Hard drive vs external hard drive

[sten102]

I want to get another hard drive, maybe 200GB, to use to backup files in case of a hard drive crash on my desktop PC. Should I get an external hard drive, or just another hard drive to insert into my pc? What are the differences?

[homer75]

I got a maxtor 160Gb from one of the cheap computer shops and used the maxtor utilities downloaded from thier website to set the new drive up as my boot drive. Everything was copied over over no problem. I then set the original up as a slave ( just change them over and change the jumper ). Now I have my original as storage with all my original data and a brand new main (boot) drive.

[boobesque]

following on from homers answer(??), an external drive is commonly used if you have no more drive bays left in your pc, or if you switch drives from pc to pc often. i believe that internal drives are faster and probably safer as you cant accidently step on it. unless you have a specific need for an external drive stick with internal.

[sten102]

Thanks very much, I think I'll get an internal one then. Are they easy to fit...?!

[homer75]

Check you have a spare bay for the new drive and a power connector - there should be spare ones available. Fit the new one on the ide cable to your present drive on the extra connection, set the jumper as a slave and you can either set it up as a new boot drive or as additional storage. You will manage it no bother. Get a wrist earthing strap for working insider the PC - static can fry some delicate components.