Need external, but portable hard drive...

Hi everyone, I am about to buy a Core Duo after all, so now I have my OS's all set up and running smoothly. I need to copy a BUNCH of files (50GB's or so) on an external drive, so that I can start from scratch mad: ) and reinstall all of my apps.

I buy software mainly through digital downloads, and I never pay for their little fee for letting me download it again in cases such as these. Sooo...My source files need to go somewhere...

Flash drives are too small, ripping DVD's will take forever, so I thought that a separate external hard drive would be a good idea. What do you guys think?

Also, which one would you get? I want one that's reliable and of good quality, so that there are no errors. Since I've never done this, I don't even really know all the different brands out there. Is there a single best brand I should know about? I remember Segate, Western Digital, Maxtor, and that's it lol...

Thanks for reading and any input!

 

Just this morning I installed a new Western Digital 250 Gig External USB 2.0 for that very purpose. I got it at Newegg for $102.60 Total. Thats about 40 cents a Gig. Works great.....

 

Hi Crunch,

See this thread:http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=63509

Regards - Charles

 

You can remove the hard drive from your existing computer and make it a second hard drive in your new one. Just get the OS installed first on your new one. The existing drive can then be internal or external as you prefer.

iolo's System Mechanic program (about $50 if I recall) has a feature to move applications. You can have it move D:\Program Files\foobar (on the existing drive) to C:\Program Files\foobar (on the new drive). You have to make the new directory first. I have found it works quite reliably, but a few programs did not move successfully. The main drawback is moving an application can take a very long time.

 

For software, have a look at the free program Syncback. You can arrange the synchronizing of folders (much the same as external drive manufacturer's "One Touch" type of setups, only free ).

All the suggestions are good (I use networking), although if you still like the idea of having the drive "easily transportable ", you can buy an external case and put a drive in it yourself. Speed...look at e-SATA, check if the new motherboard comes with an e-SATA connector and get an external case that has both e-SATA and USB connectors (USB for non-SATA connection).

Drives, I am still buying Seagate, little or no problems for years, but the other major manufacturer's all have excellent products. Latest of mine is the 7200.10 model with

OK by me

Matt