External Hard Drive

[Tanatz]

I'm about to do one of those upgrades that doesn't necessarily improve performance...just a much needed upgrade from IDE to SATA etc.

My idea was to have two internal hard drives: one for the OS and games, the 2nd for misc. programs like Nero and backup of data files, mp3's, pictures, etc. The purpose I intended the external to server was more of a backup for my backup (yes I'm anal). How practical is it to simply plug in the external when I want to backup, then unplug it when I'm done and store it in a closet until next backup season?

Is it a good idea to leave the external plugged in constantly? I hear they get hot? Is there a power button? I like the idea of having all my data on a hard drive that a hacker absolutely connot get to, no matter what.

[magoo]

I have an 80 GB external USB that just sits on top of my everyday PC. Yup, it has an on/off button. I only turn it on and plug in the USB when I have something to back up or store that I dont want on the "inside". It works very nicely and is "portable" between all of my various computers. It has worked flawlessly that way. Its from Western Digital by the way.

[uzor]

Pretty good. For more info, read DougLite's views here (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=955268).

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/1771.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=1771)