I received another computer question on a third party website where by I earn supplemental income answering computer and technology related questions. This one deals with using an external hard drive on a personal computer. Here is the original question quoted verbatim.
I have a 1TB WD Passport Ultra, Metal Edition that I purchased in April 2017 to provide a backup of my PC hard drive. S/N xxxxxxxxxxxx. There is a sticker on the back with my name on it and the number xxxxx-xxxxxxxxx.
This individual owned two Dell computers. A Dell Inspiron 620 and Dell Inspiron 3670. The Dell Inspiron 3670 was brand new. This individual wanted to use their one terabyte Western Digital Passport Ultra metal edition on their new computer.
All you have to do is connect your external hard drive to your Microsoft Windows ten operating system based computer and then format it. You can open “File Explorer”. Then you will want to right click the external hard drive and choose “Format”.
When purchasing external hard drives, you should first make certain that the one you want to purchase is compatible with your operating system. Some external hard drives are compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems. Some external hard drives are only compatible with one operating system, Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh operating system.
You can perform a quick Internet search and find out what operating systems the brand and model of external hard drive is compatible with. If you are shopping at a retail store, you can look on the outside packaging to see what operating systems this external hard drive is compatible with. This can save you time and possibly money.
Your external hard drive may already be pre formatted. All you would need to do is hook up your external hard drive to your Microsoft Windows ten operating system based computer and then access it like any other hard drive. However, some external hard drives require that software installed on the drive detects your operating system.
Some external hard drives you have to format the device yourself before you can use them. This is where planning ahead and knowing what you need to do to get your external hard drive functioning could save you time and money. When you do format an external hard drive, just make certain you are formatting the correct device.
You certainly do not want to format the hard drive that has your operating system installed on. Once you do format your external hard drive or are able to access it, then you can read and write to this drive like any other removable media. You can use it to back up your important data.
You could even have automatic backups configured. When in doubt, try to educate yourself first about the actual external hard drive that you are wanting to purchase. Purchasing an external hard drive to back up your data is a step in the right direction.
I lecture quite often about how important it is to back up your important data. These instructions were written for Microsoft Windows ten operating system and a Western Digital Passport Ultra external hard drive. However, you could certainly use these instructions as a basis point for other brands and model external hard drives on Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Unlocking Limitless Storage Potential: A Comprehensive Guide to Harnessing the Power of External Hard Drives
Introduction:
In an increasingly digital world, where our lives are intertwined with data and files, it is essential to have a storage solution that offers both convenience and security. Enter external hard drives – the not sung heroes of digital storage. These compact devices are revolutionizing the way we manage and safeguard our data, allowing us to extend our digital boundaries and keep our precious files accessible on-demand.
In this blog post, we will delve into the world of external hard drives, exploring their benefits, use cases, and essential tips to make the most of this invaluable storage asset.
Understanding External Hard Drives:
External hard drives are portable storage devices that can be connected with various interfaces like universal serial bus, thunderbolt, or firewire. They provide end users with the freedom to safeguard and transport large amounts of data quickly and securely.
Benefits of External Hard Drives:
Increased Storage Capacity: External hard drives come in various capacities, starting from a few gigabytes to several terabytes. They provide a practical solution for individuals and businesses struggling with limited internal storage space.
Portability: Not like internal hard drives, external ones are designed to be transported easily. This allows end users to carry their data wherever they go, ideal for sharing large files, performing backups, or working on multiple computers.
Backup and Redundancy: External hard drives are instrumental in creating backups and redundant copies of important files, safeguarding against data loss due to hardware failures, theft, or accidental deletion.
Easy File Organization: With external hard drives, you gain additional space to organize your files, separating them by purpose, importance, or date. This eliminates clutter and ensures a streamlined file management experience.
Use Cases for External Hard Drives:
Personal Use: External hard drives serve as repositories for personal files such as photographs, videos, music libraries, and valuable documents. They effortlessly preserve memories and allow easy sharing across different devices.
Work and Productivity: Professionals dealing with large files, multimedia content creators, or data analysts depend on external hard drives for seamless data management, collaboration, and multitasking across various workstations.
Gaming: Gaming enthusiasts can install and run games directly from external hard drives, maximizing storage on their personal computers or gaming consoles. This provides flexibility and the ability to take their gaming library on the go.
Backup and System Migration: When upgrading or replacing a computer, external hard drives ensure a smooth transition by facilitating the transfer of files, applications, and settings from one system to another.
Tips for Maximizing External Hard Drive Efficiency:
Regular Backups: You can schedule automated backups to keep your data protected and avoid potential loss. Also, you can consider using dedicated backup software or cloud-based backup services for added security.
