[RESOLVED] Advice Re:Hard Drive External Needed

[gep]

Hello all, here is the information and web address: Macally PHC-250CC External FireWire & USB 2.0 Portable HDD Enclosure - Mac/PC
Price incl. VAT:

http://www.laptopstuff.co.uk/product...category_id=63

Questions: (1) This is O.K. for a Personal computer using XP Pro i hope?
Question 2:Is this is a 250 GB Hard drive???
Question (3) This is a Fully funtionion hard drive i hope????

Just the price etc?

I have a 40 GB External hard drive which has got 39Gb's Ghosted on it, so i need alittle more storage, so best to go bigger. For the above price, not bad if its 250GB. Not a big name, but, as long as it does the job.


With a solid aluminium body and shock absorbent rubber strips for protection, this portable FireWire and USB 2.0 external hard drive enclosure is ideal for both PC and Mac laptops.

With all the features of a standard sized enclosure, including dual FireWire ports and an active LED to indicate power and data access, the enclosure is a mini size for maximum portability. No AC power adapter is required and the hard drive enclosure has a plug and play installation, so you can start using it with your laptop right away.

• System requirements: 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME or Windows XP; Mac OS 9.2, Mac OS X v10.2.8 or Mac OS X v10.3x and above; or any laptop with an available USB port
• Bus interface: USB 1.1 (12 Mbps), USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) and IEEE 1394 (400 Mbps)
• Net Weight: 195g • Dimension (WxLxH)s: 77.4x135x19mm • 1 year warranty

Thanks GEP

[Train]

That is just the enclosure. You have to furnish your own hdd.
And it seems that encloure may only takes laptop hdd. They cost more.
http://www.macally.com/spec/firewire...enclosure.html

[liam858]

Yep, it is just a 2.5" enclosure, you want to be looking at 3.5" for desktop drives, as A) They are cheaper per GB, and B) They are available in larger sizes than laptop drives.

Try:

www.overclockers.co.uk

www.dabs.com

www.ebuyer.com

www.cclonline.com

www.savastore.com

www.overclock.co.uk


Liam

[gep]

Hello Liam858, Train, all, its between these,

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...uct_uid=111447 Is this one 3.5???? £65 for this one. Includes Delivery


This one is from dabs.com http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx...30000,45540000 Think this one will be O.K??? £58.87 Total includes delivery

Both External hard drivers this time, lol. Getting old.

Thanks, GEP

[Train]

They are both 3.5 .
Can't say I have seen either brand before either. Sorry!

[SuperSparks]

I wouldn't go for either to be honest - they are brands that nobody has ever heard of from the UKs two worst online suppliers. There's a good chance you'd spend the next 2 years of your life trying to RMA the thing


There is an good selection here, all good brands, and CCL is an outstandfing supplier:

http://www.cclonline.com/categories/HDD-EXT

My other 2 favourite suppliers are:

www.komplett.co.uk

www.overclockers.co.uk

[gep]

Hello all, thanks for your replies, alot to go through, will take my time before i part with my cash.

Thanks, GEP

[Welshjim]

gep--Unless you have a very new BIOS, you will not be able to boot from any of the USB external hard drives. But they are very handy storage drives.

[gep]

Hello WelshJim, yes, i only wanted it as a storage, i have two 200 GB hard drives, both linked. Wish i had just a 400Gb hard drive instead.

I have a 40 GB external HD, that came with my computer, though, this is now nearly full, so needed a higher capacity HD, to keep my Two Ghosted drives on, among other things.

My computer is 11 months old, and have just Updated the BIOS, Graphics card through latest updates, so not sure if i can use it with a Partition to house Windows Pro, as i have that on CD. Though my computer is Windows Pro Media centre Packard bell, so not sure.

Most likely to only use it as storage.

Thanks, GEP

[buf]

And should you decide, for whatever reasons to not use an external hard drive case/enclosure, go here and take a look at an item I ordered and just received today. Including shipping, my cost was $21 US. Your cost would be a bit more for additional postage.
I have a case that I regularly use, when needed, but I have an extra 2 hard drives that I keep in a desk drawer and I plan to use them with this new hardware. Good luck.
http://www.surpluscomputers.net/stor...&item=CRD10181
I have had NO problems with ordering from this company in the past!!

[gep]

Hello Buf, sorry, i was after a Hard drive, not an enclosure, thanks, its been sorted now, GEP

[buf]

gep, sorry but I took your thread to mean you were after a hard drive and an enclosure. What I suggested was a way around the use of an enclosure and still offer you backup on an external hd.

[buf]

I have just used the hardware covered in the link above.
This thing really does a trick. Got the HD sitting on my desk top right now and just finished looking at the contents on the HD. 3 plug ins to be done and it is fired up. Plug in for power, plug in the USB connector to the HD, and plug in the USB cable and you would be looking at the contents on your hard drive in seconds!! All of this is done without the use of an external case and for just $21.57, including postage.
A mini CD is included for those who use Win98. Users of XP, 2000; etc. requires no special drivers for this hardware.

EDIT: I never knew a HD got so warm to the touch but then I never used a HD on a desk top either!!

[SuperSparks]

Be very careful not to knock or suddenly move the drive while it is powered up, or to touch the circuit board. Without the protection of an enclosure the drive will be a lot more vulnerable, and it doesn't take all that much to cause a head crash

[buf]

Hey thanks for those words of caution Nick. I am careful about handling the HD---anytime and plugged or unplugged.