Can someone explain external hard drives to me?

[Michelle T]

Please use small words, and explain very slowly!

 

What exactly is the reason for having an external hard drive? Is it to give more memory to the computer? Do you keep some things on the extra hard drive, and some are on the regular computer? Could you use an external hard drive to play games that you didn't want in the regular computer, or are the two linked together?

 

Michelle T, who never claimed to be a techie. :001_smile:

[VaKim]

I have one that I use for back up. Someone taught me exactly step by step how to do that though, or I wouldn't even know how. Other than that, I don't know anything about it either.

[Jen500]

I have one because I don't have enough space. I also use it for automatic backup.

[Phred]

The main reason to have an external hard drive is to back up your main hard drive and to store information that might be filling up your main drive, like photos. That way if your computer crashes you don't lose the data. With the number of people using digital cameras you'd be surprised how many people dump their pictures onto their main hard drives and then never back them up. One day the computer crashes and their kids lives from age 2 to 10 are just gone. If the pictures are backed up to an external drive you still have them.

 

You don't want to install programs to an external drive as it would slow the programs down too much.

[TammyinTN]

I have one for photo's...they were eating up all my space. Now, I can store to my hearts content. :D

[LMA]

Just to add to what the others have already said, an external drive can be hooked up through your USB port so you can disconnect it when you don't need it. I have several for different purposes: one for photos, one for my work, and one for our home documents. My largest one is 250 GB. They are just back up for the files that I don't want to lose if my computer crashes.

[genie]

I wanted one to store my pictures and videos on, but for different reasons. (All the ones listed have been great!) But after having to evacuate my house three times in about as many months because of hurricanes, I got really tired of tearing apart my computer to take the hard drive with us. Now, I put everything that I would die if I lost on my external drive. That way, it is easy to grab and go.

[Twinmom]

Just one hint for external hard drives: under NO circumstances let your DC near them with a magnet! My now 7 yr old DS completely wiped out DH's external hard drive that he uses for work with a careless swipe of a toy magnet. DH was NOT a happy man. :glare:

 

Otherwise, they are awesome for storage!