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Hard drive size and space

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by labwatch1, 2008/09/04.

  1. 2008/09/04
    labwatch1

    labwatch1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    I just purchased a 500GB external ROCK mobile disk hard drive that is supposed to be a 500GB drive. When I connected and went to the "My Computer" to look at the drive, the drive space is showing 465GB with 465GB space available. Isn't 500GB supposed to be 500GB? or is it just billed that way?
     
    labwatch1,
    #1
  2. 2008/09/04
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    Decimal vs. Binary:
    For simplicity and consistency, hard drive manufacturers define a megabyte as 1,000,000 bytes and a gigabyte as 1,000,000,000 bytes. This is a decimal (base 10) measurement and is the industry standard. However, certain system BIOSs, FDISK and Windows define a megabyte as 1,048,576 bytes and a gigabyte as 1,073,741,824 bytes. Mac systems also use these values. These are binary (base 2) measurements.

    To Determine Decimal Capacity:
    A decimal capacity is determined by dividing the total number of bytes, by the number of bytes per gigabyte (1,000,000,000 using base 10).

    To Determine Binary Capacity:
    A binary capacity is determined by dividing the total number of bytes, by the number of bytes per gigabyte (1,073,741,824 using base 2).

    In other words, what you're seeing is normal.
     
    Steve R Jones,
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  4. 2008/09/04
    labwatch1

    labwatch1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thank you. I thought I got short changed and was not going to use the drive. I have plans only to use this as a storage drive, but would like to know 3 things if you will.

    1) There was no user/owner manual for the drive but on the box is a website to look at for drivers. Do I need a driver?

    2) can I safely transfer entire programs from my laptop drive to this extra drive to speed up the laptop and how do I do this?

    3) How is the safest way to rally clean the hard drive and make my com puter run like it did when it was new? I've heard of a website for this but I'm leery...


    Thanks
     
    Last edited: 2008/09/04
    labwatch1,
    #3
  5. 2008/09/04
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    1) You shouldn't need drivers if you're using XP.

    2) You can't copy or move programs since they make entries to the registry etc...The exteranl is going to be slower then the internal one....

    3) Depends on what you clean off as to how safe it'll be. Removing files generally won't speed up a pc. Removing malware on the other hand can make a lot of difference if you're infested.
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #4
  6. 2008/09/04
    labwatch1

    labwatch1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hardware drive size and space

    Thanks again.

    How do I remove malware?

    I had to turn the new external drive off. now when I turn it back on, I can hear it buzz like a computer trying to boot up, and a red light appears. Instead of turning green, the light turns orange and the drive does nothing.
    Damaged somehow?
     
    labwatch1,
    #5
  7. 2008/09/04
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Be careful when "disconnecting" the external drive, use Safely Remove Hardware (see Help and Support) or maybe it has a method of disconnecting supplied by the manufacturer.

    If you got a CD with the drive, check for a manual on it, otherwise go to the drive manufacturer's website and look up the information about it there. Find out what the red and orange lights mean. If you can't find the information, you should be able to send them a query through the Support section.

    Matt
     
    mattman,
    #6

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