Removable hard drive: type, amount of memory, how to choose, review the manufacturer, the best model of how to set up, repairs nuances

General information on the external drives

Physically, the external drive is no different from the internal. It can also store data, it has a set of disks, heads and controllers. But, unlike its stationary counterpart, which is constantly confined inside the system unit, removable drive clad in body style and design which may be different. It is an aesthetic moment, and protective. Before damage bared part of the disk, you will first need to go through the body. Usually connected through the carrier USB, which gives him total flexibility, because today it is difficult to find a PC or laptop without this connector.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main plus removable media - its portability and the ability to use as a giant stick. Especially it is appreciated by the people working in the IT-environment, when you need to boot from another drive or the customer to quickly install any required software. The advantages include a more interesting appearance, which is often a piece of art.

Among the shortcomings can be identified increased fragility of the hard drives in general. Sometimes a light blow to the head dropped to disk and no longer able to run. Despite the fact that the new SSD can withstand much larger shake-up, as for them hitting disastrous, as part of the components on the board can simply break away.

Another significant disadvantage can be regarded as a slow speed, if it is to speak about the hard drives in the disk drive. Like it or not, and the rate of charge transfer from one state to another in the new SSD will always be much higher than the rate of promotion of the disc and the positioning of the magnetic head on it.

Why do I need an external drive

The spectrum of use of removable storage devices is quite broad. Anyone can use it in different ways. Someone brings work files from one PC to another, someone reserves system, while others simply use your drive to store a large number of films. For IT-Schnick hard drive can be an additional tool. After all, with such a drive can be easily downloaded to any PC and run diagnostics, or install software. And given the large volume, you can create a multi-boot drive, which will be tools for all occasions - from reinstalling Windows to treat the regular hard drive.

Types of external storage drives

Divide all external storage drives can now be two major types:

• SSDs;
• storage on hard disk drives.

It should say at once that there is a hybrid that uses both approaches, but of him alone.

The drive for the hard disk drive typically contains from 1 to 4 physical magnetic disk. They using magnetic heads recorded sequences are then converted into human readable data. The magnetic head can move from the beginning of the disc to the edge, or vice versa, positioning itself on a particular area to search for or writing data. the disc also rotates itself at a speed of approximately 5400 rpm. / min. There are more high-speed models, reaching up to 10 000 r / min. The weak point of the hard drive - small files, it is necessary to constantly change their position for which the reading head. And given the fragmentation in connection with the part of the recording and reading on a hard disk, the reading of even a small file may take precious milliseconds. All work to ensure that the disc drive teamwork, magnetic heads and positioning system takes over the electronics. Placed on the unit.

The hard drive may have a small cache, a small memory block is about 32 or 64 MB. He need for pre-storing data to be read or written, increased reading speed, and to once again not address directly to the drives. The new hybrid models, the cache can perform the role of a small SSD-drive. Noise that people hear when using the drive on the hard disk, and publishes a spinning spindle positioning device.

Now a little about the SSD. As there are no moving parts and heads. All read and write mechanism is completely built on the chips, like a flash drive. And, in fact, the type of memory used from there. Without going into technical details, the resulting signal is supplied to certain cells formed a charge which represents one bit of information. Checking the number of charges and the empty spaces, the accumulator is set bits, which then form human intelligible data, such as images, video or music. A significant disadvantage of SSD, and flash drives, too, is too small resource records read-write cycles. But the speed of action is just amazing.

Features external storage

As with all complex electronic device, external hard drives contain a pile of different characteristics and parameters. Let's look at what you need to pay attention first of all.

Form factor and interface

Form Factor - is the size and design of the device. External hard drives can now be found 3 different configurations: 1.8 '', 2.5 '', 3.5 ''.

3.5 inches - the largest size of the known external hard drives. Such models are almost always come with a network adapter for a separate power supply. 2.5 inches - the most common form factor, which does not require additional power and can receive it via USB.

1.8 inches - are mainly used for the SSD. As for the interface, the USB is now installed on all modern external hard drives, replacing the remaining legacy standards.

Type and amount of memory

These two indicators significantly affect the cost of the device. In this case, the run between SSD and HDD is quite significant. For comparison, an external SSD hard drive with 500 GB is the price of 10 000 rubles. But classical HDD with the same capacity can be purchased for 2800 rubles. As you can see, the difference is big. But if you remember the story, the first hard drives also cost as cars, and then gradually become cheaper and more accessible. Perhaps the same thing will be repeated with the SSD, just need to wait a little longer.

Now a little about the differences between these two types of carriers. SSD reads and writes data faster than HDD. And much more. Many users have reported that the operating system download speeds on the SSD has increased several times. But HDD reliable in terms of data security. He unlimited number of write-write cycles. On the failure of largely affects timely wear of mechanical parts, as well as starting and stopping the drive. It is worth noting that the latest developments in the SSD and also allowed to increase their lifespan. So maybe in the near future, SSDs will be able to completely replace the HDD.

