What does Staples do with hard drives removed from repaired computers?

Cari

My hard drive needed to be replaced due to a virus. I had to buy a new hard drive because it was $239 to transfer data from the old one and transfer to new drive. What will happen to my old drive and all the private, personal information and family photos that is on it?

Answer
You don't get a hard drive replaced just because you have a virus on it. Either they scammed you or you misunderstood them and the hard drive is defective. Many times, people mistake problematic software or a hardware problem with a virus or other malware.

Anyway, if you buy a new hard drive from them, then they should be able to recover what they can from the old hard drive (unless the hard drive is completely dead) and put the old data on the new drive.
Make sure that you tell them that you want your old files copied over to the new drive.

I think that the old drives get recycled. You usually don't have to worry about identity theft or other problems because the technicians usually don't waste their time on scanning all the data on your hard drive for things like that. Most technicians aren't scumbags.

Notes:
For data that can't be replaced (e.g. family photos, videos), you should save them to blank DVDs or even Blu-ray discs if you have a Blu-ray writer. Make 2 copies of each disc and store them in 2 different places for even better protection. Just make sure that your disc writing software is set to verify the data after it is written to the disc.

NEVER keep personal data on a phone or computer (especially a portable computer like a laptop).
What if it gets stolen? Your friend's and family's contact information won't be interesting to a thief, but some people store passwords, credit card information, bank card information, and other things like that on their computers.

Help! Question about External vs Portable hard drive?

Its Me

I'm about to go to Staples and I desperately need the Anwers! community's help! I'm pretty knowledgable about software and internet stuff, but I'm totally dumb when it comes to hardware, so I need you to help me pick the best item for my needs. Here's my situation.

My computer: Dell Optiplex 755 PC with 74.4 GB harddrive and Windows XP.

I don't have (and don't want) a lap top, so the only way to move files from place to place is with a flash drive (I have a 16GB). I live half the year in one state and then the other half of the year in another state. I have a monitor at both places, so I have to take my harddrive tower back and forth with me. I also have my computer cram packed with photos and video (I'm a photographer/videographer) and though I back up everything on discs, I HATE having to go through all of those discs to find anything. I want to be able to keep a copy of all of that stuff on my computer for easy access, and to able to easily transport it all.

SO..... there are three things on sale at Staples that I believe might help and I need you guys to choose the BEST one for me (these are the only options so please don't recommend "better" things):


IOMEGA PRESTIGE 1TB External Hard Drive
[This has a very sleek and small casing - easy to move]

SEAGATE GOFLEX 500GB Portable Hard Drive

IOMEGA EGO 320GB Portable Hard Drive

Prices are irrellivant to me.

So, I know the 1TB is great, but it is an external hard drive... vs. the PORTABLE 500GB and 320GB hard drives. Is it better for me to have a portable or external?

OK... and second question.... do I just plug these in to my main hard drive tower with a USB or something? I mean, maybe the issue over external vs. portable is irrellivant if they are both easy-plug-in by USB because the external unit is easily portable. But I don't know about these things. Does the external unit have to internally wired into my main harddrive?

I'm so confused I do not know what to do..... and we are leaving in 25 minutes to go to Staples so it's now or never.


THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!!!
Just to reinterate...
I have a DESK TOP - not a LAP TOP.

Answer
The portable is just smaller in size, with less capacity.

The external is often used for people with desktops whose computers don't really move. You can use them with laptops though.

Both accomplish the same thing though. And yes you attach them via USB.


That said, my vote is for the Seagate 500gb Portable HDD based on what I know of Seagate and its reputation.

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Can I use an external hard drive with my Xbox?

Kyle

I am ordering a Seagate Backup Plus 500GB Portable USB 3.0 External Hard Drive, (compatible with PC and Mac) from Staples. If I plug it into the USB input on my Xbox 360, (newest edition, 4GB) will I be able to select it as a storage device to save downloaded games to?

