Running out of storage space on a PC is more than just an inconvenience - it can slow down Windows, too. Windows uses a sizeable amount of hard drive space to hold temporary files as it juggles applications, so the less free space there is, the slower your applications will be.
The Storage Spaces feature aims to help with situations like mine: instead of spreading your files across multiple drives in a disorganized fashion, you can combine multiple hard drives into a. Picking up one of the best external hard drives is becoming a vital part of both a PC gamers arsenal and that of a console owner. In a world of ever-growing game installs and mighty storage hogs.
Fortunately, adding more storage to a desktop or laptop PC is easier than you think.
Step 1: Add a hard drive to a PC
Adding a new hard drive to a desktop PC is extremely straightforward.
Most desktop PCs have one or more empty 3.5-inch drive bays. Installing a new drive is simply a matter of slotting it into a bay and connecting it to the motherboard with a cable.
The new hard drive can then be used as a secondary drive to store a large music or video collection, for example. Or Windows can be reinstalled on the new drive and the old one reused for something else. Prices vary, but you typically get a lot of storage space for your cash.
Step 2: Add a hard drive to a laptop
With laptops, things are a bit trickier. Most models only have room for one hard drive, which means swapping out the old one during an upgrade.
While some laptops have a dedicated panel on their underside for easy access to the hard drive, others may require some disassembly. While this shouldn’t void a warranty (although always check), it might be a job to entrust to a professional if you’re not confident with a screwdriver.
Laptops use smaller 2.5-inch hard drives and while capacities aren’t much different to 3.5-inch desktop drives, they do tend to be more expensive.
Step 3: Add a solid state drive
Although they’re far from obsolete, hard drives are fast becoming outdated and newer solid-state disk (SSD) drives are well worth considering as an upgrade.
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Extra Hard Drive Storage
SSDs have no moving parts and instead store data on flash memory chips, a bit like a USB flash drive. This makes them extremely robust (and so ideal for laptops) and they’re very, very fast.
They're also a lot quieter than hard drives, thanks to the lack of moving parts.
Installing an SSD can be almost as effective as buying a new PC - Windows boots in matter of seconds and applications launch in just a moment or two.
External Hard Drive
Step 4: What to do with your data
If you’re replacing a hard drive in a desktop or laptop PC, rather than just supplementing it, you’ll need to decide what to do with your data. Some hard drives and SSDs come as a kit, complete with a data transfer cable and software for transferring everything from the old drive to the new.
Alternatively, you can buy an inexpensive USB adapter that converts an internal hard drive into an external one, which you can then use to transfer your personal files to the new drive.
This method means reinstalling Windows and your applications to the new drive first, but this is no bad thing for a hard drive upgrade, since it gives you a chance to get rid of unwanted applications and files that will waste space on the new drive. Think of it as giving your PC a spring clean.
Step 5: Choose an external drive
You can also use a USB hard drive adapter to convert a cheap internal hard drive into an external model, but it’s not ideal - internal hard drives are fragile and don’t come with the protective casing of external models.
If you just want to expand your PC’s storage for your personal files and aren’t too concerned about a compact set-up, then a dedicated external hard drive is a better option. These are housed in a sturdy case and connect to a PC via USB, so take just seconds to install. Desktop 3.5-inch and portable 2.5-inch drives are available, and you can use one drive across multiple computers.
If your PC supports it, it’s worth spending a little more on a USB 3.0 drive. This will be much faster than a USB 2.0 drive, which means less waiting when transferring files back and forth.
Step 6: Use a NAS drive
If you have a home network, another option is to use a network attached storage (NAS) drive. This is essentially a hard drive with an Ethernet network port that connects to a router to become part of a network.
Any PC on the same network can then use the NAS drive, and some models can even be accessed by smartphones and tablets for watching films and listening to music.
NAS drives come in all capacities, from single drives for simple use to multi-drive towers that can store dozens of terabytes.
NAS drives are also simple to install, although models designed for sharing with multiple computers take a little more effort.
Step 7: Use cloud storage
Physical storage might soon be a thing of the past for home users, thanks to the rise of cloud storage. Cloud storage simply shifts the job of storing files to someone else’s hard drive that’s accessed over the internet. This not only makes files accessible from just about anywhere - and on any device - but it’s also more secure.
Unlike information on a laptop, data stored in the cloud can’t be lost or stolen, and cloud storage companies usually offer robust security and backup options.
Many companies offer customers cloud storage when they buy products or services, for instance BT Cloud is available to BT broadband customers, depending on your package, you'll get 10GB, 200GB or 1000GB free.
External Storage Hp Laptop
Best External Hard Drive For PS5 in March 2021 – With the PlayStation 5 supporting hard drive external storage for PS4 games, this means there’s no more worrying about filling up your PS5 SSD with PS4 games. In recent times, external hard drive storage has come down massively in price, so the cost of stacking up extra storage for PS4 games has never been cheaper. So just what is the best external hard drive for PS5?
Best External Hard Drives For PS5 In March 2021
Best external hard drives for PS5 in March 2021:
1. Crucial X8 2TB Portable SSD – Price; $237.81
A frankly superb little external SSD, the Crucial X8 2TB Portable SSD might not be the best performing external SSD on the market, but for the price you’re getting 2TB of very, very fast external storage to store your PS4 games. Honestly, if you’re looking for a cheaper but extremely fast external hard drive to store PS4 games on your PS5, the Crucial X8 2TB Portable SSD is your huckleberry.
2. WD My Passport Ultra 5TB – Price: $148.81
Aside from a sleek and modern aesthetic that comes in a variety of colours, the My Passport Ultra boasts a password protection feature, solid transfer rates and is available in a variety of storage capacities that go up to 8TB—more than enough for anyone who is looking for some extra content space. Another key feature of the My Passport Ultra is its automatic and cloud backup feature, which enables the use of Dropbox as well as saving your games to the drive.
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3. Seagate Expansion 6TB – Price: $121.19
Extra Hard Drive Storage
The Seagate Expansion packs ups to 8TB of extra storage space for your PS4 gaming needs on PS5. It comes in cheaper than its desktop counterpart and is pretty fast to boot. It’s a little heavier than other options out there, but if you’re looking for extra storage space at an affordable cost, then you can do a lot worse.
4. Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim 2TB – Price $59.82
Www bluestacks com for windows 7. One of the best choices on the market right now, the Seagate Backup Plus combines sleek design, affordability and decent storage space, making it an ideal choice for PS5 gamers looking for some extra space for their PS4 games and content. It’s also fast at transferring files, making it an all-around performer.
5. WD My Book Desktop 12TB – Price: $251.12
The WD My Book is a cracking piece of kit for those looking for a desktop option, offering up to 12TB of extra storage space for your PS5 to store PS4 games and content. Like its smaller cousin, it boasts a sleek design and is easy to use, featuring automatic backup software to boot for extra security. Whether you are looking for a few extra TBs of space or the maximum PS5 can support, the WD My Book Desktop is one of the best options out there. If you can find it in stock somewhere.
6. Seagate STGD4000400 Game Drive 4TB – Price $115.00
A top choice among hardcore gamers, the Seagate STGD4000400 Game Drive boasts some of the fastest file transfer rates of any leading desktop HDD. Adobe acrobat pdf online. Its storage capacity is ideal for PS5 gamers looking to beef up their PS4 game storage capacity, packing up to 4TB of additional space. To top it all off, the Seagate STGD4000400 Game Drive clocks in at a sub-$120 price point, making it an overall fantastic option for all your storage needs.