What is the minimal external hard drive one can purchase?

Question

Need to back up pc onto something other than cds and dvds and usb was thinking or external hard drive? wise or?

Answer 1

Good move. An external hard drive is not expensive. Get a USB 2.0 (not 1.1) interface.

Answer 2

DVDs are still cheapper in the short run. 5gb for 32 cents at costco.

but external hard drive will be a better option if you do backup often. I am not sure about you but I personally will go with biggest I can afford. why pay $80 for 160 gb when you can get 500 GB for 120 or so ?



dealsea.com and xpbargains.com also pricewatch.com are 3 great sources to check best prices.



you may think you need need that much space (until you run out) each year, my family vacation will come back with 5+ GB of pictures along and then your mp3 files, and other stuff you downloaded. it fill up quick !

Answer 3

How much information data have you into PC?



If you have less than 1 or 2 GB in documents, few pics), is better you get a USB drive or a pendrive.

If this information is more than 2 GB, is better get a harddrive.

If you have from 2 GB to 7 GB use a DVD rewritable, and/or if you have more than 8 GB, you can buy an external drive with capacity according to you data with connection USB, if you do, please get it on 2.0 port version, 1.1 is too slow transfer of data.



Probably the minimum capacity is of 20 or 40 GB. Check in ebay, may be you need an adapter in order to conver to SUB if this a IDE interface.



http://cgi.ebay.com/10GB-2-0-USB-2-5-Portable-External-Hard-Drive-10-GB_W0QQitemZ230213641517QQihZ013QQcategoryZ99247QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



Bye,

Answer 4

An external hard drive is on my wish list. For the time being, I am using several flashdrives with each serving as a backup for different type files.



found a 40gb

http://www.nextag.com/40gb-external-hard-drive/search-html



80gb and up

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_pc/103-1329695-4310264?url=search-alias%3Dcomputers&field-keywords=external+hard+drive

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re: Wise - you betcha. I've already been through a crash and by the Grace of God I had backups which were ready to be read back onto the new PC.

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Answer 5

Like William said...



Try this one, perhaps, since you said you want a minimal one (http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-FreeAgent-External-Drive-ST900803FGA1E1-RK/dp/B000NDA5FO ). It's somewhat difficult to find a smaller one for sale (like 40 gb, 30 gb, and smaller). The tech industry tries to not sell older parts and drives, even if they're sufficient for you, because then they can't sell you the more expensive one, and take more out of your pocket. But in truth, 30 gb is the biggest that most people need, unless you're playing video games or doing serious work.