External hard drive ?

[Greg Jones]

I am thinking of putting in an external hard drive. Stupid questions, :oops: is there anything to installing it?
Does the memory (Ram) have to be up graded to handle the extra hard drive ?

I have 160 gig drive now and 512 ram. I am uping my ram to at least 1 gig. I want to put in more ram if the extra hard drive requires it.

[cdifoto]

You don't install an external hard drive. That's why it's external. There are USB, SATA, eSATA, Firewire, etc connected external hard drives and no computer upgrades are required unless you don't have the proper interface already on your machine.

[queenbee288]

You just plug it in.

[Darsk47]

Check out your nearest Costco. They usually have 500GB externals for a good price. You'll love the back-up ability. Dead simple to set up - as said above - just plug it in.

[Yiskah]

... It's a good thing we are all into photography on here- or this would sound just plain naughty! haha...

[Greg Jones]

I really didn't mean install, I know it is external but I wasn't sure if anything in the PC was required above the normal. I thought maybe you had to do something with the internal drive to make them work together. Sounds pretty simple then , thanks for the help . I am thinking of getting it at Best buy because I have a gift card.

[Kathy H]

Don't feel stupid...I had to ask the same question a year or so ago. And I have asked many more questions since that I sure felt stupid for asking, but ya know what when I saw you ask it, I had to smile...because now I have proof that I was not the only human that was born not knowing the answer!
THANKS!:D

[Greg Jones]

Don't feel stupid...I had to ask the same question a year or so ago. And I have asked many more questions since that I sure felt stupid for asking, but ya know what when I saw you ask it, I had to smile...because now I have proof that I was not the only human that was born not knowing the answer!
THANKS!:D


Ahaaa , you had that smile because you found someone stupider :)

Thanks Kathy!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Upping RAM is always a good idea, especially if your working with image files.

But it's not neeeded for your external drive.
Just get one of the name brand drives that has an interface that your PC has . USB2 is the most common.

[Greg Jones]

Ok ,now that I don't feel so stupid , I have one more question.
How do you access the external hard drive ? Will it have a icon in my computer next to C drive ? I would guess you just open it and like any other drive and drop in files .

[Greg Jones]

Upping RAM is always a good idea, especially if your working with image files.

But it's not neeeded for your external drive.
Just get one of the name brand drives that has an interface that your PC has . USB2 is the most common.

Just so happen I was looking at a Western Digital and that is what is in my PC so that would be the one to get, correct? Do you think 1g of memory is enough ? I am running PS CS3

[kevin_c]

Ok ,now that I don't feel so stupid , I have one more question.
How do you access the external hard drive ? Will it have a icon in my computer next to C drive ? I would guess you just open it and like any other drive and drop in files .

It will normally appear as the next available drive letter, so assuming you have a 'C' drive and a DVD player/recorder as 'D' it will appear as 'E'. If you have a card reader that will usually 'hog' a few drive letters as well (mine takes 4).

My Maxtor 500Gb external drive is 'G' for instance (and I have 'forced' it to always be 'G' as well because my backup software looks for this drive to backup to.

[kevin_c]

Just so happen I was looking at a Western Digital and that is what is in my PC so that would be the one to get, correct? Do you think 1g of memory is enough ? I am running PS CS3

Western Digital, Maxtor, Seagate etc. are all 'known brands' of HDD so yes the WD would be fine. I personally wouldn't worry too much about matching the make for an external drive.

I don't know what Operating System you have (XP?), but for CS3, and any kind of image post-processing work I'd have 2Gb min personally.

[Greg Jones]

Thanks Kevin, I don't know why I said CS3 but it is CS2 instead. I am sure still need the the same. My Pc is having a hard time opening up some programs and CS2 is freezing up on me for about 10 to 15 sec. each time.
Thanks for the info

[gasrocks]

When I was researching which brand of Ext. HD to buy, I happened to be at the best computer repair shop in the area. Asked them what brand to get. They had never seen a Western Digital in for repair. I now have 5 WD ext. HDs.

[kevin_c]

Thanks Kevin, I don't know why I said CS3 but it is CS2 instead. I am sure still need the the same. My Pc is having a hard time opening up some programs and CS2 is freezing up on me for about 10 to 15 sec. each time.
Thanks for the info

I think CS3 is slightly better with memory than CS2, but I'd still want 2Gb!

