Computer Related: Buying a external hard drive

Twilightkid · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:53 pm

I wanna buy an additional external harddrive to baiscally keep all my MP3's on.....Not getting rid of my collection, but just for backup purposes for my ipod in case it should crap out for whatever reason.

What do I need to know?

I think im gonna go for a 250 gig model.

After it's installed...

Would I install itunes onto that drive?
would that drive be accesible from my current windows set up?
would i be able to transfer the 9500 songs on my ipod currently into conveinnent folders in the new drive, for easy give and take?

if i dont install, itunes onto the new drive, how would i transfer the songs that are currently on my ipod to that drive? i do nto keep them in my itunes library, as to keep my disk space used to a mininum.

am i missing anything, or is it as easy as all that?

wilked · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:57 pm

Build your own

http://www.fatwallet.com/t/28/496281

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:01 pm

there is no need to install iTunes on the new drive. Your current iTunes will acess the songs from your external that you have in there.

And its just another drive (mine is G ithink) so you can just go to My Computer > G drive and do whatever you want with your files and folders.

Mine just has the default iTunes music folder that is created when you set your destination folder in iTunes and then all the subfolders of individual bands inside.

Twilightkid · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:05 pm

word..thanks...

kind of what i figured.

my 60gig ipod is almost full, so itll be nice ot be able to just goto this new drive, and pick and choose albums to throw on the ipod.

timmyjoe42 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:53 pm

this is the set up that I have, but I have spruced it up a bit.

I bought this linksys NSLU2 device, that plugs right into my router, and then the external drive plugs into that, so I access it sort of like a server without a computer, and then I can also access it over my wireless network, so I don't need to drag the drive around with my laptop.

I only paid $80 at this site about a year ago, so you can probably find it cheaper. I can walk you through the setup too.

Edit: Bonus feature: you can plug 2 hard drives into this device. I plan on getting a 2nd drive this holiday season. The device can automatically backup of one drive to the other. w00t
(It took me weeks to get my mp3 collection as meticulously organized as it is, and I don't want to have to do it again.)

Twilightkid · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:00 pm

Timmy, i dont know what the hell you just said....LOL

sounds alot more comprehensive then what im looking for i think.

this is gonna be strictly for my desktop..just to keep my 'C' drive clean, and keep my mp3's totalyly seperate.

but thanks

timmyjoe42 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:12 pm

Basically it just lets you remain wireless without the hassle of carrying the drive. If you end up swinging that way in the future, let me know.

Twilightkid · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:13 pm

ahhh. gotcha....

shall do!

splates · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:20 pm

I have a 250Gb USB external for music

it's great

mutty · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:11 pm

Or, if you have an old hard drive lying around you can buy an external case for less than $40 and use the drive you have...

Postmersh · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:15 pm

I've heard that LaCie is the way to go on these...

I really should've bought a 250GB one for myself this weekend, but decided to buy a toy (Roland 404) instead...

shiv · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:49 pm

I bought an 80gb external awhile ago and now I'm wishing I would've bought a larger drive since it and my computer HD are almost full.

chowgurt · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:05 pm

This is a great deal on this drive. deal!

Along with the Enclosure

for under a hundred bucks you have a decent external drive. This enclosure is both USB2.0 and firewire so it is a little more flexible. Or if you live by a Fry's Electronics you can get enclosures there cheap. I have a VENUS DS3 USB2/FIREWIRE from Fry's with the same drive above and am very happy.I use it to store ripped DVDs and CDs for long term storage/backup.

Advice: Don't get a Maxstore stick with a SEAGATE or WESTERN DIGITAL they are better drives. And BACK it up! ALL drives fail.

Dalen · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:35 am

I have 2 - 250 GB External Lacie's. Got 'em for $165.00 a piece at CompUSA. I back everything up to both, just in case one dies [which has happened]. Here's the info and a photo:

250GB Hard Drive, 7200RPM, External, USB 2.0

* Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface
* Powered by USB bus** - no adapter needed
* Driver-free - no software to configure***
* Plug and play – preformatted for immediate use

Buck_Wild · **Joined:** Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:28 am **Posts:** 232

buy.com has a 250GB for 100 bucks shipped after 20 rebate. not one of the main brands though...

neuroboy · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:10 am

Postmersh Wrote:

I've heard that LaCie is the way to go on these...

