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Thread: External hard drive installation help

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    Default External hard drive installation help

    My friend wants me to help her install an external hard drive. I'm ok with computers but I've never done that before.

    She wants to store all her music, computer games, and pictures on this drive and be able to access them when she wants to play them. Is that possible? If so, what kind of external drive would you recommend?

    Also, is there anything I should know before installing it? Do these things even come with instructions?
    you live like an ivy vine
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    God/dess FBR's Avatar
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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    I have an external Mad Dog which plugs into a USB port. After rebooting Windows recognized it so I didn't have to do anything special.

    FBR
    Once again I have embraced my addiction and have put off the moral dilemma to another day.

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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    So basically it adds another drive on (ie Drive G and you can use it like an internal drive.

    She's exchanging filipino food for my oh so wonderful 'puter skills. haha
    you live like an ivy vine
    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
    that's your flaw
    put down some roots so you can stand on your own
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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    Well, to clarify, Mad Dog is a drive "housing" (for want of a better word). I installed an existing old internal type drive that I had into it. I keep archived stuff on it. But it was plug and play for me. And you can see it on My Computer just like any other drive or jump stick that is plugged in.

    If all the hardware is brand new you might have to install some software...I dunno.

    There are numerous folks here with elite computer skills so I'm sure you will get a lot of good ideas soon.

    Good luck. I wouldnt mind chowing down on some of that food myself. Sounds good!

    FBR
    Once again I have embraced my addiction and have put off the moral dilemma to another day.

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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    Generally yes, If yuou have ever used a flash/jump/thumb drive it works just like that.

    I do have one that came with two partitons on it Acd partition that worked like a CD drive for stored applications and the regular HD. It was a little bit of a problem do to the fact that I had a small thumb drive in another USB Port. So I would recommend removing all USB attached stuff that acts like a hard drive. on the first install attachment.

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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    Plug & Pray

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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    So basically it adds another drive on (ie Drive G and you can use it like an internal drive.
    Yes. The Western Digital models are nice and have a five-year warranty. Just plug them into a free USB slot and treat them like another hard drive.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    So, another Q: If she has an active say SIMS game going on and I transfer it over to the other drive what will happen to the game?
    you live like an ivy vine
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    that's your flaw
    put down some roots so you can stand on your own
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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    You can't copy or share files that are in use by the system, generally speaking, but you could copy other files not in use while other applications are running (i.e., music, documents, photos, et al).

    If you want to move the Sims installation to the external drive, you need to remove it from its current drive location and then reinstall it to the external drive (G:, H:, whatever it's called).
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    well assuming its on the current HD and not the external harddrive, I would just suggest running to prog. and saving it to the new hard-drive, that way there is no "missing" files.

    I have a Nexxtech HD, actaully my BIOS died, ut, the HD was still good.

    Very easy to do. just need a screwdriver (not the drink, though it may not hurt) as well.

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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    Quote Originally Posted by Casual Observer View Post
    You can't copy or share files that are in use by the system, generally speaking, but you could copy other files not in use while other applications are running (i.e., music, documents, photos, et al).
    So, that is only if the game is open on the screen right? Because when you go back to the SIMS game the people you've made are still working, sleeping whatever they do. I'm guessing unless you've opened it and are currently playing on the screen it is considered in use by the system.

    I wouldn't want to do this saying - "Im in ur hard drivz ruinin' stuff"
    you live like an ivy vine
    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
    that's your flaw
    put down some roots so you can stand on your own
    -Kenpachi



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    Default Re: External hard drive installation help

    ^ Get on Skype, TM.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

    William F. Buckley, Jr.

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