[GilesGuthrie]

Ok ,now that I don't feel so stupid , I have one more question.
How do you access the external hard drive ? Will it have a icon in my computer next to C drive ? I would guess you just open it and like any other drive and drop in files .

Yes, the drive will install itself as another hard disk, sitting alongside your existing one. Beware: this means you must not unplug the drive without first completing the "safely remove hardware" process (in the system tray next to the clock) or shutting the computer down.

You can reassign drive letters to your heart's content: right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, and choose Manage. In the left pane, choose Disk Management. All your drives will appear in the list. You can right-click each drive and choose "Change Drive letter and Path" to order the drives how you want them. I personally would move the CD/DVD drive to E: and then have the external as D:, by YMMV.

And more RAM is better. For photo editing under Windows XP, you should find that 2GB is a good economic proposition - i.e. it will give you enough for most times. I've seen Photoshop take over 1.7GB though, and with XP taking up around 500MB, and Lightroom another 300MB, I was happy with the 3GB total.

[Greg Jones]

When I was researching which brand of Ext. HD to buy, I happened to be at the best computer repair shop in the area. Asked them what brand to get. They had never seen a Western Digital in for repair. I now have 5 WD ext. HDs.

I ordered the Western Digital 500 gig. I had a gift card for 150.00 and they had a sale price of 129.00 + shipping +tas acme to 147.00 pus change.
I burnt the rest of the card with Paper cd sleeves, I could leave a couple of bucks on the card.
Thanks for the help

[Greg Jones]

Yes, the drive will install itself as another hard disk, sitting alongside your existing one. Beware: this means you must not unplug the drive without first completing the "safely remove hardware" process (in the system tray next to the clock) or shutting the computer down.

You can reassign drive letters to your heart's content: right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, and choose Manage. In the left pane, choose Disk Management. All your drives will appear in the list. You can right-click each drive and choose "Change Drive letter and Path" to order the drives how you want them. I personally would move the CD/DVD drive to E: and then have the external as D:, by YMMV.

And more RAM is better. For photo editing under Windows XP, you should find that 2GB is a good economic proposition - i.e. it will give you enough for most times. I've seen Photoshop take over 1.7GB though, and with XP taking up around 500MB, and Lightroom another 300MB, I was happy with the 3GB total.

I only have 512 right now, I don't even know how it is running! This computer is about 3-4 years old , Do I look at the memory card and see how many bars or prongs(not sure what to call them) that are plugged in to tell what I need to buy ? How do I know if my machine will handle 2 more gig? I took a quick look at best buy and I think if I remember right they had 512 & 1 gig. Can I buy 2 gig or do I have to buy another 512 and a 1 gig.
I haven't look in my PC yet, just trying to find out what I need to look for.

I didn't know I could move my drive letters. I have a bunch of drive letters that are never used and I don''t even know why they are there. Above and beyond my C, D & E I have about 6-8 more under that. One is used when I use my compact flash. I just happen to think I have other card readers that aren't used, I'll bet that is what they are there for.
I have a card internal card reader that I don't use, and the one on my HP printer that I don't use. The only one I use is my external SanDisk that sets on my desk. All of these have slots for 4 cards each.

Thanks for all the info, it is a big help. Learn something new everyday

[Greg Jones]

I just got my 500 gig hard drive and so far so good. I have a question
when I open my drive there are folders in view that I will never need . Like installation log, WD set up , window tools, autorun and WD Mac tool. Do I have to have these in view all the time or can I hide them some how ? Can I make another desk top on this drive ? or is it jsut a storage divice ?
No directions came with it.

[kevin_c]

Greg,

This drive will just act as storage so you don't get another desktop or anything, think of it as just a very large USB memory stick/pen or whatever you call them.

The files look like they may be installation files for some 'bundled' software that comes with the drive - i.e. some back-up software or disc tools etc. You won't actually need them but I'd be tempted to create a folder 'Tools' or something and 'dump' them in there for now. Was there no mention of this with the drive packaging?

You can then just create storage folders (Pictures, Music, Documents etc.) on the new drive and either 'drag-and-drop' you files to the new drive/folders or use something like synctoy from Microsoft to create 'back-up jobs' to copy files across with one (or 2) clicks.