I really should've bought a 250GB one for myself this weekend, but decided to buy a toy (Roland 404) instead...

my brother does video editing and we got him one of those a couple years back--he doesn't seem to have problems with it.

Flying Rabbit · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:51 am

Yeah, I definitely agree with buying an "internal" drive and then buying a case to put it in. Saves you some money as they tend to jack up the externals.

Old Kentucky · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 2:03 am

timmypie42 Wrote:

this is the set up that I have, but I have spruced it up a bit.

I bought this linksys NSLU2 device, that plugs right into my router, and then the external drive plugs into that, so I access it sort of like a server without a computer, and then I can also access it over my wireless network, so I don't need to drag the drive around with my laptop.

I only paid $80 at this site about a year ago, so you can probably find it cheaper. I can walk you through the setup too.

Edit: Bonus feature: you can plug 2 hard drives into this device. I plan on getting a 2nd drive this holiday season. The device can automatically backup of one drive to the other. w00t
(It took me weeks to get my mp3 collection as meticulously organized as it is, and I don't want to have to do it again.)

Thanks for the info tim - I have been wanting to swing this way with my external. Do you have a desktop plugged into your network that is not wirless, but is connected by cable to the router? If so, can you access the external from the wirless and "wired" computers? that would make me happy.

chowgurt · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:51 am

there are many that make an external that are either wired/wireless. these are called network attache storage devices. Check Dlink and Netgear they ahve external cases that you can put a hard disk into and also plug a usb drive in to.

Here:
Dlink

Netgear

Old Kentucky · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:54 am

chowgurt · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:58 am

Just saw this today. Great deal!!!320 GB hard drive$189

timmyjoe42 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:24 pm

Old KenTurkey Wrote:

timmypie42 Wrote:

this is the set up that I have, but I have spruced it up a bit.

I bought this linksys NSLU2 device, that plugs right into my router, and then the external drive plugs into that, so I access it sort of like a server without a computer, and then I can also access it over my wireless network, so I don't need to drag the drive around with my laptop.

I only paid $80 at this site about a year ago, so you can probably find it cheaper. I can walk you through the setup too.

Edit: Bonus feature: you can plug 2 hard drives into this device. I plan on getting a 2nd drive this holiday season. The device can automatically backup of one drive to the other. w00t
(It took me weeks to get my mp3 collection as meticulously organized as it is, and I don't want to have to do it again.)

Thanks for the info tim - I have been wanting to swing this way with my external. Do you have a desktop plugged into your network that is not wirless, but is connected by cable to the router? If so, can you access the external from the wirless and "wired" computers? that would make me happy.

You can access the external hard drive using any computer that goes through the router. If I had a desktop plugged in to it, I could access it with that and with my wireless laptop. I would be a little hesitant about a wireless external drive for security purposes. The only people that can access my external drive are ones that have access to use my router.

What's the security on the wireless external drive?

Chuck D · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:34 pm

I have a LaCie 160GB at school, with my home music library copied to it - I use it as my default iTunes library on my work computer. I also have my last build of 10.3.9 saved, in case something ever flubs in Tiger, as well as a weekly save of my current laptop HD. At home I have a LaCie 80GB, which serves as my external music library when I am at home.

chowgurt · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:38 pm

timmypie42 Wrote:

What's the security on the wireless external drive?

You talkin to me? If so I don't know. I've just been following the devices for the past few years and they are now starting to get to the point that it is almost a consumer device. Think of it as a device for geeks that need lots of easily add-able space. The original thought behind these things is to add space without having to add a server and the associated costs for configuring etc. Plus, these can be added on the fly.

wilked · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:01 pm

250 gigs under $100

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?s ... adid=17662

Computer Related: Buying a external hard drive

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