Storage solutions

[tracymort]

What would you recommend in this situation. Our pc has a 40gb (original) harddrive, plus a 150 we added on. Then we have a 150 and 250 external (sort of back up that one).
We are all full up. About 4gb left!
Now I can see us just adding more and more externals on. Would this be the only way to go? This is all just me and my husband's usage. I dread to think once my get older how much storage we will need then.

[The Builder]

I would suggest keeping the original primary drive - the 40gb - dump the rest and get a 500gb for now - they've come down a lot in price :o)

ps what on earth are you storing?

[tracymort]

Music (because we have 3 children the 2000 + CD collection my husband owns has been ripped onto the PC, easier to listen to that way and the CDs are safe in the loft) and pictures mainly.
I was planning on keeping the original, mainly for the fact I want to hang onto my XP.

[The Builder]

Here you are Tracey.....................................buy 2 :o)


http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Components/cat/Har d-Drives?refmen=ln

[The Builder]

oops..........................the Samsung is a SATA drive (up to date spec) - you might need to take advice - it may not work if you have IDE drives......................but there's another on the same page for a few pounds more that should be ok

Ask Ebuyer first......good luck

[fo3nix]

I'm a fan of drobo, doing exactly what you want (though it is quite expensive compared with just buying the bare drives).

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3595586/Data-Rob otics-Drobo-Storage-Robot-4-Bay-Hard-Disk-Stor age-Array-System/Product.html?cm_mmc=Froogle-_ -PC-_-Upgrades-_-Data%2BRobotics%2BDrobo%2BSto rage%2BRobot%2B%2F%2B4%2BBay%2BHard%2BDisk%2BS torage%2BArray%2BSystem&source=5066&engine=fro ogle_pc&keyword=Data+Robotics+Drobo+Storage+Ro bot+%2F+4+Bay+Hard+Disk+Storage+Array+System

(Now if only it was FW800 or ideally gigabit ethernet!)

[vehelpfulguy]

You ask if this is the only way to go.

One option is to get a media server.

Basically a media server is a PC (usually) that is left on all the time as is hidden away under the stairs or in spare room.

It has a huge hard disk and all your music, films, photographs etc are stored on this media server.

It does not have, or need, a screen as you work on it remotely with one of your other PCs.

If you have a number of PCs in the house they all connect to this media server and an all share the music, films, photographs etc.

I think in future most home will have some sort of media server.

[vehelpfulguy]

continued...

Microsoft are so convinced that peole will want some sort of media server that they have created a new version of windows called Microsoft Home Server.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winf amily/windowshomeserver/default.mspx

You can buy PCs already built with Windows Home Server on it, like this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-Media-Smart-Home-Se rver/dp/B000YGMJI6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=e lectronics&qid=1204573508&sr=8-1

Or you can buy a copy of the Windows Home Server software yourself and build your own media server.

Mind you Microsoft are not the only ones working in this area and other companies offer media servers.

Here are some listed in PC world

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_pag e.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1552943898.1204573664@@ @@&BV_EngineID=ccgeadedhghdhgmcflgceggdhhmdgmj .0&page=ProductList&category_oid=-24978&fm=13& sm=1&tm=2&show_all=true

[ACtheTROLL]

Just a warning ....
a huge internal drive may not be an option ....
a 40Gb drive could sit on a MOBO that can only accommodate a 137Gb drive (what does explorer show as the total on the 150?.

also what operating system ... XP will support drives over 137 ... win98 won't without a patch.

... Does the PC have usb1 or USB2? either way you can go large ... but usb1 will be very slow.

a nas drive connected via the network (see Fo3 and VHGs suggestions) would be a better option on an older machine (assuming you have a 100Mb/S nic (�3.00 from pc world) - nut you'd need to setup a network ... which could be traumatic to say the least!

an even better option is to EMPTY THE BL**Dy drives ;-)
get a CD or DVD burner ... back it all up to disc ... and use what you have already.
a spindle of 100 DVD discs (470Gb total) should cost no more than �19.00
same again for a burner .... half the price of yet another external drive .... and it won't slow your system as much either.