external hard drives

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Guest

Can someone explain the best uses for external hard drives. If i have 3
computers in the family, 2 have win xp and 1 has win 98. Can i use 1 external
hard drive for backing up all 3? When backing up can the external hard drive
store programs or just data? When backing up is the main thing just data or
would you best be served backing up documents and settings? AS much detail as
possible would be very appreciated as i am in the dark on this. If their is a
web site with detailed info that would also be fine. In advance.... Thank
you... Thank you
 
As much detail as possible? There have been volumes written about backup
storage....!

Are you talking about a single external hard-drive (USB connection) being
connected to one of the computers only, moving it from computer to computer
or about a NAS (Network Area Storage) device with a USB drive/s ?

Tell us what you have, then we can help narrow down your questions. How big
a drive do you have and when you back up, how much data would you want to
backup. Do the math and then see if the drive is large enough.

Bob S.
 
No one can tell YOU what you need to back up. What do you have on the 3
computers that you would be absolutely lost without - children's photos,
your wedding video, Grandpa's last photo. Find it and back it up before a
catastrophe prevents you from doing so.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Phil said:
Can someone explain the best uses for external hard drives. If i have 3
computers in the family, 2 have win xp and 1 has win 98. Can i use 1
external
hard drive for backing up all 3? When backing up can the external hard
drive
store programs or just data? When backing up is the main thing just data
or
would you best be served backing up documents and settings? AS much detail
as
possible would be very appreciated as i am in the dark on this. If their
is a
web site with detailed info that would also be fine. In advance.... Thank
you... Thank you
Click to expand...

1. In general you can use an external HDD in exactly the same way as an
internal drive. The caveat 'in general' is there because the transfer rate
to an external drive is lower than for an internal drive.
2. Your backup strategy is a personal one. I create an images (True Image,
Ghost etc) of my machines monthly and backup (Nova Backup) data daily. YMMV
3. WINXP will support USB but the WINXP machine will require a third part
driver, I use DUSE (search for it using Google).
 
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