How to Hook up a Hard Drive

Connecting a new hard disk to your computer is as easy as connecting a few cables. External hard disks are available in a lot of different sizes and speeds. They even have a few different interfaces to support them. The most common and least expensive of these is an external USB device.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Open the package containing the external hard drive you just bought. Inside you will find a USB cable and a manual. If the interface needs a special driver, there will be a CD that also comes in the package. If your computer accepts Firewire connections, then you may have chosen to purchase a Firewire external drive. Firewire drives run at a higher data transfer rate.Firewire drives run at a higher data transfer rate.
2. Turn off your computer. Connect the USB/Firewire cable to the external hard disk and then into one of the USB/Firewire connections on your computer. Choose a location close to the main computer but in a stable location. Connect the power cord to the hard disk and turn it on. Once the hard disk has started, turn on the computer and wait for the welcome screen to come on.
3. Load the drivers for the new external hard disk if prompted for by Windows. When it has found new hardware a message appears. The drivers will load. You now have a new hard drive on your system.

Tips & Warnings

• External hard disks can be handy things to have. You can backup your system onto the external disk and then unplug your disk before a major rebuild or upgrade of the operating system. Then if something goes wrong, you still have the old system fully backed up from which to restore.

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