PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: David on September 29, 2008, 10:38

Title: External Hard Drive
Post by: David on September 29, 2008, 10:38
http://www.pcwb.com/catalogue/item/Y889860R?cidp=Froogle

Just recieved an external hardrive and thought it was usb but its firewall only..as non of my working machines have Firewire ports is it possible to take out the only Firewall port I have from my spare machine and install into my newer pc ?

Would it be easier to just go out and get another advice please ?

I had hope to use it and then transfer from one machine to another but this will not be possible unless all machines have firewire ? :blush:
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: Simon on September 29, 2008, 11:01
Sorry David, I know nothing about Firewire, but hopefully someone else will.  Have you opened the new drive?  I'm just wondering if it might be easier to exchange it for a USB version?
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: David on September 29, 2008, 11:13
Bought it used Simon
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: Sandra on September 29, 2008, 11:14
According to the link it has both types of connection. So it should work via USB as well as via Firewire.

If for some reason the specs are wrong then you can buy a PCI Firewire card similar to this one and fit it in your PC :

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/60608
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: David on September 29, 2008, 11:27
According to the link it has both types of connection. So it should work via USB as well as via Firewire.

If for some reason the specs are wrong then you can buy a PCI Firewire card similar to this one and fit it in your PC :

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/60608

Thanks Sandra the unit here has no usb just 2 Firewire.

So Im thinking of the other option to take the Firewire out of my spare machine cant think there will be any other solution  :dunno:
As I have not tried this before the taking out of the old machine is on the face of it straight foward,wonder if there is any hazards installing in my other desktop.?

Taking it all into account Im thinking of just buying another
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: Rik on September 29, 2008, 11:33
If the firewire port is on a separate card, David, it should be a doddle to move, though you will probably need a driver disc. Many Firewire ports, though, are inbuilt to the mobo.
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: Simon on September 29, 2008, 11:38
As Rik said, it should be easy enough to move, but if you haven't got a driver disk, the easiest thing might be to buy another Firewire card, David, either from Sandra's link, or Play.com.
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: David on September 29, 2008, 11:39
Thanks for that.......I did get the firewire complete and got a guy to install it will check the box but it did come complete with Pinnacle
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: David on September 29, 2008, 11:40
If the firewire port is on a separate card, David, it should be a doddle to move, though you will probably need a driver disc. Many Firewire ports, though, are inbuilt to the mobo.

Thanks Rik.hope did I make that clear ???
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: Rik on September 29, 2008, 11:44
It sounds like it is a separate card, and you should have a driver disc with it.
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: David on September 29, 2008, 12:38
Yes I have checked have the disc,I bought a pinnacle studion 9 last year and have all the divers etc so im my mind I cant see any probelms just switching it all over from the machine its on at present and installing into my other one
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: David on September 29, 2008, 12:57
According to the link it has both types of connection. So it should work via USB as well as via Firewire.

If for some reason the specs are wrong then you can buy a PCI Firewire card similar to this one and fit it in your PC :

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/60608

 :cheers: Thanks for this Sandra think I will try this
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: Rik on September 29, 2008, 12:58
Failing which, David, Aldi have a 500GB drive for £50 this Thursday:

http://uk.aldi.com/uk/html/offers/58_7350.htm
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: David on September 29, 2008, 13:08
Thanks Rik,have to find if I have one around here,am interested in the portable ones which will allow me to transfer as well as use to archive data.

I read so many bad reviews of the Western Digital managed to put myself off it,not a balanced view I doubt but it did sway me  :stars:
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: Rik on September 29, 2008, 15:17
WD are generally OK in my experience, David, though I lean towards Seagate by choice.
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: David on September 29, 2008, 15:34
Thanks Rik I do read the reviews before buying but in this case I think I read too much.I checked out the link on the other forum again and like that one price was good and I do like the size of it.I will check out the Seagate thanks again  ;)
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: Rik on September 29, 2008, 15:54
The thing to remember about most external HDs, David, is that you don't know who the drive manufacturer is, only the enclosure manufacturer.
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: GillE on September 29, 2008, 16:02
Failing which, David, Aldi have a 500GB drive for £50 this Thursday:

http://uk.aldi.com/uk/html/offers/58_7350.htm

If they're the same as the 500GB Medions I bought last time they were available, I shall be very happy.  I think I might buy another couple :) .
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: sam on September 29, 2008, 16:42
i like the look of the computer they have on offer too... so so tempted... I could do with a new desktop but I'd be affraid of the noise, I'm looking at getting a nice quiet one - as my current one is way too loud.
Title: Re: External Hard Drive
Post by: Rik on September 29, 2008, 16:43
It looks like a pretty good spec for the money, Sam, and you can return it if it's too noisy.