Ext HD/Enclosure question (newbie)

[Verizon User]

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop with XP sp2.
I want an ext hard drive. I hear it is best to get an internal desktop
drive and add an enclosure- best value for the money.

This is the drive i was considering:
http://tinyurl.com/9hg4e
(Seagate 250GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Hard Drive $69.99 after rebate)

I have a Dell Coupon I need to use, so I thought I could use it on this
enclosure:
APRICORN Hi Speed USB 2.0 Enclosure for 3.5inches HD Heaveyweight fan cooled
with Backup Cloning Sofware HDD not incl. $48.95
http://tinyurl.com/9joph


1) Is it better to get a real external HD or is the internal HD/enclosure
option OK?
2) Are these good choices and prices?
3) Are these 2 compatible with each other? I can't figure out if the
Seagate drive is 3.5 inches. Do I need to buy anything else?
4) Does the Inspiron 6000 support a hard drive this size? I heard that some
pc's will only go to 137Gb.


Thanks!

 

[Rod Speed]

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop with XP sp2.
I want an ext hard drive. I hear it is best to get an internal
desktop drive and add an enclosure- best value for the money.

This is the drive i was considering:
http://tinyurl.com/9hg4e
(Seagate 250GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Hard Drive $69.99 after rebate)

Those arent great in external enclosures, they dissipate
more heat than some other better drives like Samsungs.

I have a Dell Coupon I need to use, so I thought I could use it on this
enclosure:
APRICORN Hi Speed USB 2.0 Enclosure for 3.5inches HD Heaveyweight fan cooled
with Backup Cloning Sofware HDD not incl. $48.95
http://tinyurl.com/9joph

1) Is it better to get a real external HD or is the internal HD/enclosure
option OK?

The second is fine and generally gives you more choice with cooling.

2) Are these good choices

See above.

and prices?
3) Are these 2 compatible with each other?
Yes.

I can't figure out if the Seagate drive is 3.5 inches.
Yes.

Do I need to buy anything else?
Nope.

4) Does the Inspiron 6000 support a hard drive this size?

It aint the Inspiron that matters with an external hard drive.

I heard that some pc's will only go to 137Gb.

That depends on the bridge used in the external enclosure.
http://www.apricorn.com/shopping.php?ID=172
appears to be saying that 250G is fine.

 

[Timothy Daniels]

is the internal HD/enclosure option OK?

The "real" USB external HDs are just internal HDs
with an external enclosure and a USB/IDE bridge.
The ones you put together yourself are actually
superior because they usually include a cooling
fan and a power supply. The only downside is
that you have to buy any backup software that you
might want.

*TimDaniels*

 

[dannysdailys]

Verizon Userwrote:
I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop with XP sp2.

I want an ext hard drive. I hear it is best to get an internal desktop
drive and add an enclosure- best value for the money.

This is the drive i was considering:
http://tinyurl.com/9hg4e
(Seagate 250GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Hard Drive $69.99 after rebate)

I have a Dell Coupon I need to use, so I thought I could use it on this
enclosure:
APRICORN Hi Speed USB 2.0 Enclosure for 3.5inches HD Heaveyweight fan cooled
with Backup Cloning Sofware HDD not incl. $48.95
http://tinyurl.com/9joph


1) Is it better to get a real external HD or is the internal HD/enclosure
option OK?
2) Are these good choices and prices?
3) Are these 2 compatible with each other? I can't figure out if the
Seagate drive is 3.5 inches. Do I need to buy anything else?
4) Does the Inspiron 6000 support a hard drive this size? I heard that some
pc's will only go to 137Gb.


Thanks!

If you're a newbie, not interested in learning the technology, buy a
premade unit. Don't mix and match. You probably don't even know how
to format a new hard drive, let alone search for backup software and
get it to work seamlessly.

If you're looking to learn the technology, you wouldn't be here, you'd
be at Google learning about it.

That said, if you want to learn the tech, you'll find, at least for
backup purposes; you'll want to use a 2 1/2 inch enclosure and a
notebook drive. 60 gigs runs about 90 dollars total. The advantage
is the size and the power: The size is about half the thickness of a
pack of cigarettes and a little taller. The power is supplied by your
USB port, so you don't need a separate power supply and outlet plug.
All full size 3 1/2 inch enclosures need separate power.

For backup, just buy the Nero Gold suite. Backup is the least it can
do and you'll use it for much more then that. So much for the tech.

To format the drive, put it in your notebook and boot it up from an
old 98 or ME floppy. Or, buy a pre-formatted drive. (about 5 bucks
more)

If you don't want to learn the tech? Get a pre-built system.