Thanks,
Kyle

Answer
Nope they are not combatible... Sorry anyways try bestbuy or amazon they sell official 320 gb hard drive for xboxs and 32 stick drives

can you have 2 hard drives for a labtop?

westh

I am running out of space on my hard drive on my computer and i really want a another hard drive but i have no idea if you can get 2 for a labtop

Answer
Nope. Your laptop was either built with 2 Hard Disc Drives or just one. In most cases, it's just one.
Since laptops are small unlike the CPUs of desktop computers, if it was built with just one Hard Drive, then that's all you can put in there.
That's why they invented the portable external Hard Disc Drives for convenience. I have a 1.5 TeraByte WD External HDD that i got for $99 from MicroCenter. Staples and Fry's retail affordable ones too, but I would go check it out at Fry's first.

FOR the best PRICEs, go to Fry's Electronics, MicroCenter, CostCo & BestBuy's web sites for updates & COMPARISON.

FYI: I always tell my customers, a laptop's battery is similar to a cell phone's. You charge it when it's depleted & you unplug the adapter when it is already fully charge (this will prevent the battery from getting overcharged & extend the life of the battery). So for less hassle, I always advice my customers to just remove the battery if they plan to use the computer for long hours straight (more than 1 hour) and just run it on AC power alone so as not to overcharge it & shorten the battery life.
As you know, dust is almost always in the air. The air vents needs checking from time to time for accumulated dust might have clogged in the air passage way within the laptop itself. Use a flash light to check in the air vents. Check the bottom of your computer, it usually has rubber pads that provides ample space between the laptop case bottom and the table. For the computers that I have used, these rubber pads provide enough clearance for ventilation for the hot air though it's not enough. It never hurts to be cautious, so for my own laptop, I bought a $15 2-fan Cooler Master U2 Cooling Pad from MicroCenter to help flush away the heated air from the bottom air vents of my laptop. Cool thing about the Cooler Master U2 is that you can position the fans on the right spot for better ventialation.

FYI, laptop, as the name itself... well, I really don't use it on my lap b'coz sometimes our leg, the bed cover or some clothing may already be blocking the air vent without our knowledge.
Also, if your computer is running a lot of applications that means that the HDD (Hard Disc Drive) is moving very fast and any minute (small) movements of your legs creates vibrations inside (which we wont see from the outside) that causes damage to the HDD discs, and eventually in a long time (when the damage is too much and in some cases the HDD makes a sound) the hard drive will crash. So, if your laptop came with a HDD protection utility, just like what Toshiba and HP has, you can always lower down the sensitivity level to level 2 or 1 but never completely disable the protection utility to prevent the HDD from getting damage from the inside and use the computer on a stable surface. Now, like what I always tell my customers, to always create a restore point (every last day or first day of the month) and make sure that you constantly back-up any important pictures, documents or files from your HDD to a Flash Drive/Thumb Drive or writable DVD±R or an external HDD, so that you will not lose any of these info just in case something bad happens.

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Can I use an external hard drive with my Xbox?

portable hard drive staples image

Kyle

I am ordering a Seagate Backup Plus 500GB Portable USB 3.0 External Hard Drive, (compatible with PC and Mac) from Staples. If I plug it into the USB input on my Xbox 360, (newest edition, 4GB) will I be able to select it as a storage device to save downloaded games to?

Answer
I know for sure that you can use a USB drive. You might as well try it out. There's nothing holding you back. Plug it in and see if it pops up when it asks you to pick which storage to get your saved games from.

Can I use an external hard drive with my Xbox?

Kyle

I am ordering a Seagate Backup Plus 500GB Portable USB 3.0 External Hard Drive, (compatible with PC and Mac) from Staples. If I plug it into the USB input on my Xbox 360, (newest edition, 4GB) will I be able to select it as a storage device to save downloaded games to?

Thanks,
Kyle

Answer
Nope they are not combatible... Sorry anyways try bestbuy or amazon they sell official 320 gb hard drive for xboxs and 32 stick drives

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