External hard drive: savior of data

There has been some progress with external hard drives via USB ports in recent times: capacities up to several hundred gigabytes, can automatically backup data, run stably with machines with low power capacity. This is the ideal storage medium for mobile jobs but needs a huge amount of data .

If you regularly store data about 2 GB or less, you only need to have a 2 GB USB flash disk. For larger data, you can buy more flash disks like that but copying will be more difficult because you have to cut the file to fit each disc. At that time, you can purchase an external hard disk with a capacity of several dozen times to several hundred times the amount of USB flash disk to not be hesitant in copying data.

In addition, if you are skilled, you can use this disc to directly copy pictures from the camera memory card without a computer when taking large-scale photos with high resolution, or backup (backup) of important data.

Choose a loose type or an integrated type?

You have 2 options when you need to use an external hard disk. One is to buy a hard disk case (containing communication ports) and a compatible hard disk. The second is to buy the type of external hard drive already available from the manufacturer. In terms of price, option 2 is about $ 15 more expensive than option 1 but in return the stability of the disk is usually higher and has more other functions. In addition, you can still replace the hard disk inside the disc box with a larger hard disk. For example: If you buy an 80 GB external hard drive with a box available, it costs about 86 USD; and buying an 80 GB hard disk for a laptop computer will cost 60 USD and a hard disk case about 10 USD.

Currently, most hard disks use the SATA interface standard, but many disk boxes have both ATA and SATA standards. So, if you have an old hard disk that uses ATA communication, buy this box. In addition to the small disc box used for small 2.5-inch hard disks of laptop computers, you can also buy large 3.5-inch disc boxes to use desktop hard disks. At present, 2.5-inch external hard disks have a maximum capacity of 250 GB, while 3.5-inch hard disk capacity is 3 times or more. So, for storing very large data for movies, music . you may have to buy this kind of large-sized external disc.

When using an external hard disk, your computer must use Windows XP or later, if you have a USB 2.0 port, the better. In addition to communicating with the computer via USB 2.0, currently, some types of external hard disks with a built-in disk box also have an eSATA port, so you must purchase an additional adapter from SATA to eSATA.

How to use external hard disks is quite simple, just use the USB cable attached to the disk (with 3 plugs) to connect the disk to the computer and wait about 30 seconds for the computer to recognize the device is used OK. In some cases, the computer's power supply uses an external hard drive that has a drop in voltage, not enough voltage for the drive, plug the remaining USB cable on the cable into another computer USB port.

Some functions come with an external hard disk

Depending on the amount of purchase of an external hard disk case or the type of integrated hard disk brand selected, it will have additional functions: backup (complete or automatic), data security with fingerprint or software, Directly copy the memory card .

For the type with the backup function, the backup box will have a backup button. Once you have set up the backup folder and press this button, all data of the folder on the computer will be synchronized with the folder on the external hard disk. The time taken depends on the backup mechanism, if it is a complete backup type, you will spend a lot of time waiting to copy the entire data; If it is an automatic copy, it will compare itself and only copy the changed data files so it takes less time. A few drives with a security function will prevent access to arbitrary data to help you feel secure when the drive falls into someone else's hands, however, this is like a double-edged sword in case you miss Forget password or disk box does not recognize your fingerprint.

For external hard drive boxes, some high-end types have additional memory card slots with the function to directly copy data from the memory card to the hard disk without using a computer. To do this, the hard disk case has a rechargeable battery. Some special types have additional functions of an MP4 player, such as a speaker on the case, or a built-in software for opening video files and transmitting signals to the TV out, allowing you to watch movies on TV without the player. .