Encryption and Password Protection: You can safeguard your sensitive data by utilizing encryption features available on many external hard drives. This adds an extra layer of security against unauthorized access.
Proper Ejection: You will want to always follow the proper ejection process to prevent data corruption during removal. This ensures that all file transfers are completed, reducing the risk of data loss or damage.
Updating Firmware and Drivers: You can regularly check for firmware and driver updates provided by the manufacturer to enhance the performance and compatibility of your external hard drive.
In Conclusion:
External hard drives have emerged as indispensable tools for anyone dealing with the ever-increasing need for storage. They offer a practical, portable, and secure way to store and manage data across various scenarios, making our digital lives more efficient and worry-free. By understanding the benefits and employing our helpful tips, you can confidently unlock the limitless storage potential provided by external hard drives.
So, you can invest wisely and welcome the convenience, expandability, and robustness of this revolutionary storage solution.
How to Install External Hard Drive on Microsoft Windows 10 Video Transcript
0:01
this is Aaron with anetcomputers.com
0:03
with another video for you today this
0:06
video deals with how to install an
0:08
external hard drive on Microsoft Windows
0:11
10 operating system really not that Ty
0:13
difficult but there are some caveats so
0:16
I received another computer question
0:17
through a thirdparty website whereby I
0:20
earn supplemental income answering
0:22
computer and technology related
0:24
questions this is with a external hard
0:27
drive here is the original question Cod
0:30
verbatim on screen highlighted quote I
0:33
have a 1 tbte Western Digital Passport
0:36
Ultra metal
0:38
Edition that I purchased in April of
0:40
2017 to provide a backup of my personal
0:43
computer hard drive they gave me the
0:45
serial number I'm not sure why there is
0:47
a sticker on the back with my name on it
0:49
and the number that could have been a
0:50
model number could have been a part
0:52
number purchase order number who knows
0:54
now that individual owned two Dell
0:56
computers a Dell Inspiron 620 and a Dell
0:59
INSP on
1:00
3670 the 3670 at that time was brand new
1:03
and this individual wanted to use that
1:06
one tbyte Western Digital passport ultr
1:08
metal on their new computer all they had
1:11
to do was connect their external hard
1:13
drive to their Microsoft Windows 10
1:14
operating system and then format it then
1:18
what you would do once you connect it is
1:20
open up file explorer then you will
1:21
rightclick that external hard drive and
1:24
then you'll choose format from a menu a
1:27
little pop-up
1:28
window that that's all they had to do
1:32
now since they already used that
1:33
external hard drive on their previous
1:35
computer then that's why they all they
1:37
had to do is just you know format it
1:39
themselves now here are some tips
1:43
whenever purchasing external hard drives
1:46
you want to make sure that the one that
1:48
you want to purchase is actually
1:50
compatible with your operating system in
1:51
this case Microsoft Windows 10 now some
1:54
external hard drives are compatible with
1:56
both Microsoft Windows and Apple
1:58
Macintosh operating system systems
2:01
some external hard drives are actually
2:04
only compatible with one operating
2:06
system either Microsoft Windows or Apple
2:08
now when it comes to Linux that's a
2:10
whole another video but I have actually
2:12
used external hard drives that were
2:15
basically compatible with you know W
2:18
Microsoft Windows Andor Apple Macintosh
2:20
and I was able to format it just fine
2:22
but it just really depends on a lot of
2:24
external hard drive not just external
2:26
hard drives but a lot of Hardware is
2:28
really not compatible with Linux say but
2:30
some is what you could do is you could
2:33
search in advance you could use the
2:35
internet and perform an internet search
2:37
and find out what operating
2:40
systems that that brand and model of
2:42
external hard drive is compatible with
2:44
that could save you a lot of time you
2:45
know what I'm saying unless you want to
2:47
you know Rush down to Best Buy or
2:49
Walmart or or even order it online and
2:52
then find out that indeed that external
2:54
hard drive is not compatible with the
2:56
operating system that you are using you
2:58
know what I'm saying
3:01
now some external hard drives are
3:04
actually already pre-formatted what that
3:07
means is all you would have to do is
3:08
hook it up to your that external hard
3:10
drive to your Microsoft Windows 10 based
3:12
operating system computer and then just
3:15
access it like any other hard drive or
3:17
you know like a removable media such as
3:20
a compact disc read only memory digital
3:22
video desk you know versal aabus flash
3:25
drive Etc at AUM manif an
3:28
item
3:30