How to choose an external hard drive - the recommendations of our editorial

Everything, as always, determines the budget. Before you choose a reliable hard drive, you need to weigh the "pros" and "cons." If budget is a solid, it can be easy to turn its gaze to the SSD side. And do not be afraid of an excessively rapid failure. After all, external hard drive, typically used occasionally. That is, the number of write-write cycles will not grow at the same rate as when using it as a system. A storage on it images various systems for subsequent installation with it - is generally good. After all, the media data will only be read. Decide what kind of external hard drive is better to buy, check with the manufacturer to the official website - there often have useful information or software.

For storing large amounts of SSD is unlikely to be suitable, since every extra gigabyte will cost a pretty penny. But external HDD hard disk drive 4 TB can be purchased for 20 thousand rubles. This volume is enough to burn about 2,800 movies DVDRip format.

Overview manufacturers

Hard drives who just does not produce. Both external and internal. Yet there are some of the best that hold brand over the years:

• Toshiba. The Japanese company, which is one of the first to produce a magnetic disk. Now on the market you can find a lot of interesting models from this company;
• Saegate. Perhaps the only company that started in 1985 with the production of discs, and still it does. It manufactures both HDD, and SSD;
• Western Digital. Another US company, which specializes in manufacturing storage devices. It has an interesting color gradation lines of its products;
• Samsung. Well, this company produces almost everything, including hard drives. As with other products, carriers from Samsung, too bad.

The best models of external hard drives, according to the editorial

We made a small rating of external hard drives in the context of price, performance, and user reviews.

Western Digital My Passport 2 TB (WDBUAX0020B)

Cute appearance of this external hard disk to 2 TB, as well as its speed characteristics of 500 MB / s are estimated at 4000 rubles. Form factor disk is 2.5 inches popular. Connect it, you can use the USB-3.0. And that's what users say about it.

Toshiba Canvio Ready 1TB

An external hard drive to 1 TB, executed in two color styles: completely pure white and black. disk rotation speed of 5400 rev / min. Asserted external data rate - 500 Mb / s. Form factor is the most popular - 2.5 inches. Buy a removable hard disk can be up to 3 000 rubles.

seagate STEB2000200

External hard drive 2 TB costs 4,600 rubles. This is a bright representative of the form factor of 3.5 inches. Externally, it looks very stylish. Inside, the standard hard drive with USB 3.0 interface.

Buffalo MiniStation 1TB (HD-PC1TU2)

Another good external hard drive to 1 terabyte. Size Standard - 2.5 inches. USB 2.0 interface, so the external data transfer rate is quite low? 60 MB / s. The price of this removable hard drive to 1TB of 5400 rubles.

Samsung Portable SSD T5 250GB

External hard drive 250 GB type SSD. Made in the most compact form factor - 1.8 inches. The stated data rate of 540 Mb / s. This external hard drive SSD is not the cheapest, for it will have to pay 7100 rubles.

What should I do if my computer does not see the removable hard drive

The very first thing to try in this case - try another connector. By the way, the method of universal and suitable for all devices. And even if other gadget works fine on the port, not the fact that the current device will work here.

If does not work, you need to look into device manager and make sure the problem is not in the drivers. If the gadget is identified by the system, but do not have enough drivers, the Manager will be written something like "Unknown Device" in the unit with USB or just the name of the disc. The idea is that in the new system drivers are installed automatically. If it does not, then we should try to turn off, turn on the device from the port and also switch to another port.

If the device is new, the disk can not be formatted, and it does not even have the partition. To create a profile and get started, you need to go to "Control Panel", find the "Administration" section. In the list select the "Computer Management" and then "Disk Management". Where you should see all the disks that are connected to the system. If our problem drive there, it is worth trying to change the letter using the context menu. If the drive is there, but in his field says "Not distributed", it means that the section does not appear at all. You can also create it from the context menu.

Repair removable hard disk - the nuances

Unfortunately, the only repairs that a user can perform at home,? is a full format. If the hard drive has failed because of broken sectors, when they discard the formatting, leaving only the workers. If the problem is more serious, for example, zalipla head or faulty controller, then there can not do without professional help. We can only give a few recommendations for the proper handling:

• hard drive not tolerate overheating, so you should be attentive to the conditions in which the drive is forced to work;
• Do not strike or device falls, even if it's SSD;
• the first sign of unstability of HDD - crunching and unusual sounds. To avoid losing data, an urgent need to make backup copies on other media. As for the SSD, then in general no one is safe, it can break down at any moment;
• in general, the need to carefully handle your electronic friend.

If you have any experience with the treatment of various types of hard drives, you can share it with other users in the comments.