A hard drive enclosure is a plug-and-play device that connects to a computer via USB or Firewire port, providing security, backups, storage, portability, and the ability to load alternative operating systems. It can also repurpose older hard drives. When purchasing, consider the type of hard drive it will hold and noise level.
A hard drive enclosure is used to house a hard drive externally, adding storage space and flexibility to any system. The enclosure connects to your computer via a universal serial bus (USB) or Firewire port, making it a plug-and-play device. This means it can be cycled off and on while the system is up and running. A hard drive case can be used for many purposes and provides portability between desktop and laptop, or between home and office.
Security: One of the major benefits of using an external hard drive enclosure is security. Many people are concerned about online threats, including viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, hacking, poorly written software, and malicious scripts. Some threats can expose data to external sources, while others damage it.
Installing financial data or sensitive programs on an external hard drive is one way to ensure security. The enclosure can be shut down when the user is not accessing programs or data and when the user is online. If multiple family members share a computer, an external drive is one way to keep key information or software private. Simply remove the case and lock it away in a drawer or safe when not in use.
Backups: An external hard drive is perfect for storing system backups or “ghost” images of your primary hard drive. If the primary drives fail, the ghost image on the external drive can recreate the primary drive in minutes. Alternatively, popular software like Acronis True Image will create a bootable carbon copy of your main drive on your external drive. In this case, the external drive can be removed from the enclosure and installed into the system for an instant fix. You can also boot directly from the hard drive enclosure using the settings in the motherboard Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) menu.
Storage and Libraries: People today are rapidly amassing memory-intensive libraries of music, movies, and graphics files. Storing these libraries using an external hard drive bay frees up built-in system resources for ripping, burning, and downloading, while protecting the libraries from online threats. Moving these libraries to an external drive also significantly reduces maintenance time for system tasks such as file defragmentation, spyware cleaning, and virus checking.
A hard drive enclosure also allows people to repurpose “smaller” hard drives that have been replaced by newer, larger capacity drives. For example, as prices have come down, many people have replaced 30, 40, and 60 gigabyte (GB) drives with 250GB or larger drives. Installed in an external hard drive enclosure, older drives become very useful for storage.
Portability: It’s easy to transport huge amounts of data between computers using an external hard drive. Any system equipped with a USB or Firewire port will be able to instantly read the drive and transfer files quickly and easily. An external drive is the next best thing to a huge memory stick.
Alternative Operating Systems (OS): True geeks may want to use an external hard drive to load an alternative bootable operating system, such as an upcoming Windows or Linux operating system. Having a fully functional secondary OS allows for experimentation without unduly risking the primary system, its setup, or configuration. You can also try critical programs for compatibility issues. Installing the operating system on an external drive avoids the hassle of creating a dual boot system required when loading two operating systems onto internal drives. The motherboard BIOS settings allow you to easily boot from the external storage device or internal hard drive.
When considering which case to purchase, keep in mind that the case must be made for the type of hard drive it will hold. The older drives are IDE, which stands for Integrated Drive Electronics. The newer drives are Serial-ATA or SATA drives. The relevant difference is in the integrated connector and the controller. Noise is also a consideration. Some enclosures have a built-in power supply and fan. The fan design determines whether the fan will be quiet or loud. If you plan on leaving the enclosure on most of the time, you may want to consider a quieter model. Suppliers like NewEgg.com provide customer reviews which can be a great resource in making the right decision.
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