I have a 100GB external hard drive.How do I use it?!

[Guest]

I have just bought a 100GB Maxtor external hard drive (maxtor is the brand).I
plugged it into my computer (OS: Windows XP Home Edition) and the found new
hardware pop up program thing automatically installed it as a mass storage
device like it should have.I bought this because my current hdd (internal,
the one that was in my pc when I bought it) which was drive c:/, ran out of
disk space.Now I have this external hard drive but I don't know how to use it
and my computer keeps telling me I am low on hard disk space.My friend said I
might need to clone Windows XP to my new HDD.What does all this mean?!I am
not some sort of computer wizz!!!(although everyone thinks that; only because
they don't know how to even boot the PC...)

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Malke]

I have just bought a 100GB Maxtor external hard drive (maxtor is the
brand).I plugged it into my computer (OS: Windows XP Home Edition) and
the found new hardware pop up program thing automatically installed it
as a mass storage device like it should have.I bought this because my
current hdd (internal, the one that was in my pc when I bought it)
which was drive c:/, ran out of disk space.Now I have this external
hard drive but I don't know how to use it and my computer keeps
telling me I am low on hard disk space.My friend said I might need to
clone Windows XP to my new HDD.What does all this mean?!I am not some
sort of computer wizz!!!(although everyone thinks that; only because
they don't know how to even boot the PC...)

You don't want to clone your XP install to an external hard drive.
Windows can't boot from an external hard drive. External hard drive are
for backing up data.

Either replace the current internal C:\ drive with a larger internal
hard drive or add a second internal hard drive to the computer.
Continue to use the external hard drive for backup.

Malke

 

[Philly]

I have just bought a 100GB Maxtor external hard drive (maxtor is the
brand).I
plugged it into my computer (OS: Windows XP Home Edition) and the found
new
hardware pop up program thing automatically installed it as a mass storage
device like it should have.I bought this because my current hdd (internal,
the one that was in my pc when I bought it) which was drive c:/, ran out
of
disk space.Now I have this external hard drive but I don't know how to use
it
and my computer keeps telling me I am low on hard disk space.My friend
said I
might need to clone Windows XP to my new HDD.What does all this mean?!I am
not some sort of computer wizz!!!(although everyone thinks that; only
because
they don't know how to even boot the PC...)

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have no idea on how to use it, why did you buy it?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You need an "internal" hard drive and not an "external" hard drive.
Please see the following:

How to copy the operating system from one drive to another drive using MaxBlast
https://maxtor.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/maxtor.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have just bought a 100GB Maxtor external hard drive (maxtor is the brand).I
| plugged it into my computer (OS: Windows XP Home Edition) and the found new
| hardware pop up program thing automatically installed it as a mass storage
| device like it should have.I bought this because my current hdd (internal,
| the one that was in my pc when I bought it) which was drive c:/, ran out of
| disk space.Now I have this external hard drive but I don't know how to use it
| and my computer keeps telling me I am low on hard disk space.My friend said I
| might need to clone Windows XP to my new HDD.What does all this mean?!I am
| not some sort of computer wizz!!!(although everyone thinks that; only because
| they don't know how to even boot the PC...)
|
| HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chuck]

The Idea behind an external HD is a fairly good one.
How to use it?
User data and documents, (Primary use), and Backup. If used for backup, a
floppy disk drive is usually required to store a backup utility,
configuration, and drivers.
Large applications might be installed on it if response time is not a
critical issue. This will NOT normally allow you to use those applications
on a different PC when the external drive is connected to it.
Many of the larger more complex games will run from an external HD, although
loading during play may be noticably slow. (Half Life, Half Life 2 etc. is
an example)

My personal opinion is that the support for removable drives, including USB
drives has never been what it should be in windows.

Years ago, we had applications that required that the HD be removed from the
PC and stored in a safe when not in use. The ease of doing this deteriorated
with each release of a newer windows version. Today, those applications
require the physical destruction of a HD when it will no longer be used for
that purpose.

 

[Guest]

Thanks to all of you.I now see I shouldn't have wasted my money................
It's just, I don't know how to install an internal hard drive, how to
configure the BIOS and they cost too much..............:'(
It just seemed like a good idea.100GB but nothing good I can use it for...
I'll go kill myself.

 

[Malke]

Thanks to all of you.I now see I shouldn't have wasted my
money................ It's just, I don't know how to install an
internal hard drive, how to configure the BIOS and they cost too
much..............:'( It just seemed like a good idea.100GB but
nothing good I can use it for... I'll go kill myself.

You didn't waste your money because the external drive is still good for
backup. What you should do is contact a professional computer repair
shop/person and have them set you up properly. This will not be your
local version of BigStoreUSA.

Malke

 

[Guest]

You didn't waste your money because the external drive is still good for
backup. What you should do is contact a professional computer repair
shop/person and have them set you up properly. This will not be your
local version of BigStoreUSA.
Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


Thanks.My friend's dad recycles computers (just sold his business though)
and he helped me.I cleared up space on c:/ by moving stuff over to e:/ and it
is working a little better...