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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > Advice on external Harddrive for use with PB

Advice on external Harddrive for use with PB
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Snake
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Status: Offline
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Aug 6, 2004, 12:00 PM
 
I have a question regarding using an external harddrive for my powerbook.

I will be giving my windows PC to my parents soon, but before I do, I need to replace the current 40GB harddrive. I suspect it has bad sectors or surface errors, because it seemed to cause the PC to crash constantly. I would be playing a game, then it would crash while I was playing, then it wouldn't detect the harddrive unless I completely shut off the PC.

Anyway, my question is, does anyone have experience with external housings for harddrives? Since I have a 1.33 15" PB, should I go with a firewire or USB 2.0 connection?

If I do indeed use this harddrive, what applications are available to quarantine the problem areas of the disk so that it may be reliable? Is it even worth the time and effort? Should I just stick with backing up my data to CD-Rs and DVD-Rs?
15" 1.33ghz Al Powerbook w/1GB RAM, 64mb ATI VRAM
60GB 7200rpm Hitachi Travelstar 7K60 HD
20GB 4G iPod w/click wheel
     
MilkmanDan
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: My Powerbook, in Japan!
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Aug 7, 2004, 02:53 AM
 
You can buy a number of external cases for just about $50 off newegg.com, thats where I got mine. Just add your own hard drive.

I'd say get firewire. Most now cases do both firewire and USB 2.0, so I guess you could use either.

If you think your hard drive is going bad, don't use it. Hard drives are very very cheap. You can find a 200 or 250 for just around $100 these days. Try going to dealmac.com to see what deals are available. I bought two 250 GIGs for $130 earlier this summer.

For tools? Try TechTool Pro or Disc Warrior. But at the price they're asking for these programs, you might as well buy a new HD.

Simple Online Guides to OS X
     
rambo47
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Denville, NJ.
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Aug 7, 2004, 10:27 AM
 
I have upgraded the hard drives of several PowerBooks and pc laptops. I use the Mercury 2.5" hdd enclosure from OWC. Having both FireWire and USB 2.0 is a nice option, but if you don't need both OWC has cheaper models with FireWire only as a connection.

I have saved the old drives "as is" until I've transferred what I need to the new drive, then reformatted the old drive in the external enclosure, giving me a pristine new full-capacity storage solution.
     
f1000
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Aug 7, 2004, 01:18 PM
 
Milkman's right: trash that hard drive. Drives are inexpensive, but the data on them is often not.
     
   
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