Hope this helps you :-)

[SoaringUSAEagle]

Can I buy 2 gig or do I have to buy another 512 and a 1 gig.


You can buy a 2gb stick or 2 1gb sticks. It depends on how many slots there are in your cpu.

Open it up and take a look. I dont know the exact model of ram you'll need.... someone else can help with that if need be. But that stick in there should be labeled.

[Greg Jones]

Greg,

This drive will just act as storage so you don't get another desktop or anything, think of it as just a very large USB memory stick/pen or whatever you call them.

The files look like they may be installation files for some 'bundled' software that comes with the drive - i.e. some back-up software or disc tools etc. You won't actually need them but I'd be tempted to create a folder 'Tools' or something and 'dump' them in there for now. Was there no mention of this with the drive packaging?

You can then just create storage folders (Pictures, Music, Documents etc.) on the new drive and either 'drag-and-drop' you files to the new drive/folders or use something like synctoy from Microsoft to create 'back-up jobs' to copy files across with one (or 2) clicks.

Hope this helps you :-)

I was thinking of doing the same thing, making a folder and just put all of the files in it. I just wasn't sure if I was doing it right or not. I guess it was just to simple and I was expecting something harder. No directions came with it but weh I was installing it I saw where I could click on manual. I will go back to the set up and see if it has a manual in the software or if it takes me to an on line manual.

Thanks for the help

[Greg Jones]

You can buy a 2gb stick or 2 1gb sticks. It depends on how many slots there are in your cpu.

Open it up and take a look. I dont know the exact model of ram you'll need.... someone else can help with that if need be. But that stick in there should be labeled.

I will have to get into it and see what it has. It has been a few months since I cleaned it out anyway and I am sure it needs blown out.

Thanks !

[kevin_c]

These drives just set themselves up as a 'mass storage device' and are simply that, a disc drive that you store files on, the PC already has the operating system etc. installed and that recognises the new hardware and allows you to read from and write to it. It is no different to having another internal drive really, except it connects to the PC via a USB cable and it has an external power supply.

I would be tempted to 'mirror' my hard drive folder structure, making it easier to locate files - i.e if your image files are stored in 'My Pictures' and you documents in 'My Documents', I'd have a top level folder 'Backups' and then a 'My Pictures' and 'My Documents' folder off of this, and then from there, just mirror all the other folders underneath these (individual year/date/description folders etc.) - that way it's simpler to find things as they will be in the same sort of structure as you hard drive.

[Greg Jones]

These drives just set themselves up as a 'mass storage device' and are simply that, a disc drive that you store files on, the PC already has the operating system etc. installed and that recognises the new hardware and allows you to read from and write to it. It is no different to having another internal drive really, except it connects to the PC via a USB cable and it has an external power supply.

I would be tempted to 'mirror' my hard drive folder structure, making it easier to locate files - i.e if your image files are stored in 'My Pictures' and you documents in 'My Documents', I'd have a top level folder 'Backups' and then a 'My Pictures' and 'My Documents' folder off of this, and then from there, just mirror all the other folders underneath these (individual year/date/description folders etc.) - that way it's simpler to find things as they will be in the same sort of structure as you hard drive.

Well Keven, my desk top on my PC looks like my regular desk top at work, A mess ! Folder and files laying every where. I really don't use the premade folders like my photos and so on all that much. I have folders on my desk top with allot of different things. Example 2007-2008 photos then inside that folder is a folder of the different shoots and so on.
I have my desk top covered with folders. I am trying to figure out how to organize. I have moved some of the photo files over to my Ext. drive but I have still left the orginal on my C drive. I am afraid to delete them in fear that this drive might crash. Now all I am doing is duplicating files as back ups, seems kind of a waste since I was trying to ree up my PC a little.

[kevin_c]

Sounds like you need a tidy-up :-)

The main reason for an external drive is for back-up purposes although there is nothing stopping you from using it for general storage, but as you have already pointed out "I am afraid to delete them in fear that this drive might crash"...

How would you cope if you lost all your files?

[Greg Jones]

Well, important things like paid shoots, and other important stuff ,I back up on DVD as well. At the end of each year I clean out my photos and put them on DVD for storage.
But yes, there are files that I would hate to loose too.
Hey , if I tidy up , I won't be able to find anything. I tried that at work, didn't work !