- The hard drive is where all of the data is stored on your computer. Every time you save a file or install a program, the information is saved on your computer's internal hard drive.
- External (or portable) hard drives store information in the same way, but can easily be used on more than one computer. The external hard drive comes with an interface that connects to a USB port on your computer. Your computer takes a moment to recognize that you plugged in a new drive. It appears in "My Computer" if you have a PC or on the desktop if you have a Mac. The new drive should be either called by its brand name or something generic like "removable disk." If you right-click on the drive and select "Rename," then you can call your drive whatever you like. Name changes should stay constant every time you plug in the drive. Files are stored and used in the same way that you store and use them on your internal hard drive. You can install and save files and other data directly on the drive, or click and drag from another source.
- External or portable hard drives store as much or more information than your internal hard drive, and have many advantages because they are not physically attached to your computer. Here are some of the common uses of external hard drives: backing up information, transferring large amounts of information, providing extra storage space, and storing sensitive information in a safe place.
- External or portable hard drives are mostly for use when you need to transfer or store more than 2 GB of information. For 2 GB and under, a flash drive is more convenient.
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