Storage World

Once you’ve figured out roughly how much space you’ll need to store and back up your media and other files, you can select a storage device or devices.

Take these factors into consideration:

1. Capacity limit
Again, how much storage do you need, now and in the near future?
Find out how to make an estimate on page 18. Some storage device types can be purchased in or expanded to capacities of several terabytes, while others have much lower limits.

2. Redundancy
A storage device that offers redundancy keeps more than one copy of
each of your files on separate hard drives. If one drive fails, your files won’t be lost. This is especially important if you’re using your storage device as a media archive and don’t have duplicate files stored elsewhere. Multidrive systems that offer redundancy include RAID 1, RAID 5, a Windows Home Server, or a Drobo system.

3. Connectivity
Do you want your storage device to be available for just one computer or for multiple computers and other devices? If you have a home network, you can use network-attached storage or a home server that all of your computers can back up to and share media on. If you will be connecting your storage device directly to one or more computers, make sure they have the necessary port type for the device you buy. External hard drives and enclosures with more than one connection type are available.

4. Portability
Do you want to be able to carry your storage device between home and office, or on trips, or to leave it in a safe deposit box? Do you want to back up two computers in different locations with a single device? Having a small, lightweight device that does not require any installation process when connected to a new computer, in other words, one that is plug-and-play may work best for you.

5. Backup frequency
How often do you want to back up? The safest and easiest way to back up is to set up a continuous automatic backup. For that to work, you’ll need a storage device that is always attached to your computer or network.

6. Tech savvy required
How comfortable are you with technology? Most of the options described here are extremely easy to set up, but some require a little bit of tech savvy and the willingness to go through a more detailed setup process or even loosen a few screws. Stick with something that you feel confident about setting up and using, so that you don’t put off doing it.

7. Durability
If you need to carry your backup or archive device with you, look for one that is built to resist damage. If you live or travel in areas prone to extreme temperatures and humidity, you should avoid storing your files on media that are susceptible to damage from those conditions.

8. Cost
Cost will depend on the capacity you need, but some storage device types have higher starting prices and higher costs per gigabyte (GB).

9. Media sharing capabilities
If you want to play your media collection on your TV or stereo, look for devices that will make your files available either through a direct connection or over a network. Some external hard drives can connect directly to a TV or stereo to play music, videos, and photos. Network-attached storage devices that support the UPnP AV standard can stream media to a network media player attached to a TV or to a
network-attached stereo. If you’ll be transferring or streaming video files, look for a fast gigabit Ethernet connection in a networked storage device.

10. Included software
If you don’t already have backup, sync, or drive imaging software, buying a storage device that comes with it can be a good deal. External hard drives and enclosures and network-attached storage usually come with a bundle of software. Flash drives and cards sometimes come with file-recovery software.

Tags: storage

If you’re comfortable tinkering with your PC a little, you may be able to install an internal drive in your system yourself. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Make sure that you are not carrying a static charge when you touch anything inside your computer.
Touch something else that’s metal before you start, to discharge any static electricity. Don’t work near anything that might give you a charge, such as carpeting under your fuzzy slippers. If your environment is static-prone, you can buy an antistatic wristband from an electronics store and wear it while you work.

2. Turn your computer off, turn the power switch on the back of the machine off, and unplug it.

3. Remove the side panel of your computer so that you have access to the inside. You will probably have to unscrew pegs that are holding it in place on the back of the computer case.

4. Look in the front area of the computer, and locate the currently installed hard drives. Unscrew and pull out the hard drive enclosure if necessary.

5. Put your new hard drive in an available space in the enclosure, and secure it with the screws that came with it, in the same manner as the other drives.

6. Connect one end of the data cable that came with your drive to the drive, and the other end to the appropriate connector on the motherboard, the main circuit board that all of your computer’s components are attached to. If you’re not sure where to connect
it, get a flashlight and look at the labels next to the existing connectors for a label reading “SATA”.

You can also probably find a guide to the motherboard on the manufacturer’s Web site. The manufacturer’s name and a model name will appear on the board.

7. Look for the cable extending from the computer’s power supply. This is the big box with the switch on the outside that you turned off before you started. Find an unused SATA power connector along the cable, and connect it to your drive.

8. Put the side panel back on, plug the computer back in, switch the power on, and turn your computer on. The drive should appear when you look in Windows Explorer.

The process is the same for older computers that use IDE drives, but the connectors look different. However, it’s more common to encounter problems installing hardware in older machines; if you don’t feel confident about your ability to troubleshoot if something goes wrong, don’t do it.

Tags: hard disk