Buying an External eSATA

audax · 11-06-2007, 08:50 PM

Hello!

I just had some questions on buying an external hard drive. I'm used to using USB or Firewire to connect an external to my computer, but I've never used eSATA. I have SATA ports on my mobo, so I was wondering: if I bought the following three items, would I be able to set it up so that I could use the hard drive with eSATA? And if so, what would I need to do?

Here's the Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148239

Here's the eSATA Ports for my PC:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812226003

Here's the Cable that is needed (I think):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812191016

Would all these things cooperate with each other? Or am I on a totally separate tangent? What do I need to do in order to get an eSATA hard drive to work?

**twajetmech** · 11-07-2007, 01:33 AM

Other than the items you listed, you'll need one or two free sata ports on the mobo, that's it. I think you'll like esata, its much faster than usb or firewire ! enjoy !
Oh, check to see if the HDD doesn't already come with a esata cable (I think it does) and save the $20. If you are not already using any sata devices you'll also need to download the mobo manual from the mfg website and configure the bios and boot order, an esata hdd is just as if you had installed an internal hdd, so if you have installed a hdd before you already know what to do.

audax · 11-09-2007, 12:00 AM

Alright thanks for the help. I was wondering, though; I've never formatted a hard drive without putting an operating system on it. I haven't messed with that a whole lot; basically when I need to reformat I just put my Windows Disc in and let that do the work for me. I've never formatted without putting an operating system on there. What do I need to do to use an eSATA external without installing an OS on there? What needs to be done to format it?

**twajetmech** · 11-09-2007, 04:18 PM

Once you install the drive you should be able to see it in disk management ( start>>right click my computer>>select manage>>select disk management) if you do then all you have to do is select the drive (right click) and select format) installing an esata drive in an enclosure is the same as installing it internal (at least thats how windos sees it.)

11-06-2007, 08:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
audax Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP Pro.	Buying an External eSATA Hello! I just had some questions on buying an external hard drive. I'm used to using USB or Firewire to connect an external to my computer, but I've never used eSATA. I have SATA ports on my mobo, so I was wondering: if I bought the following three items, would I be able to set it up so that I could use the hard drive with eSATA? And if so, what would I need to do? Here's the Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148239 Here's the eSATA Ports for my PC: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812226003 Here's the Cable that is needed (I think): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812191016 Would all these things cooperate with each other? Or am I on a totally separate tangent? What do I need to do in order to get an eSATA hard drive to work?

11-07-2007, 01:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
twajetmech I helped the forums. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: LGA, NYC Posts: 2,388 OS: XP-Pro Sp2 & XP-Pro Sp2 Tablet Edition, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Buying an External eSATA Other than the items you listed, you'll need one or two free sata ports on the mobo, that's it. I think you'll like esata, its much faster than usb or firewire ! enjoy ! Oh, check to see if the HDD doesn't already come with a esata cable (I think it does) and save the $20. If you are not already using any sata devices you'll also need to download the mobo manual from the mfg website and configure the bios and boot order, an esata hdd is just as if you had installed an internal hdd, so if you have installed a hdd before you already know what to do. __________________ PSU Selection/Info // Bench test // Thermal Paste // Memory Selection // Bios Beep Codes // CPU-Z// Posting System Specs Last edited by twajetmech; 11-07-2007 at 01:36 AM.

11-09-2007, 12:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
audax Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP Pro.	Re: Buying an External eSATA Alright thanks for the help. I was wondering, though; I've never formatted a hard drive without putting an operating system on it. I haven't messed with that a whole lot; basically when I need to reformat I just put my Windows Disc in and let that do the work for me. I've never formatted without putting an operating system on there. What do I need to do to use an eSATA external without installing an OS on there? What needs to be done to format it?

11-09-2007, 04:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
twajetmech I helped the forums. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: LGA, NYC Posts: 2,388 OS: XP-Pro Sp2 & XP-Pro Sp2 Tablet Edition, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Buying an External eSATA Once you install the drive you should be able to see it in disk management ( start>>right click my computer>>select manage>>select disk management) if you do then all you have to do is select the drive (right click) and select format) installing an esata drive in an enclosure is the same as installing it internal (at least thats how windos sees it.) __________________ PSU Selection/Info // Bench test // Thermal Paste // Memory Selection // Bios Beep Codes // CPU-Z// Posting System Specs