You can add an external hard drive to your computer.
You can learn how to attach, format and choose an external hard drive for your computer.
Step 1: You can add an external hard drive to your computer.
Most external hard drives need to be formatted to fit your computer's specific file system before you can use them.You can Formatting from within your computer's built-in settings.
Step 2: Take a look at your computer's connections.
Most computers have a rectangular port on the side or front of the housing, but modern Macs and some Microsoft-produced Windows computers use a different type of port.The majority of external hard drives use a 3.0 port.There is a port on MacBooks and Microsoft laptops.If you have a USB-C port, you'll either have to buy or find an external hard drive that comes with a cable.
Step 3: Take your space requirements into account.
External hard drives come in a wide range of sizes.You should buy a hard drive that has more space than you need.It isn't much more expensive to buy a terabyte hard drive than it is a 512 gigabyte drive.Storage costs tend to be less if you buy more than one hard drive.
Step 4: There is a choice between a traditional hard drive and a solid state drive.
Solid-state drives are more expensive than traditional external hard drives.If you're planning on using an operating system or editing software from an external drive, a solid state drive will be better for responsiveness than a traditional hard drive.
Step 5: Know which brands to look for.
Don't pay more for a hard drive with a fancy case but a low-quality drive inside, because storage is cheap, but you still want to make sure that you're buying from a reliable manufacturer.You want to make sure that your backing up is going to work.Check if the hard drive company will cover data recovery if there is an issue with the drive.
Step 6: You should buy an external hard drive.
Once you've purchased your drive from a tech department store or online outlet, you can install it on your computer.
Step 7: Find the computer's port.
The front or side of the tower is where you'll usually find your computer'susb 3.0 orusb-C port, though desktop users may find the port on the front.Make sure that the external hard drive is plugged into a port on the computer itself, not a hub or a keyboard port.
Step 8: Attach the end of the external hard drive's cable to the port.
The cable should fit one way if it uses ausb 3.0 connectionAny way that fits the port can be used.
Step 9: Plug the other end of the cable into the hard drive.
A proprietary connection that only fits one port on the external hard drive is the other end of the cable.
Step 10: You can open File Explorer.
Click the folder-shaped File Explorer app icon at the bottom of your computer's screen to open it.To open File Explorer, press Win+E if you don't see the app icon.
Step 11: Click here to go to the PC.
You can find it on the left side of the window if you scroll up or down.
Step 12: Click on the external hard drive's name.
Below the "Devices and drives" heading, you should see it.A menu will appear.Double-click the heading to expand it if you don't see anything.
Step 13: Click the format you want.
It's in the menu.The format window will open.
Step 14: Click on the box labeled "File system".
There is a Format window.A menu will appear.
Step 15: You can choose a file system.
Select this option if you only want to use the hard drive with Windows computers.If you choose this option, you will be able to use the hard drive with both Windows and Mac computers.If you want to use the hard drive with computers and non- computer sources, select this option.A FAT32 drive is required for some Linux computers.
Step 16: Click Start.
It is at the bottom of the window.Doing so will prompt Windows to format your drive.The "Quick format" box should be checked if the drive belonged to another person.It will cause the process to take longer, but it will also destroy the hard drive.
Step 17: When prompted, click OK.
There is a window.If you close the Format window, your drive should now be formatted.
Step 18: You can find your Mac's port.
The side of the housing or the back of a monitor is where you'll usually find theusb port.
Step 19: Attach the end of the external hard drive's cable to the port.
The cable should fit one way if it uses ausb 3.0 connectionAny way that fits the port can be used.
Step 20: Attach the other end of the cable to the hard drive.
A proprietary connection that only fits one port on the external hard drive is the other end of the cable.
Step 21: The Spotlight is open.
The Spotlight icon is in the top-right corner of the screen.If you plug in an external drive, it will show up in Finder on the left hand side, so you don't have to go to the desktop to find it.
Step 22: The Disk Utility can be opened.
Double-click when it appears in the search results.The Disk Utility window will open.
Step 23: Select your hard drive.
Click the name of your external hard drive in the Utility Disk window.
Step 24: Click Erase.
There is a tab at the top of the Disk Utility window.There is a pop-up window when you do that.
Step 25: Click on the box labeled "Format".
The pop-up window has it in the middle.
Step 26: You can choose a file system.
Select this option if you want to use your external hard drive with a Mac computer.If you choose this option, you will be able to use your external hard drive with both Windows and Mac computers.
Step 27: Click Erase.
It is at the bottom of the window.
Step 28: Click Erase when prompted.
If you do that, your Mac will begin to format your drive.You can use your drive as you please once the process is complete.