Korean Job Discussion Forums

redd · Joined: 08 Nov 2004

I'm almost totally out of space on my laptop and really need to look into getting some more (right about now I should tell you that I'm not up on all the computer lingo, although I'm sure it'll become glaringly obvious any second now).

I've got a Sony Vaio with a 40G HD and a LOT of photos (and just recently discovered torrents). What do I need to know? Is there a specific brand I need to buy or avoid? - I don't know if I need to worry about compatibilities with my system.

I initally wanted to get an internal HD but don't want to have to install anything myself and can't be trusted with my "restaurant Korean" not to totally screw things up at Yongsan.

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated (assume I know nothing if you give me names and stuff).

Thanks,
redd

Industrial Strength · Joined: 02 Dec 2003

you might find this helpful.
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=23346&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=
i ended up buying a seagate 160GB and an external usb box to put it in. it was dead easy to set up.
just bought my friend the same setup, except she went with the 200GB. total cost for drive and box was 150,000 won at yongsan (same price i paid 6 months ago for 160GB).
is

edit - getting the link right...

redd · Joined: 08 Nov 2004

thanks is,

I'd read that post, but have to admit some of it was a little above me.

So you have to buy the HD and the box separately? Do they put it together for you? I'm fairly handy, but really don't want to mess with my computer if I can help it at all.

Once it's paid for and brought home, what needs to be done apart from plugging it in to your computer? Would the setup just start itself when it's plugged in the way my camera did?

Yeah, NO clue here!

SHANE02 · Joined: 04 Jun 2003

I've got two externals in boxes. One is a laptop hd (very portable) the other is a 120 gig desktop hd.

Allthough it should work just by "pug and play" , there are two things to check if it doesn't. (I found out this last night when installing the 40 gig laptop hd in its box).

Read the instructions that come with the disk and the external case/box.

1. The external hd usually needs the jumpers set to MASTER. Any new hd should have instructions and pics on how to do it.

2. You may need to enter bios when booting the pc (f10 on mine) in order to enable on chip usb function.

Dont panic.....you prob. dont need to do #2 .

BTW you can choose fom USB 2 and or Firewire hd boxes.

Maybe if you buy the HD and box you can take it to a little neighbourhood pc store near you and ask them to install/setup the thing. But it is pretty easy .

Good luck.

Industrial Strength · Joined: 02 Dec 2003

stvwrd · Joined: 31 Mar 2005

I've been thinking of this too, but I'm going home before long (sometime in the next 1-3 months). Is it cheaper to buy/make an external drive in Korea compared to the US? I heard a friend just got an 200gig external drive in the US for $60.

Keepongoing · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Location: Korea

I bought an external HD with 120 Gigs for 180.00 from Johnny, that is with the case. The draw back I have had is when I changed my hard disk on my laptop (it was old and quit working and I upgraded it from a 30 to a 40 gig) when I plugged it in the computer recognized it as a Mass Storage Device and the Boot Sector had been earsed by XP so I had to use a recovery program (Scavenger) to get the date off and then reformat it.

huck · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

OR you could buy a modded xbox with a 120 GB hard drive for 300,000, and have some fun with your external hard drive at the same time.

stvwrd · Joined: 31 Mar 2005

Can you use the hard drive on an xbox with your computer?

redd · Joined: 08 Nov 2004

thanks guys for all your help!!

Just picked up a Seagate 200G with case at Yongsan for 145,000W. They formatted it for me and everything. I've transferred a bunch of stuff to it and so far so good.

Now I just need to get a laptop fan and I'm all set......