questions about setting up external HD

[The Outlaw]

i just ordered a western digital 320gb 7200rpm external hd. now i have a couple questions.
1. what do i have to do to set this up on my laptop when it comes?

2. do i need to keep it hooked up to my laptop at all times or just when i want to backup?

3. can i install cs3 and lightroom and other big programs on the external and still use them while saving room on the laptop's (small) internal hd?

im hoping this works out so i can try to break my habbit of converting all my raw files to jpg then deleating the original raw to save space.:oops:

[EveryMilesAMemory]

Usually I've just plugged the new hardware into the USB port, and given it a few seconds/minutes to recognize it. Then once it's found it and opened it, it should be ready to start uploading things to it.

As for holding the bigger things like PS3 or Lightroom, I think those have to be on the CPU for it to work, but there could be a way around this, I'm just not that computer savy.

For storing files on the Externial, if you want to work on any of those files, then Yes, the externial has to be plugged in.

[JackProton]

i just ordered a western digital 320gb 7200rpm external hd. now i have a couple questions.
1. what do i have to do to set this up on my laptop when it comes?

Just plug the USB HD into the laptop and it should setup automatically be recognized as an external hard drive after a few minutes.


2. do i need to keep it hooked up to my laptop at all times or just when i want to backup?

Just plug it in when you need it. When unplugging it, be sure to use the "safely remove device" option.


3. can i install cs3 and lightroom and other big programs on the external and still use them while saving room on the laptop's (small) internal hd?

Not a good idea. This can cause problems because sometimes the external drive will pickup a different drive letter (e.g., E: instead of D:) but Windows will still be looking for the software on the original drive letter it had when you installed CS3. Programs would also run slower from the external drive. No, I'd only install data on the external drive.

[The Outlaw]

im really starting to hate ebay. lol got it today, its not external like it was listed as... atleast i dont think? or maybe i need one of those little enclosures? any idea how to find out if itwill work with my dell inspiron 5150 laptop as a internal hd??

i havent taken it out of the plastic or box yet to look at it so if it wont work for my needs i wont hurt resale value.

here's a direct quote of the specs from a website

WESTERN DIGITAL TECH. INC WD3200JBRTL
- WD Caviar SE WD3200JB - Hard drive - 320 GB - internal - 3.5" - ATA-100 - 40 pin IDC - 7200 rpm - buffer: 8 MB
CAVIAR SE 320GB ATA/100 HD 8MB 7200RPM RETAILCool-running, quiet operation, superior performance and industry-leading reliability make these next-generation WD Caviar SE drives the perfect hard drives for desktop and enterprise storage. WD, the first to introduce an 8 MB buffer, has advanced the caching algorithms of this new and improved Caviar family of hard drives, resulting in next-generation high performance - performance that matches the speed of most 16 MB cache drives. Heat is a major contributor to hard drive wear, and cool drive operating temperatures help increase long-term drive reliability. WD achieves the lowest operating temperature of any hard drive in it's class, including slower drives spinning at 5, 400 RPM, by lowering the drives' power consumption through advanced design of electronics and firmware. Today's PCs, digital video recorders and gaming machines are increasingly operated in environments where noise is less tolerated. WD minimizes WD Caviar noise to levels virtually below the threshold of human hearing with its WhisperDrive technology, which features a highly efficient power driver design. And to cut seek noise, Soft Seek technology streamlines read/write seeking algorithms, resulting in the drive operating more efficiently when accessing and writing data.

Product Description WD Caviar SE WD3200JB - hard drive - 320 GB - ATA-100
Type Hard drive - internal
Form Factor 3.5" x 1/3H
Dimensions (WxDxH) 4 in x 5.8 in x 1 in
Weight 1.3 lbs
Capacity 320 GB
Interface Type ATA-100
Connector 40 pin IDC
Data Transfer Rate 133 MBps
Average Seek Time 8.9 ms
Spindle Speed 7200 rpm
Buffer Size 8 MB
Manufacturer Warranty 1 year warranty

General
Device Type Hard drive - internal
Width 4 in
Depth 5.8 in
Height 1 in
Weight 1.3 lbs
Hard Drive
Form Factor 3.5" x 1/3H
Capacity 320 GB
Interface Type ATA-100
Connector 40 pin IDC
Buffer Size 8 MB
Features Data Lifeguard, Shock Guard, WhisperDrive
Performance
Drive Transfer Rate 133 MBps (external) / 93.5 MBps (internal)
Seek Time 8.9 ms (average)
Track-to-Track Seek Time 2 ms
Average Latency 4.2 ms
Spindle Speed 7200 rpm
Reliability
Non-Recoverable Errors 1 per 10^14
Start / Stop Cycles 50,000
Expansion / Connectivity
Interfaces 1 x ATA-100 - 40 pin IDC
Compatible Bays 1 x internal - 3.5" x 1/3H
Miscellaneous
Cables Included 1 x IDE cable
Mounting Kit Included
Package Type Retail
Software / System Requirements
Software Included Drivers & Utilities
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Environmental Parameters
Min Operating Temperature 41 °F
Max Operating Temperature 131 °F
Humidity Range Operating 5 - 95%
Shock Tolerance 65 g @ 2ms (operating) / 250 g @ 2ms (non-operating)
Vibration Tolerance 0.75 g @ 20-300 Hz (operating) / 4 g @ 20-500 Hz (non-operating)
Sound Emission 28 dBA

[slimninj4]

It will work fine in your computer. Just either get a 30$ or so enclosure from newegg. thats what I did. Or put in internally and set the drive to slave.

[joeb1]

Make sure you buy an external case with a fan.

Some drives run really hot and will burn up rather quickly.

A good case with fan will run somewhere between $30.00 to $50.00.

[JackProton]

I don't think that'll fit inside your laptop, no. Laptop drives are 2.5", this one is 3.5".

[The Outlaw]

yea im going to have to get the enclosure. still way worth it cuz even if i buy the enclosure for $30 still only got $88 invested in a brand new 320gig hd

[chainz]

And thats a internal hard drive for a pc nor a laptop, And not a external.

[ryant35]

I would stay away from those HD enclosures, I've tried them before and they haven't ever worked for me. Just keep an eye out for sales, I find 500-750 GB external hard drives all the time for $150-$250.

Also regarding loading your software on an external HD, I agree with Jack your PC will pick a new letter for the drive, especially if you plug in a flash drive or card reader first. Also you are looking at a drive that was 7200rpm, if that is slower than your internal PC HD then your program will run slower especially since you are also using the USB.

Your better off just loading your documents & picture on the external HD.

[Titus213]

I've used an external HD for a year or more now. Made it up out of an old internal HD and a cheap case from CompUSA. The case has no fan but the HD is only on when I'm backing up or restoring so it's not really a big deal.

And no, do not install any software on your external HD. It will negatively impact your performance.

[galahad]

i just ordered a western digital 320gb 7200rpm external hd. now i have a couple questions.
1. what do i have to do to set this up on my laptop when it comes?

2. do i need to keep it hooked up to my laptop at all times or just when i want to backup?

3. can i install cs3 and lightroom and other big programs on the external and still use them while saving room on the laptop's (small) internal hd?

im hoping this works out so i can try to break my habbit of converting all my raw files to jpg then deleating the original raw to save space.:oops:

1. Its plug & play. Once connected, the laptop will detect it at once as an additional drive.

2. You can leave it connected (hooked if there is an ON/OFF button and only turn it ON if your going to backup). Not a good idea to leave it ON.

3. Don't install any software. You can upgrade your laptop's HD and have it partitioned. 1st partition is for the software/OS and the 2nd for data.
:D