2024-12-23

external hard disk

What is the procedure for disconnecting an external hard drive?

DATARECOVERYUNION.COM03 mins

External Hard Drive It is important to follow the appropriate steps when disconnecting the hard drive. If the proper procedure is not followed then data may be lost.

In Windows a small icon appears in the system tray (next to the clock) . this is the dismount icon that allows you to safely disconnect hot pluggable devices.

To dismount the drive before removing it follow these steps:

  1. Right click the icon. This give you the options to safely remove each hot plug device attached to the system.
  2. Choose to remove the external drive. Once you click the choice another window will open allowing you to select which device to remove.
  3. Click the Stop button then you will be prompted for confirmation.
  4. Windows OS displays a message when it is safe to turn off the drive.
  5. Once the drive is turned off, disconnect the interface cable.

If the device is busy then the request to stop the device will be rejected. Be sure to close any applications that are using data from the external drive then attempt to stop the device again. Usually the Windows Explorer will be open and will be the application keeping the drive busy.

In Mac OS the drive appears as an icon on the desktop. Before unplugging the drive the drive needs to be dismounted by dragging the drive to the Trash Can. Wait a few seconds after the drive has gone into the Trash Can, once the activity light has gone out you can safely remove the drive. Once the drive is turned off, disconnect the interface cable.

Note: MacOS users should always dismount the drive before shutting down (or powering off) their computer. If the drive is not properly dismounted there is a chance of data loss.

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Top 10 External Hard Drives

DATARECOVERYUNION.COM08 mins

External Hard Drives An external hard disk drive is a type of hard disk drive which is externally connected to a computer. Modern entries into the market consist of standard SATA, IDE, or SCSI hard drives in portable disk enclosures with SCSI, USB, IEEE 1394 Firewire, eSATA client interfaces to connect to the host computer.

External hard drives are certainly known for their memory storage capacity. They allow one to store data up to four thousand gigabytes, along with easy portability. There are many external hard drives available in the market which have unique features and functions. When external hard drives were newly launched, they were very expensive. However, due to their wide demand and use, the prices have lowered significantly. Let’s take a look at some of the best external hard drives available.

1. Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus 1 TB 3.5″ USB 2.0

  • 1 TB external hard drive connects to your computer via USB cable or FireWire 400
  • Simple Maxtor user interface for drive management, security, and backup scheduling
  • Two levels of security against unauthorized use – Maxtor DrivePass¿ and data encryption
  • Sync data between 2 or more computers on the same operating system
  • Drive and power management utilities; 5-year limited warranty Price: $119.99

2. Western Digital My Passport Elite Portable 500 GB USB 2.0 Hard Disk Drive (Titanium)

  • Luxurious Soft-touch Finish
  • Capacity gauge
  • Backup and Sync Software
  • Powered directly from the USB port on your PC. No separate power supply is needed
  • Remote access – Connect My Passport to any PC and run MioNet® Key software to remotely access files, music, and photos from any of your computers with MioNet software installed. Free for the life of the drive (Windows only) Price: $134.95

3. Seagate FreeAgent Go 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive

  • 5,400 RPM Spin Speed, 8 MB Cache Buffer
  • USB 2.0: up to 480 Mb/s
  • Sync and back up quickly at your desktop without having to search for cables.
  • Guard the privacy of important files and folders.
  • Get your storage solution up and running quickly. Price: $114.97

4. LaCie Hard Disk 1 TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive

  • 1 TB USB external hard drive with a stunning design by Neil Poulton
  • Fast USB 2.0 interface offers connectivity and transfer rates of up to 480 Mbps
  • Plug and Play functionality for both Macs and Windows
  • Includes one-year online backup service providing unlimited off-site backup storage
  • Measures 4.6 x 1.8 x 7.6 inches (WxHxD); 2-year limited warranty Price: $119.99

5. Maxtor 320GB Black Armor 2.5-Inch External Hard Drive

  • Box Content – BlackArmor external hard drive with pre-loaded security and backup software, Quick Start guide, USB 2.0 cable, and Protective slip case
  • Protected by Seagate Secure hardware based encryption technology delivering Government certification as the strongest data security available for an external storage device
  • Removal of the USB cable from your computer auto locks the drive
  • No tedious manual security procedures found in software-based encryption technology
  • Hint feature offers a reminder in the event of a forgotten password Price: $89.99

6. Toshiba 320 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive

  • USB Powered for Portability/ 320GB Capacity/ Up to 480Mb/s Speed
  • Small Size Saves Desktop Space/ Compact/ Lightweight/ Just 6 oz./ Black and Grey
  • Internal Shock Sensor and Ramp Loading Technology
  • Simple Solution for Backup or Increasing Computer Storage
  • Perfect for Music/ Movies/ Photos/ Games/ Large Business Files/ Etc. Price: $82.51

7. Seagate FreeAgent Desk 1 TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive

  • USB 2.0: up to 480 Mb/s
  • Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
  • Simple software, energy efficient, and encryption
  • Dynamic display, ultra stylish, brushed metal, and flexible Price: $119.99

