OT: computer help, please

[rbiemer]

Folks,
The computer I'm using as I type is old and has a tiny(12gig😱 ) hard drive. I also use a laptop that is not quite so old but the drive on it is even smaller--4 gig. I'm running win2k on both.
Ideally I'd just get a new machine and not use either but that's not going to happen any time soon.
I did buy a USB 80 gig external drive.
My original intent for this drive was to continue to use the two machines I use now and use the external drive for storage--programs on the computers and data on the drive.
Seems to be working OK.
However, I may be getting a job that will have me away from home for the summer and possibly the fall.
I'm thinking that I ought to put all of my stuff on that drive so that I can use whatever computer I can get access to but still have all my stuff handy.
I searched on-line for some info about this and it's just over whelming! And I'm not smart enough about this to weed out good advise from bad.
I guess my first question is: is this worth doing? Or even possible?
Secondly, of all the forums(fora?) out there, which would get recommended for knowledge and friendliness to a newbie?
I probably could pay someone here locally to do this but I don't have any $ to spend, just time.
Open to your siggestions!
Rob

 

[Tuolumne]

What exactly do you want to do with the external drive? Just copy all of your data files, or do you want to move your programs over to it as well?

/T

 

[rbiemer]

What exactly do you want to do with the external drive? Just copy all of your data files, or do you want to move your programs over to it as well?
/T

Data and programs--ideally I'd like to be able to plug the drive into any computer, open the drive and have my desktop and programs available to me. But I don't know if this is possible?
Rob

 

[shadowfox]

> I'm thinking that I ought to put all of my stuff on that drive so that I can use whatever computer I can get access to but still have all my stuff handy.

As far as I know, that is still a pipe-dream on Windows machines.
I don't think you want to put Programs on an external HD.

Reason 1: You'd have to INSTALL programs, that means Windows will put entries on the Registry which won't be copied along onto the external drive. Which means other computers that you hook the drive to at your summer job WILL NOT recognize the programs anyway.

Reason 2: You already have a good strategy, programs on the computer's HD and data on the external HD. You will mess this up once you put programs on the external HD. Stick with it, there's a reason I call this a good strategy 🙂

Reason 3: Even if you can find a way to accomplish this, what are you going to do once you're back from your summer job? your external HD will be filled with stuff that you won't need anymore.

Is there a way for you to install the programs that you'll need on your laptop, so you can bring your laptop AND your external HD with you on the summer job?

 

[DrLeoB]

Bootable External Drive

Bootable External Drive

Take a look at Norton "Ghost" as a way to clone your drive of choice. I believe there is also a way, within Ghost, to make the cloned drive bootable. I have done this once with a similar problem as yours. I used Ghost, WindowsXP and after several tries, got a working and bootable drive. Pay attention to Copyrights, etc. in what you choose to clone, tho....

 

[teo]

Ehh, too bad having programs on an external drive is feasible only on Mac (don't know about linux/unix, I think not).
On win it can't be done (AFAIK), with the exception of some applications like forefox, thundebird, that can run (for example) from a USB pendrive (often used in cybercafe).

 

[GermanB]

Data and programs--ideally I'd like to be able to plug the drive into any computer, open the drive and have my desktop and programs available to me. But I don't know if this is possible?
Rob

It depends on what programs do you want to move to the external HD. You can try http://portableapps.com/ it has some common (office) apps that can be installed in a memory stick or whatever external storage device. I´ve used this portable apps and can assure you they work pretty fine.

Germanb

 

[teo]

Well, of course, if you make it bootable, you can do it. But booting from a USB drive it's sloooooooow....

 

[ferider]

I wouldn't do it. Consider replacing the Desktop internal disk with a bigger
one, instead. They go pretty cheap these days.

Roland.

 

[Michiel]

USB is much too slow to run programs over. Imagine pumping cement through a straw.

I'm not saying it can't be done, but only if your most frequently used applications are very lite and specifically designed for the purpose (executables you don't have to install etc.). Forget about MS office, photoshop, Indesign, and everything else.

If you will have access to the same computer for the entire time, just copy the install files onto your USB HDD, and bring the install cd-roms (and don't forget the keys!) of larger programs with you.

 

[rbiemer]

OK,
Thanks for the suggestions so far!
I did have Firefox on a 1/2 gig key chain drive and that worked pretty well. I will need to decide about which, if any, programs I'll want with me.
I could just take the laptop with me but I'd like to keep the luggage to a minimum--more room for camera gear, don'tcha know!
The desktop does need a bigger drive and I am capable of doing that but can't afford it right now. And I'm not comfortable installing my stuff on some one else's machine.
Maybe I'll go nuts and leave all the computer stuff at home for the summer.
Rob

 

[rbiemer]

It depends on what programs do you want to move to the external HD. You can try http://portableapps.com/ it has some common (office) apps that can be installed in a memory stick or whatever external storage device. I´ve used this portable apps and can assure you they work pretty fine.
Germanb

I've just been looking at the site linked to here and I think that will be a good solution for me:
Most of the programs I ordinarily use are there and some others that seem like they might be good to have as well.
Much simpler than what I thought I wanted to do.
Thank you for the link, Germanb!
Rob