How to Install an External HD

Connections may be USB, FireWire, SATA or IDE.

If you are running out of space on your hard drive, consider adding an external hard drive. You can also use an external hard drive as a backup system. External hard drives are portable and are reasonably priced. Installing an external hard drive, whether on a Mac or a PC, is very easy. Although hard drives come in different connection modes, the most common are USB and FireWire. USB and FireWire external hard drives are also the simplest to install.

Things You'll Need

• External hard drive software disc

Instructions

Windows

1. 

   USB and FireWire hard drives do not have external power sources.

   Read the manufacturer's instructions that came with the hard drive. Check the manufacturer's instructions to verify that the hard drive is compatible with the version of Windows on the computer.

2. Check the manufacturer's instructions to see if you must install the driver manually before connecting the external hard drive. If the driver should be installed before plugging in the external hard drive, insert the software disc that came with the hard drive into the computer and follow the onscreen instructions.

3. Plug the external hard drive into a power source. Connect the AC adapter to the external hard drive and plug it into a wall outlet if the hard drive requires external power. If the external hard drive is a USB or a FireWire device, external power is not necessary.

4. Turn the external hard drive on.

5. Plug the external hard drive into the computer. Use a FireWire port if the hard drive is a FireWire hard drive. Use the computer's USB port if the external hard drive is a USB external hard drive. If the external hard drive may be connected by either a FireWire or a USB connection, use the FireWire connection. FireWire provides faster data transfer speeds than USB.

6. Follow the online instructions. A little balloon should pop up in the bottom-right corner of the computer screen that says "Mass storage device found." Windows then will identify the hard drive, install a driver and assign a drive letter to the external hard drive.

7. Insert the software disc that came with the external hard drive if Windows did not identify the hard drive and install a driver. Follow the onscreen instructions.

8. Click "Start," then "Computer" to verify that the external hard drive is installed. The newly installed external hard drive should be listed.

Mac

1. 

   FireWire is preferred over a USB connection because it provides faster data transfer speeds.

   Read the manufacturer's instructions that came with the hard drive. Check the manufacturer's instructions to verify that the hard drive is compatible with the version of Mac on the computer.

2. Plug the external hard drive into a power source. Connect the AC adapter to the external hard drive and plug it into a wall outlet if the hard drive requires external power. If the external hard drive is a USB or a FireWire device, external power is not necessary.

3. Turn the external hard drive on.

4. Plug the external hard drive into the computer. Use a FireWire port if the hard drive is a FireWire hard drive. Use the computer's USB port if the external hard drive is a USB external hard drive. If the external hard drive may be connected by either a FireWire or a USB connection, use the FireWire connection. FireWire provides faster data transfer speeds than USB.

5. Double-click the icon of the external hard drive that appears on screen to go to "Add Device."

6. Insert the software disc that came with the external hard drive. Follow the onscreen instructions. Check and verify that the external hard drive is the drive designated to be formatted. After the external hard drive finishes formatting, the external hard drive will be automatically added to the hard drive pool.

Tips & Warnings

• If a hard drive is not recognized by Windows and the hard drive did not come with a software disc, go to the manufacturer's website. The manufacturer's website may have a support section from which you can download drivers.

References

• Microsoft: Install or remove a hard disk drive
• Microsoft: Install a USB device
• Liutilities: How to Install an External Hard Drive