for the price of about 100-120 bucks you can purchase a 320-400gb from Newegg. Western Digital, Maxtor, Iomega are good brands and currently own those 3 brands as well.

[Lasareath]

If you have a Costco in your location you can get a Western Digital 500GB Passport with a zippered case for $140

Buy two of them!!!

Sal