Is it OK to run a laptop on an EXHDD?

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Shorty

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Yes
As the title says really.
I have only 9gb left on my internal hard drive, I already have a 500gb hard drive that I use for backups, but thinking of getting a 1TB External [Iomega for mac] to have constantly plugged in - can I use this as my main storage, instead of the hassle of getting a new internal - as I get rather panicky thinking about it.

Will still be backing up to my 500gb, until that fills up and I get another etc.

I'll be getting snow leopard too, so will have time machine connected to the EXHDD

Thoughts?

EDIT: Obviously still gonna keep the internal hard drive in the laptop, will probably leave it at having the 9gb left on it forever more, in case of emergencies
 
I don't see any real reason why not, other than the relatively slow transfer times of usb (compared to internal drives) which could get a bit tedious if regularly saving / loading larger files.

Is the internal drive nearly full of useful stuff? Can you not delete anything?
 
You need to give more info. what is the laptop, as it may be easier than you think.
Although as its a mac maybe not.

How big is your hdd and what do you have on it, unless you only use your laptop on a desk then its a pain in the ass to have the OS on anything other than the internal.
It must be a tiny hdd if you cant comfortably fit your OS and programs.
 
it'd be Firewire ;-)

It is a macbook - I know how to change it myself. I'm talking hassle of double checking everything is saved onto disks, and then having to get it done. I'm not gonna risk doing it myself incase something goes wrong. I'd be more than happy to buy the disk etc. But I'd want it fitted by someone who knew what they were doing. Hence my above question.

The OS would be on the internal, definatley. But the general day to day use so when actually doing work and saving work, it'd get saved onto the EXHDD instead.
Current hardrive is 200gb

I *CAN* fit my programs and OS on it, that's the thing, it's just I've got 3years use out of it and am in need of an upgrade in size as 3years is a lot of information on a hardrive, hence the sudden 9gb left instead of the 60gb or something I had middle of last year of whatever.
I have as much stuff on the EXhdd and deleted from internal as I possibly can, without risking anything stupid and I just can't salvage anymore out of this drive, sadly.
 
OK if this can't be done, I'm conacting my local mac place and asking them if I already have a new HDD, would they install it for me[obviously at a cost - just ensures it all goes right]

So, if I was to do this. Can Mac people help me in finding out what the biggest size drive I can get is, and where from?
 
Maybe im reading it wrong but it sounds like you want your os and progs. on the drive you already have and all your docs and pics on an external disc.

If thats the case then the simple answer is that is no problem at all, in fact some would argue this is the best way to set things up.
Just need to think a little if your stiching lots of photos together or the like, it is often to copy them to the laptop, then work with them, then copy them back.

I work in a similar way, i download my CF cards to a temp folder on the laptop. do all the work then store them on an external removing them from the laptop.
 
Yeah that is sort of what I'm after, :lol:, basically.

I am however going to be getting a 500gb internal hard drive fitted as a local store can do it for me. Work with that, and the once saved up a bit more money get the 1TB and use that as a constant back up. Working on both laptop and External. I think. Yet to decide.

Just need to see which week will be best to be without my laptop for a couple of days :O
 
Shorty,

You can boot a macbook from an external drive and run it without even using the internal drive.

It really is simplicity to change the internal drive on a macbook so much so that it wouldn't even void the warranty (it you had any left). If you look at my website or iFixIt there are step by step instructions on how to change the drives and not too long ago I explained it to someone on here in great details.

Basically the easy thing to do it get a 500/640Gb 2.5" SATA drive and an external case. Fit the drive in the case.

Fit the drive in the case and use superduper or similar to copy your current drive to the external drive.

Then take the drive out of the case and fit it into the computer and the one in your computer into the external case.

Now when you turn on your computer you will have lots of space and once you know it is all up and working you can re-format and use the old drive in the external case.
 
I have a SATA and external case already, I'm just really worried that I'll do something wrong, or not copy some thing over and lose everything.

I'm also starting to think on the side that as business has picked up, I am spending 60% of my time travelling from place to place and don't wanna be tied down to having to have a EXHDD in all the time, so I'll get a 2.5 SATA and take it down to my local mac place to get them to backup and fit it for me. I'll be happier then.

I appreciate it is easy though, and I was gonna do your plan once before, but decided against it as I didn't trust myself to ensure every step was done properly
 
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