8. Western Digital 1TB My Passport Studio II

  • Box Contents – Dual-drive storage system, FireWire 800 cable, FireWire 800 to 400 cable, USB cable, AC adapter, Software CD, Quick Install Guide, 5-Year Limited
  • Lightning-fast FireWire 800 combined with RAID 0 (Striped) yields the speed you need for smooth video editing, rendering complex 3D objects or special effects and saving huge blocks of data in record time
  • Designed to use only WD’s GreenPower drives, this system uses about 30% less energy than standard systems and runs quietly because it doesn’t need a fan
  • 1TB = 1000GB Hard Drive Capacity
  • Pre-configured to RAID 0 (Striped) Price: $223.96

9. LaCie Rugged All-Terrain Hard Disk 320 GB

  • 320 GB external hard disk with rugged, shock resistant case
  • Triple interface including FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and USB 2.0 for speed and universal connectivity
  • Bus-powered so no bulky power adapter required
  • Includes one-year online backup service providing unlimited off-site backup storage
  • Measures 3.5 x 1.0 x 5.7 inches (WxHxD); backed by a 3-year warranty Price: $119

10. Iomega Prestige 500 GB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive

  • Easy-to-use: simple USB 2.0 interface; just plug and play
  • Stylish and durable: stylish drive – available in a dark silver brushed finish; sturdy aluminum construction with included stand
  • Secure: EMC retrospect HD (PC) license is included for easy file backup (software available via easy download)
  • Energy efficient: powered by an Energy Star qualified adapter for a better environment Price: $79.95

External hard drives aren’t as fast as internal models, but they are great for backups and are easy to install.

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External drive drops offline during data streaming

DATARECOVERYUNION.COM03 mins

External Hard Drive Problem:
External Drive Drops Offline During Streaming

Cause:
During video or other data streaming, the system may unexpectedly disconnect from the external drive, halting the data stream and requiring a reconnect, power cycle or a system restart to allow the drive to be available for use again.

Solution:
Disable System Restore (XP) and Indexing Service (2000 and XP) for the external drive.

Procedure(s)

Disabling System Restore (XP Only):

WARNING: ALL System Restore Points will be deleted when disabling this feature!

  1. Right-click on My Computer and left-click on Properties.
  2. Click the System Restore Tab
  3. Check the box that says, “Turn off System Restore on all drives”
  4. Click “Okay”
  5. It will warn you and ask if you really want to do this, Click “Yes”

Disabling the Indexing Service (XP and 2000):

  1. Open My Computer
  2. Right-click on the External Drive (whatever letter is assigned) and left-click on Properties.
  3. Choose the ‘General’ tab.
  4. Uncheck the Box that says: “Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching.”

Additional Information:

Disk Indexing is a feature in Windows 2000 and XP that enables faster and more comprehensive file search functions. By default, Indexing occurs when the system is idle. After a period of inactivity the Indexing Service will resume the cataloguing of files on attached internal and external drives. A streaming operation (such as video) without user input is interpreted as such a period of inactivity and the Indexing Service will resume and begin accessing drives, sometimes causing the external unit to be unexpectedly disconnected from the system.

Other Links:

  • Microsoft’s System Restore Overview
  • Microsoft’s Overview of the Disk Indexing Service
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External Hard Disk Box

DATARECOVERYUNION.COM04 mins

images11. An external hard disk box, used for installing a hard disk, wherein there is a first fastening hole and a second fastening hole on a bottom and two sides of the hard disk, the external hard disk box comprising: a lower cover having a receiving space for receiving the hard disk, wherein there is a first positioning portion that corresponds to the first fastening hole on the bottom surface of the receiving space; an upper cover covering the lower cover; and at least one positioning structure located on one side of the receiving space, wherein the positioning structure has a second positioning portion that corresponds to the second fastening hole.

2. The external hard disk box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning structure is located on one side of the hard disk, the first positioning portion is plugged into the first fastening hole, and the second positioning portion is plugged into the second fastening hole.

3. The external hard disk box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning structure is a flexible flake, the flexible flake has a side board, and the second positioning portion is located on the side board.

4. The external hard disk box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning structure includes an external mask, a spring flake, and a pushing element, the external mask has a through hole that corresponds to the second positioning portion, one end of the spring flake is connected with the external mask, a second end of the spring flake is a free end and has the second positioning portion, and the pushing element is slidably located in the external mask and contacts the second end of the spring flake.

5. The external hard disk box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning structure is a flexible element, one side of the flexible element bends to form a linking flake, one end of the linking flake is a free end and forms a pushing portion, and the pushing portion extends to form the second positioning portion.

6. The external hard disk box as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upper cover is slidably assembled with the lower cover, two leg columns extend from two sides of the bottom surface of the upper cover, and the leg column corresponds to the pushing portion.

7. The external hard disk box as claimed in claim 6, wherein there is a first wedged portion and a second wedged portion on the lower cover and the upper cover.

8. The external hard disk box as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the flexible elements bends upwards to form at least one curved portion, and the curved portion pushes and contacts a bottom surface of the upper cover.

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