more memory needed?

[R&J]

My PC hard drive is becoming full is an external hard drive my best option?
which method will be the most reliable?
Can I add internal memory without loosing my files etc?


Thanks for your help

Rich

[fredf]

I assume you are counsidering the sort of thing that PC world are currently advertising.
If so they are a very easy solution, you just plug them into a USB port and they will appear as a new drive in windows like your current hard disk and cd drive.
nothing will be lost, i doubt they need any setting up but they will add even mores wires behind your computer.
They do need a computer with USB 2.0 ports (not 1.1), but as long as your computer is fairly recent it should be ok.

The other solution is an internal drive along side your current drive, these are slightly cheaper than the external drives but require more effort in installing and setting up. Again, nothing will be lost but you should check that you've got space in the case first

I wouldn't recomment replacing your current hard drive as then you need to back everything up, re-install windows and all your applications and restore your data

[chriswright]

It may be possible to run an internal hard drive as a slave drive, would prob work out cheaper

[R&J]

with the second / slave drive is just a matter of plugging them in as I did when I upgraded to USB2 as that is all I have ever done inside the case.

fredf no I've not seen the pc world ads, will take a look though.

Rich

[pmanson]

Have a look at www.bigpockets.co.uk i've got one of their icybox external hd's.

Works very well

[Raify]

It's really very simple to install an internal drive, and you'll get more Gb for your £££

[chriswright]

[quote=R&J]with the second / slave drive is just a matter of plugging them in as I did when I upgraded to USB2 as that is all I have ever done inside the case.

fredf no I've not seen the pc world ads, will take a look though.

Rich[/quote]

the ribbon cable that plugs into the hard drive should have another plug about half way along which you would just plug into new hard drive, plug one of the power cables in and turn computer back on

[zaktoo]

chriswright said:

[quote=R&J]with the second / slave drive is just a matter of plugging them in as I did when I upgraded to USB2 as that is all I have ever done inside the case. fredf no I've not seen the pc world ads, will take a look though. Rich

the ribbon cable that plugs into the hard drive should have another plug about half way along which you would just plug into new hard drive, plug one of the power cables in and turn computer back on[/quote]

Just do check that the new drive is set to be a slave. The shop you buy it from can probably do that for you if you ask; the instructions will most likely be printed on the drive itself somewhere.

HTH

Ciao

Zak

[chriswright]

forgot about that bit