If you are searching for an alternative way to store your data, a question in your mind might become about How To Use External Hard Drive On Laptop. These external hard drives are portable devices used in various scenarios, like storing pictures, music, documents, and other important files.
External hard drives are very much needed to store massive amounts of data, photos, videos, etc. If you are planning to buy an external hard drive, don’t worry; we have tips to help you buy the best external hard drive.
The external hard drive is a USB flash drive capable of storing a considerable amount of data and can be used for various purposes. It is a portable storage device that stores data and files. The device is usually connected to your PC via a USB cable.
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Benefits Of External Hard Drive
Some of the benefits of using external hard drives are:
If you are looking to use your external hard drive to store large amounts of data, then it is better to choose a fast and efficient model.
Features to Look For Before Buying an External Hard Drive
Below are the top 6 features that you should look for in an external hard drive:
Capacity
This refers to the maximum capacity of the external hard drive in terms of gigabytes.
Speed
This is the rate at which the external hard drive operates.
Type of drive
Different external hard drives are available, like USB, FireWire, eSATA, etc.
Compatibility
This is the compatibility of the external hard drive with the computer that you are using.
Warranty
This refers to the warranty offered by the manufacturer.
Features
This includes features like speed, size, and data transfer rate.
Slim and compact design
The external hard drive doesn’t have to be huge; it should be very compact and slim. If you don’t have space for an external hard drive, then there is no point in buying it. As you will be carrying this hard drive with you everywhere, you should make sure that it is tiny and not bulky.
Plug and Play
It is annoying to use an external hard drive that has to be connected to your laptop through the USB port. So, external hard drives should be plug and play. Connect them to your laptop, and you will get the list of available options on your screen.
Large storage space
If your laptop has limited storage space, you can quickly fill up an external hard drive with the data. But if you have ample storage space on your laptop, you can store your files on this external hard drive. So, if you want to carry the maximum amount of data with you, buying an external hard drive is always recommended.
Read and write speedily.
An external hard drive’s read and writing speeds play a vital role in its performance. If the hard drive is slow, you will be stuck in a situation where you can’t access the data. Therefore, we suggest you purchase a hard drive that is good at reading and writing, which will help you save time and perform better.
Price
Some of the best external hard drives are available at an affordable price, but if you want to buy a top-quality hard drive, you will need to spend a little more money. But if you are concerned about your budget, then you can buy an external hard drive that is available at an affordable price.
How To Use An External Hard Drive on Laptop With Different Operating Systems?
But here are some ways that you can use the external hard drive on your laptop. So let’s discuss how you can use the external hard drive on your laptop.
Use the external hard drive on Windows.
To use the external hard drive on Windows, you must first open the Start menu and click on the “Search” icon. After that, enter the name of the drive, and then you will get all the available options.
So, click on the device you want to use, and you will see all the available options.
Use the external hard drive on your Mac.
You need to click on the Finder icon if you want to use the external hard drive on your Mac. Then you can select the USB drive from the list and connect your Mac to the external hard drive.
Use the external hard drive on Linux.
You need to install the necessary software on your Linux system, which will help you access the external hard drive. You can use the commands to connect a portable hard drive to your Linux system.
Tips To Choose An External Hard Drive
There are different factors to consider when purchasing an external hard drive. Before choosing an external hard drive, there are some tips that you need to keep in mind.
Check the capacity of the external hard drive.
- Make sure you buy a hard drive with enough space to store your files and other media.
- The hard drive’s capacity directly depends on the type of file system.
- The standard capacity of a hard drive is 1 TB.
- There are different file systems, including NTFS, FAT32, HFS+, exFAT, etc.
- The file systems mentioned above have various storage capacities.
- It is recommended to purchase an external hard drive that is at least 2 TB.
- A USB 3.0 port is preferred for external hard drives as it is the fastest type of port.
- Make sure the external hard drive has enough free space on the internal hard drive for storing data.
Check the compatibility of the external hard drive.
You should buy an external hard drive compatible with your laptop or desktop computer.
System Requirements
Before purchasing an external hard drive, you must check its system requirements. It will help you to choose the most suitable model of the hard drive, and it will also help you to understand the storage space and other things that you can expect from it.
Software
If you are planning to buy an external hard drive, then it would be better to download the software that will help you check the compatibility of the external hard drive. If you don’t have any software, you can contact the seller of the hard drive.
Power Source
The main thing you need to remember is the power source. You can’t run your computer without a power source, but it is recommended that you use the external hard drive only when you are using the power source.
Compatibility Issues
Most of the time, it will be better if you use a hard drive that has compatibility with the operating system that you are using. You will be able to check the compatibility issue by reading the external hard drive user manual.
How To Use External Hard Drive On Laptop For Gaming?
If you have bought an external hard drive, you don’t need to install the game repeatedly. If you are using a laptop, then there is no doubt that you can store the game on it, but sometimes it is not possible to install the games on your laptop, and even if you want to install the game, it is complicated to connect a laptop and the hard drive.
But the good news is that you don’t need to worry because you can easily use your external hard drive to store the game and even connect it directly to the laptop.
Check the device name.
the name and model of the external hard drive and match it with the laptop you are using.
Make a partition.
You will need to create a partition on the external hard drive. So, take a disc utility and create a new division of the size you want to install the game.
Install the game
You will need to install the game on the external hard drive. As you have created the partition on it, it is not necessary to format it. Now, install the game and enjoy it.
People Also Wants To Know
How do you use an external hard drive?
You can use external hard drives to copy files on your computer. External hard drives connect directly to a USB port. You can plug them into the computer like a pen drive. You can copy files by dragging them into the external hard drive window or by clicking the folder button. You can drag files from an external hard drive and onto a flash drive.
How do I use an external hard drive for the first time?
Plug it into the USB port. Connect it to the computer via a USB cable. Double-click on the icon for your drive. You should see a pop-up menu that says “New” or something like that. Choose to “open” the drive. A folder will be created.
How do I get my external hard drive to work?
Connect your hard drive to another computer (not a Windows computer) or an IDE/SATA USB adapter.
If your hard drive is still working, try a format on it, and make sure you back up any critical data stored there.
How do you set up a hard drive?
First, you plug in the external hard drive and turn it on. Then, open your computer and click on My Computer. The hard drive should be displayed.
How do hard drives work?
A hard drive stores all your computer information on a magnetic disc. There are three types of hard drives available for you to use; one is solid-state storage, one is flash storage, and the third is hybrid hard drives.
Conclusion
We hope you liked the article “How To Use External Hard Drive On Laptop“. We provide a lot of things similar to this topic, and we have tried our best to cover them all. If you have any queries about this, then leave your questions in the comments section. We will try to give you a satisfactory answer as soon as possible.