now some of those external hard drives
3:31
will actually require that you install
3:33
software and possibly a driver so that
3:37
Microsoft Windows 10 will detect it
3:39
properly it just depends on the brand
3:41
and model of external hard
3:45
drive now this one all they had to do is
3:48
just reformat it for Windows 10 and they
3:51
were able to use
3:54
it and then obviously you want to make
3:57
sure that you choose the correct
3:58
Hardware device
4:00
I would hate for you to accidentally
4:03
format your C drive or whichever Drive
4:06
letter has your operating system on and
4:08
then next time you reboot Microsoft
4:10
Windows 10 all you see is a what a
4:12
blinking cursor or I don't know nothing
4:16
you might just see a c col in or you
4:18
know what I'm saying
4:21
anyways and then once you do format
4:24
successfully you should be able to
4:25
access it like any other you
4:28
know hard drive or any other removable
4:31
media and you can certainly use it to
4:34
back up your most important data or any
4:36
data for that matter now depends on the
4:39
backup software there's Carbonite
4:41
there's all kinds of different brands a
4:43
lot of them have automated backups you
4:46
could
4:47
certainly you know use it or try to use
4:50
it you might have to look up the
4:51
specifications for that software but I
4:54
don't see why as long as you're able to
4:55
install it on Microsoft Windows 10 I
4:58
don't see why you wouldn't be able to
4:59
use automa automatic updates excuse me
5:01
automatic
5:06
backups and then I always lecture this
5:09
is my top number one lecture always
5:11
always back up your data back up your
5:14
data back up your data I don't care what
5:16
operating system you're using Google
5:17
Android or the Google operating you know
5:20
Android operating system Apple iPhone
5:21
operating system doesn't really matter
5:23
Apple Macintosh somoma Microsoft Windows
5:26
10 always back up your data you never
5:29
know when you're going to run into a
5:30
quagmire you know what I'm saying now
5:32
these instructions were actually written
5:33
for Microsoft Windows 10 operating
5:35
system the uniform resource locator is
5:37
highlighted on screen you can type that
5:39
into the address bar of your web browser
5:43
and you can read this blog post but you
5:45
could certainly use these tips as a
5:48
basis point for other brands of external
5:52
hard drives and operating systems this
5:56
was a Western Digital passwort Ultra but
5:59
you can certainly use the tips in this
6:02
blog post for other brands like lacy and
6:05
other brands of external hard drives and
6:08
then different operating systems even
6:10
Apple Macintosh you know what I'm
6:15
saying but you would want to follow the
6:17
instructions that come with the hard you
6:20
know external hard drive but you know a
6:22
lot of these tips will work for you know
6:24
crossplatform even on Linux as long as
6:28
you know Linux can detect it you may be
6:31
able to just format it but that's a
6:32
whole another video before I run if you
6:35
ever need online computer technical
6:37
support you can ask a computer
6:38
technician now and solve your computer
6:40
problem I have partnered with a
6:42
thirdparty company that has hundreds I
6:45
don't know about thousands but they have
6:47
hundreds I don't know the actual number
6:49
but they have quite a
6:50
few vetted and verified computer
6:53
technicians that can help solve your
6:55
most common computer
6:57
problem you can communicate them to them
7:01
over real time chat SMS text
7:05
message Telephone video and even
7:09
remotely in this example one of these
7:12
technicians with this thirdparty company
7:14
that I partnered with could remotely
7:15
connect it to your computer and then
7:18
they would ask you to connect that
7:20
external hard drive whether it's a u
7:22
Universal serial bus a type connector or
7:25
the newer C type and then you know
7:29
properly format it install any software
7:31
that's necessary install any drivers and
7:34
then test it and even they may even be
7:37
able to then configure your software so
7:41
that your automatic backups are running
7:44
and then you know what I'm saying they
7:45
could potentially solve all of those
7:50
tasks for you you know what I'm saying
7:51
you can always browse to anet
7:53
computerswith
7:55
s.com on the homepage there's a chat box
7:58
type into the the chat your question or
8:01
your problem or your request and then
8:03
continue on also you can just click on
8:05
get techel and there's the same chat box
8:09
you just type in your request and then
8:12
continue on you can always browse to
8:15
ancom computers.com to fix your most
8:17
common computer problems you can also
8:18
find out what other platforms my videos
8:21
are
8:23
available browse to the anet
8:26
computers.com homepage scroll down a
8:28
little bit and you'll see all the links
8:30
to all the platforms which are
8:33
youtube.com/ computers
8:36
twitch troll. live Instagram Tik Tok
8:41
Facebook Twitter and
8:44
Rumble
8:48
adios