All about external (backup) hard disks

SunnyBoi · 4th April 2008, 07:17

Why do you have to get it from the states? These are locally available.

I had a Maxtor 500GB external. it was the best of the lot, HDD not too big and it had a tiny power adapter. Had only a USB2 interface.

My friend bought a WD one, with USB firewire eSATA interfaces. It had a huuuge powersupply, easily the size of a normal laptop power supply.

Performances, almost all are the same. Just choose the one you like to have

You can get these for a tad under 5K for the 500GB drives.

clevermax · 4th April 2008, 07:48

I bought a MaXtor 160Gb Ext. Hard drive very recently. The size is so small that you can easily put it in the pocket. The only problem is that, it requires 2 USB ports at the computer's end (One for data + power, and the other for Power only) It sometimes works even if only connect the data + power usb cable alone.

Recently there are flash drives comin up. Why don't you buy that instead of an ext. HDD? Data is more secure, and it can withstand more shocks than an HDD. I don't know about the cost factor though. In US it must be cheaper. Heard that sony's new viao laptops are having flash drives instead of HDD.

condor · 4th April 2008, 09:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevermax

I bought a MaXtor 160Gb Ext. Hard drive very recently. ... The only problem is that, it requires 2 USB ports at the computer's end (One for data + power, and the other for Power only) It sometimes works even if only connect the data + power usb cable alone..

@clevermax, check the doc's message reproduced here, which he had posted in this thread earlier. You'll get the answer to your question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsjaurr

Some of WD passport drives need more power to run smoothly thats why power from an extra USB is needed.160GB has so many bad reviews on newegg pro'ly only coz of this power issue.Not all laptop/pc can supply the power from one USB( I suppose its around 650mA for WD drives),then u need this Y USB power cable for that extra bit of power.

Now how to check if your laptop/pc's USB has how much power to supply to USB device.

Go to device manager>USB controllers>Rt click USB root hub>Properties>Power.

My laptop has 500mA so if i buy WD passport,especially 160GB one,i need this Y power cable.

harry15 · 4th April 2008, 11:13

thanks condor. hey clevermax flash drives are at least 10 times more expensive than normal drives and as of now i think the maximum flash drive available is 128gb . hey sunny its cheaper in the states thats why. but are the 500gb available in India for around 5 grand ? and does anyone know which company`s warranty is better ?? oh ya and does the WD drive really have a huge power supply ? wat about the seagate ?? and how are the lacie drives ????? thanks guys for your help

Xehaust · 4th April 2008, 16:25

Am mulling over buying an external HDD for backing up purposes.
Around 250 GB should easily more than suffice.

It has to be mac compatible.
I dont need any software bundled along with it as Time Machine in Leopard will take care of the backing up part.
All i need is the hardware.
Will be using it mostly with a laptop.

What price am i looking at and which drive?

clevermax · 7th April 2008, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor

@clevermax, check the doc's message reproduced here, which he had posted in this thread earlier. You'll get the answer to your question.

Thanks for the info mate. I know about this power issue regarding external HDDs, but somehow, mine works fine with one USB (data + Power) connected in the lappy.

I had trouble to getting it working in my home pc though. I had to connect both the ends of the V cable in the PC to get the discs in the External HDD spinning.

nitroxx · 7th April 2008, 20:58

try the Wd scorpio WD3200 320 gb drive for 8840/- Sata 5400 rpm that I've used for my Ps3 upgrade..its phenomenally quiet.

condor · 7th April 2008, 21:56

@clevermax, did you check the power at your USB ports - on the laptop & the home pc ? How do they measure up ?

condor · 12th April 2008, 16:38

Picked up the LaCie 160gb today. 4250/-

Apparantly a 5% drop in prices of these external drives.

rsjaurr · 12th April 2008, 18:10

So finally my wait is going to end..... i'm getting WD passport 320GB drive after few days.

condor · 13th April 2008, 15:56

Guys, need help with the drive. It's not connecting on a Win2K, though it works fine on XP.

Connected to the laptop running XP, have formatted the drive to NTFS & able to use it. Single partition of 150gb.

But no luck with Win2K. Any ideas ?

TIA !

rsjaurr · 11th May 2008, 16:11

My one year came to happy end i received this WD 320GB drive for $135

.
I wanted to buy another passport [portable but that was not in stock so bought this one.Now i see that it is retailing at about $170.

Right now formatting it from Fat32 to NTFS,is just over 55% and it has already taken 80-90min.

It seems that there is no power issue with my NB's USB.

Quote:

Guys, need help with the drive. It's not connecting on a Win2K, though it works fine on XP.

Connected to the laptop running XP, have formatted the drive to NTFS & able to use it. Single partition of 150gb.

But no luck with Win2K. Any ideas ?

TIA !

I dont think win98 and w2k are compatible with NTFS,only winxp and vista are.

merve_extreme · 11th May 2008, 19:51

W2K is definitely compatible with NTFS.

DirtyDan · 6th July 2008, 12:38

I am about to buy a 80gb Lacie external hard drive unless you guys stop me. Price is 3200 rupees and the shop guy says it has a "lifetime" guarantee. The size is all I need. It is the only one that I have found in this remote area also.

