Portable HDD's, help
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 130
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From: UK
Mixture. Windows had eject on floppies since W95. It was only enabled (and visible) if the hardware reported it as supported. Most PC floppies didn't have automatic eject but not Microsoft's fault.
Many people forget that Mac OS and Windows are fundamentally different in that Mac has always had a tightly controlled limited set of hardware to work with wherease Windows (and the PC architecure) is open. One of the main reasons why I chose Windows over Mac most of the time because I am an incurable futzer. In that regard, Apple has a much easier task than Windows although the gap has closed enormously.
Personally, I prefer Windows 7 to OSX, even in terms of usability which the Mac always used to lead on. Been using it for months now (still on the RC) and it's fast, stable and well organised. Love it!
Many people forget that Mac OS and Windows are fundamentally different in that Mac has always had a tightly controlled limited set of hardware to work with wherease Windows (and the PC architecure) is open. One of the main reasons why I chose Windows over Mac most of the time because I am an incurable futzer. In that regard, Apple has a much easier task than Windows although the gap has closed enormously.
Personally, I prefer Windows 7 to OSX, even in terms of usability which the Mac always used to lead on. Been using it for months now (still on the RC) and it's fast, stable and well organised. Love it!
Last edited by Simonta; 24th November 2009 at 22:50.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 638
Likes: 18
From: South Oxfordshire
Well, for what it's worth I bought a 500GB Iomega hard drive about a week ago.
It's used on a new PC (a few months old) running Windows Vista.
Following the usual advice about clicking on the "Safely remove" icon before unplugging the thing, Windows instantly crashed (blue screen) and the PC rebooted itself.
Now my recently installed Norton Internet Security 2009 won't start properly and I get a mesage from Norton saying it needs to be uninstalled and re-installed.....
Now, whether that's because Windows went looking for a solution to the crash has anything to do with it I don't know.
Of course this might not have anything to do with the External HD. Who knows? Poxy computers.
EDIT: And interestingly, I followed Symantec's instructions to the letter to re-install my product and it came up with an "unrecoverable error"!! Solved this by re-installing from my CD rather than their suggested download. Why do these things never work for me at home? All day I work with control systems and computers, and everything's usually fine. I must have static fingers.
It's used on a new PC (a few months old) running Windows Vista.
Following the usual advice about clicking on the "Safely remove" icon before unplugging the thing, Windows instantly crashed (blue screen) and the PC rebooted itself.
Now my recently installed Norton Internet Security 2009 won't start properly and I get a mesage from Norton saying it needs to be uninstalled and re-installed.....
Now, whether that's because Windows went looking for a solution to the crash has anything to do with it I don't know.
Of course this might not have anything to do with the External HD. Who knows? Poxy computers.
EDIT: And interestingly, I followed Symantec's instructions to the letter to re-install my product and it came up with an "unrecoverable error"!! Solved this by re-installing from my CD rather than their suggested download. Why do these things never work for me at home? All day I work with control systems and computers, and everything's usually fine. I must have static fingers.
Last edited by Blues&twos; 27th November 2009 at 22:01.
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: The Essex Alps
I thought it was on PPRuNe that I noted this thread and I thought it was a month or so ago. Nice to be right for a change. Anyway, Santa turned up with a Hitachi Simple 1Tb HDD. Which was thoughtful of him. Setting it up I see that I'm invited to install 'Turbo USB 2.0' which: "will increase the speed of all your attached USB 2.0 devices. To access the install wizard (in English), click on TurboUSB.exe. If you want to change the default install location, click the Options button. Next click the check box to accept the license agreement. Then click Install." Er, will it? Can anyone say whether it's worth bothering with? I've spent some time on the usual searches (including here) and not seen much beyond the manufacturer/retailer guff.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 755
Likes: 26
From: Dublin, Ireland. (No, I just live here.)
I'd be very wary about such software. I'm not suggesting it's harmful in any way - never heard of it before - it just sounds like "one more thing to go wrong" to me. Who makes it? The name is generic, it doesn't help when looking it up.
Windows already has cacheing for such drives, which increases speed but means that you must eject safely or risk losing data. (See under the Properties for the device, Policies tab.)
Windows already has cacheing for such drives, which increases speed but means that you must eject safely or risk losing data. (See under the Properties for the device, Policies tab.)
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 638
Likes: 18
From: South Oxfordshire
I'm in agreement with bnt on that. Also, do you really need it? I've never had a problem with the speed of USB 2.0 at home. I'm paranoid about installing anything I'm not 100% sure about after some unpleasant experiences in the past!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: BRISTOL!
