External HDD question

wolfeking

wolfeking

banned
Ok, I just don't have the time to go searching through the post to find an answer to what i'm asking. I am getting a dell Vostro 1000 Laptop, and the HDD size on it is just ancient. (55GB). I have conflicting info from the Current owner and Dell (can't get a agent till 1000 hours monday) on if it is PATA or SATA.
What I figured is that I can get a External HDD to run it when I need more space. What I want to know is, are the USB EHDD's fairly reliable, or should I get a ESATA Smartcard to run it?? And, Is this a good idea?? Is it pretty idiot proff on backing up data to them?? (sorta like a flash key)

I have never used EHDD's before, because I always had a big enough HDD to store everything on less than 50% of the drive. So I am unsure of their use?
 
The only difference between USB and eSATA is the speeds you'll get. eSATA is a lot faster and I would go with that personally.

Most external hard drives come with backup software included, which is easy to use for the most part.
 
Ok, I looked at the local walmart (only store here but Kmart, Ill check greensboro tomorrow) and found 2 types. 1 has the hard drive already in it, and the other is a casing that you can put your own SATA hard drive in. I have several 320, 500, and 1.5TB SATA drives around the house here. Is it possible that I could salvage some of the files off of the drives with the SATA enclosure that they sell??
 
wolfeking said:
Ok, I looked at the local walmart (only store here but Kmart, Ill check greensboro tomorrow) and found 2 types. 1 has the hard drive already in it, and the other is a casing that you can put your own SATA hard drive in. I have several 320, 500, and 1.5TB SATA drives around the house here. Is it possible that I could salvage some of the files off of the drives with the SATA enclosure that they sell??
Click to expand...

That's another option that will be less costly since you already have the hard drive.
 
I know that it is cheaper, but I ain't after cheap. I am trying to go cheap, as cheap usually fails (like the HP MOBO death problem that I have had X3). What I am looking for with the External HDD (supply your own HDD version) is to salvage the files on the HDD's that I have.
I have already tried simply installing them in my HP, but they all end up with windows requesting the code and they dont have the the drivers for the laptop's equipment.
 
To get files off of a HDD, you can simply just put the HDD into the enclosure and then plug into your computer and you'll be able to access the drive and get the files.
 
I know what a EHDD is, I have just never used one before.

F.W,C.A.T.I. what I finally decided to do was to order a Western Digital 640 GB, SATA 3 Gb/s, 8 MB Cache, 5400 RPM HDD and run Ubuntu 10.04 desktop on it. I am also debating on upgrading the RAM, but i don't know how that will help.
 
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