Do you have to keep External Hard drives plugged into a powerpoint at all times?

Krystel

I just bought my first Portable HDD (Seagate Expansion 2TB) and I was wondering if I had to keep in plugged into a wall all the time. If I wanted to use it on another computer would I need to plug it in or can I use it sort of like a flash drive? Or if I wanted to plug it into a portable mini TV or something like that.
How do you know if its a 3.5 inch or a 2.5 inch?

Answer
Only small, 2.5 inch external hard drives draw power directly from the USB port. No external power is necessary for those.

All big, 3.5 inch external hard drives would require a power adapter.

Help with understanding portable Hard Drives please.?

I desperately need external storage that I can put all my computer files in one place should my computer die or need a fresh re-install.

I currently have over 40GB of files on my computer and the back up for these is on several flash drives with the highest being only a 16GB.

As a result, I have my files all over the place so I need external storage that hold a lot. I don't want to but another flash drive as I can't find one big enough and I'm sick of them all over the place without have yet another one.

As I'm adding to my files all the time I am now looking at external hard drives and portable hard drive but the problem is I don't understand what the differences between the two are and if they just like giant (in storage terms) flash drives or different?

As I don't understand them I wonder if some kind person can answer a few questions for me and in simple terms?

1) What is the difference between an expansion drive and an external hard drive? Are they same but just called different things or do they have specific pluses and minuses?

2) If different what is the differences?

3) Are they like computer hard drives in as much as they can pick up bugs and need to be wiped so that you need a back up storage for your back up storage? I suppose I mean how relibale a back up are they in the real world?

4) Is the storgage on them for real? IE they actually can store 500GM of files?

5) How easy are they to set up and will I need any special equipment to attach one?

6) Are there any better high volume storage devices available?

7) Is there a make that is seen as the most reliable or are they much or a muchness?

Thank you in advance.
To the two who have kindly, thoroughly and simply answered - thank you so much. You are both diamonds.

Now I have to pick juss one for best answer. I want to pick you both!

Answer
1) Expansion drives and EHD's are the same.
2) -
3) As with anything, it can receive a virus. It is very unlikely though, as most viruses target the WINDOWS files, or the registry. They are the most reliable backup solution.
4) It depends on how big your EHD is. For instance, you can buy 80GB, 160GB, 240GB, 320GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, etc.
5) It is simple to set up. All you do is follow the hardware installation wizard that pops up on-screen when you plug it in. There is usually a program by the manufacturer that makes for simple file backup.
6) None that are extremely different.
7) Seagate is a very reliable brand. They are supporting my back up.

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Title Post: Do you have to keep External Hard drives plugged into a powerpoint at all times?
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