Your opinions?

Vid6639 · 6th July 2008, 12:46

I picked up a 160GB Maxtor Seagate 2.5" portable HDD from Singapore for SGD $100 approx Rs.3200.

details here: The Maxtor Online Store USA - Product Info

160GB Maxtor 2.5 External & Portable Hard Drive Hard Disk - 160 GB With Transcend 4 GB Pen Drive V30 gifts in india at rediff shopping.

4th April 2008, 07:17	#61
SunnyBoi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mysore / B'lore Posts: 1,666 Thanked: 4,111 Times	Why do you have to get it from the states? These are locally available. I had a Maxtor 500GB external. it was the best of the lot, HDD not too big and it had a tiny power adapter. Had only a USB2 interface. My friend bought a WD one, with USB firewire eSATA interfaces. It had a huuuge powersupply, easily the size of a normal laptop power supply. Performances, almost all are the same. Just choose the one you like to have You can get these for a tad under 5K for the 500GB drives.
	() Thanks

4th April 2008, 07:48	#62
clevermax Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tvm/Amsterdam Posts: 2,086 Thanked: 2,640 Times View My Garage	I bought a MaXtor 160Gb Ext. Hard drive very recently. The size is so small that you can easily put it in the pocket. The only problem is that, it requires 2 USB ports at the computer's end (One for data + power, and the other for Power only) It sometimes works even if only connect the data + power usb cable alone. Recently there are flash drives comin up. Why don't you buy that instead of an ext. HDD? Data is more secure, and it can withstand more shocks than an HDD. I don't know about the cost factor though. In US it must be cheaper. Heard that sony's new viao laptops are having flash drives instead of HDD.
	() Thanks

4th April 2008, 11:13	#64
harry15 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: hagerstown, MD Posts: 45 Thanked: 0 Times	thanks condor. hey clevermax flash drives are at least 10 times more expensive than normal drives and as of now i think the maximum flash drive available is 128gb . hey sunny its cheaper in the states thats why. but are the 500gb available in India for around 5 grand ? and does anyone know which company`s warranty is better ?? oh ya and does the WD drive really have a huge power supply ? wat about the seagate ?? and how are the lacie drives ????? thanks guys for your help
	() Thanks

4th April 2008, 16:25	#65
Xehaust BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 846 Thanked: 81 Times View My Garage	Am mulling over buying an external HDD for backing up purposes. Around 250 GB should easily more than suffice. It has to be mac compatible. I dont need any software bundled along with it as Time Machine in Leopard will take care of the backing up part. All i need is the hardware. Will be using it mostly with a laptop. What price am i looking at and which drive?
	() Thanks

7th April 2008, 20:58	#67
nitroxx Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: DXB Posts: 816 Thanked: 31 Times View My Garage	try the Wd scorpio WD3200 320 gb drive for 8840/- Sata 5400 rpm that I've used for my Ps3 upgrade..its phenomenally quiet.
	() Thanks

7th April 2008, 21:56	#68
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 15,864 Thanked: 16,015 Times View My Garage	@clevermax, did you check the power at your USB ports - on the laptop & the home pc ? How do they measure up ?
	() Thanks

12th April 2008, 16:38	#69
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 15,864 Thanked: 16,015 Times View My Garage	Picked up the LaCie 160gb today. 4250/- Apparantly a 5% drop in prices of these external drives.
	() Thanks

12th April 2008, 18:10	#70
rsjaurr BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Batala Posts: 777 Thanked: 28 Times	So finally my wait is going to end..... i'm getting WD passport 320GB drive after few days. Last edited by rsjaurr : 12th April 2008 at 18:22.
	() Thanks

13th April 2008, 15:56	#71
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 15,864 Thanked: 16,015 Times View My Garage	Guys, need help with the drive. It's not connecting on a Win2K, though it works fine on XP. Connected to the laptop running XP, have formatted the drive to NTFS & able to use it. Single partition of 150gb. But no luck with Win2K. Any ideas ? TIA !
	() Thanks

11th May 2008, 19:51	#73
merve_extreme Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,359 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	W2K is definitely compatible with NTFS.
	() Thanks

6th July 2008, 12:38	#74
DirtyDan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dharamsala, H.P Posts: 2,075 Thanked: 1,565 Times	I am about to buy a 80gb Lacie external hard drive unless you guys stop me. Price is 3200 rupees and the shop guy says it has a "lifetime" guarantee. The size is all I need. It is the only one that I have found in this remote area also. Your opinions?
	() Thanks

6th July 2008, 12:46	#75
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,730 Thanked: 43,482 Times View My Garage	I picked up a 160GB Maxtor Seagate 2.5" portable HDD from Singapore for SGD $100 approx Rs.3200. details here: The Maxtor Online Store USA - Product Info 160GB Maxtor 2.5 External & Portable Hard Drive Hard Disk - 160 GB With Transcend 4 GB Pen Drive V30 gifts in india at rediff shopping.
	() Thanks