Save having a new thread, thought i would post back here...
Purcahsed a Seagate HDD, failed 100% after 3 months, not to be put off, yesterday i swapped it for another Seagate 1.5tb drive, and today its clicking loads, which seems to spell the end.
So, what should one do? I need a drive, 1.5tb is the minimum i need, and i have £100 (poor buddget i know).
All i can find, other than the Seagate is WD and Iomega, which dont get rave reviews, unless some one can put me right.
Thinking of buying a Samsung drive and enclosure too. but any tips would be good.
I have found 4 others (external hdd's) within £100:
- 1.5TB Samsung Story Station
- 1.5TB Iomega Prestige
- 1.5TB Verbatim eSATA
- 1.5TB WD Elements
or WD, Samsung and Seagate do 1.5tb drives (internal) for around £80 + around £15-£20 for an enclosure.
Googled the lot, good and bad about all of them, so really confused on what to get to store photos i am not keen on loosing.
The Seagate drive i have is unanomous that its junk, most have sent the thing back at least once, mines a day old and it wont be getting repaired, i think its refund time.
Feeling quite bad about external 3.5" drives as they have ALL failed on me within months at best, but all the 2.5" drives are rock sold so far.
Purcahsed a Seagate HDD, failed 100% after 3 months, not to be put off, yesterday i swapped it for another Seagate 1.5tb drive, and today its clicking loads, which seems to spell the end.
So, what should one do? I need a drive, 1.5tb is the minimum i need, and i have £100 (poor buddget i know).
All i can find, other than the Seagate is WD and Iomega, which dont get rave reviews, unless some one can put me right.
Thinking of buying a Samsung drive and enclosure too. but any tips would be good.
I have found 4 others (external hdd's) within £100:
- 1.5TB Samsung Story Station
- 1.5TB Iomega Prestige
- 1.5TB Verbatim eSATA
- 1.5TB WD Elements
or WD, Samsung and Seagate do 1.5tb drives (internal) for around £80 + around £15-£20 for an enclosure.
Googled the lot, good and bad about all of them, so really confused on what to get to store photos i am not keen on loosing.
The Seagate drive i have is unanomous that its junk, most have sent the thing back at least once, mines a day old and it wont be getting repaired, i think its refund time.
Feeling quite bad about external 3.5" drives as they have ALL failed on me within months at best, but all the 2.5" drives are rock sold so far.
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Canada
I bought a Verbatim 500GB HD last november when it was on sale for $100 and so far, thank the good Lord, I haven't experienced any problems.
I understand from people in the business there are only three(3) main manufacturers of external HD's.
Good luck
I understand from people in the business there are only three(3) main manufacturers of external HD's.
Good luck
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: UK
Seagate problems
Had two Seagate drives fail first half last year (I think both 1T).
Have been using a 1.5T Verbatim for the last six months without problem.
An earlier poster mentioned 2008 Seagate firmware problems, my data was backed up, but it would be nice to regain use of the two drives.
Does anyone know if there is there anything I can do myself regarding the Firmware to try and regain use of these drives?
Regards
Martin
Have been using a 1.5T Verbatim for the last six months without problem.
An earlier poster mentioned 2008 Seagate firmware problems, my data was backed up, but it would be nice to regain use of the two drives.
Does anyone know if there is there anything I can do myself regarding the Firmware to try and regain use of these drives?
Regards
Martin
More bang for your buck
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,513
Likes: 1
From: land of the clanger
mart52 Have a look here: Firmware Updates for Seagate Products
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 526
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From: BRISTOL!
Looks like Verbatim seem to be OK, cant see much bad on the net, even though they are not really rated anywhere.
So its Verbatim 1.5 esata vs Samsung sata and enclosure, both coming to the same price.
The Verbatim is a 7200rpm vs samsung at 5200rpm, both 32mb cache, both USB2 for my purpose, the Verbatim has eSATA, but doubt i will be using that with no esata port or a clue what one is.
So its Verbatim 1.5 esata vs Samsung sata and enclosure, both coming to the same price.
The Verbatim is a 7200rpm vs samsung at 5200rpm, both 32mb cache, both USB2 for my purpose, the Verbatim has eSATA, but doubt i will be using that with no esata port or a clue what one is.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,121
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From: Twickenham, home of rugby
Seagate does a warranty return that should get you a free replacement.
I have first hand experience that it works.
AFAIK, Western Digital does a similar warranty replacement.
SD
I have first hand experience that it works.
AFAIK, Western Digital does a similar warranty replacement.
SD
