Using an External Hard Drive?

tolshar · 17. May 2011, 11:10 AM

I want to get a portable external hard drive to use with my works laptop. I want to use it to put on and be able to run some programs and store some files and emails.

I have some on the laptop now but the companies policy is that shouldn't have anything.

I don't go into an office at the moment so I am okay, but I am due to soon and want to sort all this out before I do.

Some questions that I hope someone can answer:

What drives can anyone recommend?

Can I load and run my own programs from it?

Lastly, I am just a computer `user` and I am not at all `technically minded`, so is there a program around that will allow me to load and operate the new drive and the programs/files?

Thanks

mr6n8 · 17. May 2011, 02:28 PM

I am no expert in this area, but I do have a number of external hard drives.

I had bad experiences with Iomega as both the drives I bought from them crashed within 3 years.

I have 5 Western Digital drives, 3 of which I have had for 6 years and I have had no issue with any of them.

Whatever brand you get, it sounds like you will be moving it around, so you should get a portable.

An external drive operates much the same as a drive on your computer.

You can run programs from it, but they should be portable otherwise changes will be made to your work computer (registry for one).
Best Free Portable Applications
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best...e-programs.htm

There is nothing special you need to work off of a portable drive. You can access files and folders just as a drive on the computer.

MidnightCowboy · 17. May 2011, 02:35 PM

I think first you might need to get more information about exactly what your office policy contains. If this lap top is presumably allowed access to a corporate network, the usage terms may well include the prohibition of external media such as pendrives and HDD's. The best way is to ask your supervisor/manager for clarity, if possible by email so you end up with a written answer.

Assuming that external drives are allowed, Windows should recognize this when you first plug it in and load the appropriate drivers for you. After that, it will appear in your computer window alongside the fixed drive and optical drive. You can only run portable versions of programs from this though as anything which needs installing would have to be on the laptop's fixed drive.

Tony Woltermann · 08. Jun 2011, 03:07 AM

Agree the Western Drive is fine. No problem running most programs. Also agree that if your company has a strict policy against this,it is not worth the possible loss of your job to mess with it. As you state you are not a computer geek. This would make you even more likely to introduce a malware or other problem into your company's system. I would think that they would come down on you pretty hard. I manged such an organization and I sure would.

rickfoster · 11. Jun 2011, 05:50 PM

I do agree with tony.. its agianst any one's will and can pay him much if not taken with care

17. May 2011, 11:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
tolshar Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4	Using an External Hard Drive? I want to get a portable external hard drive to use with my works laptop. I want to use it to put on and be able to run some programs and store some files and emails. I have some on the laptop now but the companies policy is that shouldn't have anything. I don't go into an office at the moment so I am okay, but I am due to soon and want to sort all this out before I do. Some questions that I hope someone can answer: What drives can anyone recommend? Can I load and run my own programs from it? Lastly, I am just a computer `user` and I am not at all `technically minded`, so is there a program around that will allow me to load and operate the new drive and the programs/files? Thanks

17. May 2011, 02:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
MidnightCowboy Site Manager Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South American Banana Republic, third bunch from the left Posts: 9,250	I think first you might need to get more information about exactly what your office policy contains. If this lap top is presumably allowed access to a corporate network, the usage terms may well include the prohibition of external media such as pendrives and HDD's. The best way is to ask your supervisor/manager for clarity, if possible by email so you end up with a written answer. Assuming that external drives are allowed, Windows should recognize this when you first plug it in and load the appropriate drivers for you. After that, it will appear in your computer window alongside the fixed drive and optical drive. You can only run portable versions of programs from this though as anything which needs installing would have to be on the laptop's fixed drive. __________________ Knows nothing and cares even less

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

17. May 2011, 02:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
mr6n8 Editor Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 303	I am no expert in this area, but I do have a number of external hard drives. I had bad experiences with Iomega as both the drives I bought from them crashed within 3 years. I have 5 Western Digital drives, 3 of which I have had for 6 years and I have had no issue with any of them. Whatever brand you get, it sounds like you will be moving it around, so you should get a portable. An external drive operates much the same as a drive on your computer. You can run programs from it, but they should be portable otherwise changes will be made to your work computer (registry for one). Best Free Portable Applications http://www.techsupportalert.com/best...e-programs.htm There is nothing special you need to work off of a portable drive. You can access files and folders just as a drive on the computer.

08. Jun 2011, 03:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tony Woltermann Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 2	Agree the Western Drive is fine. No problem running most programs. Also agree that if your company has a strict policy against this,it is not worth the possible loss of your job to mess with it. As you state you are not a computer geek. This would make you even more likely to introduce a malware or other problem into your company's system. I would think that they would come down on you pretty hard. I manged such an organization and I sure would.

11. Jun 2011, 05:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
rickfoster Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1	I do agree with tony.. its agianst any one's will and can pay him much if not taken with care