Question about installing external HD.

I’m looking at installing an external hard drive onto my antiquated, old Win98se system. I’m checking out either the Maxtor One-Touch HD or the Iomega which comes with the Norton Ghost software. My question is this: these hard drives don’t come any smaller that something like 40-80 gigs. When I attach it to the USB port, 1.1 in my case, will my Win98 automatically recognize it and make it my D: drive or whatever? Will a hard drive that huge (to me) cause a problem with Win98se, are there any drive size limitations? My current hard drive is so small that it fits well within any limitations of Win98se so I've never had to deal with them and I'm not sure what they even are. Thank you.

Acadia

 

Most of this I can't help with, but I used to run win98SE on this machine with my dual 120 gig Western Digitals running striped. If that was ok with Win98se, a 40 or an 80 oughta be I reckon

 

Hi Acadia...
- According to this, "yes" on limitations (they say 4GB):
http://maxtor.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/maxtor.cfg/php/enduser/olh_adp.php?p_faqid=1254
...but I find it strange that they would say that, since I'm now posting this from a CPQ PC w/W98 and a 20GB Maxtor HD in it. Maybe it has something to do with the USB specs.
- Sometime ago, I recommended a Maxtor/USB external drive to a good friend of mine, and he thinks its great (uses it for all his backups). I'll e-mail him and ask him about the specifics - stay tuned.

Best regards,

 

Hi Acadia,

FWIW, I very recently picked up a refurbed Iomega external HD (also came with Norton Ghost disc), and it was as loud as an electric razor. Furthermore, and strangely, Ghost locked up on writing to it. I should add that I had previously used Ghost successfully with a CD-RW.

Sent it back, and am very pleased with the Maxtor 40Gb that replaced it.

YMMV.

Regards,
Optigrab

 

when a customer brings me a computer to work on I always back up their data on an external hdd. 120gb. It works on every 98se I have ever had it on. you shouldn;t have any problems. At least I have not had problems with it yet.

 

Hmmm well don't take my post into consideration; I was talking about internal hard drives

I musta not been paying attention in class this time

 

I see what Aplus was refering to at 4gb. But that is not drive size but file size that can be loaded at one time or stored as a single file. see screen shot
http://maxtor.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/maxtor.cfg/php/enduser/olh_adp.php?p_faqid=1254

 

I want you thank you, Detox, Aplus, Opti, and BigC for your postings. I have been doing some homework of my own and it appears that, yes, an external HD would be compatible with my system BUT that the data transfer rate for USB 1.1 would be prohibitively slow. Therefore I think I will scratch that idea and go back to the drawing board.
Again, thanks.

Acadia

 

Here is some more info that may be helpful. Different external hdds run different speeds


http://www.bjorn3d.com/_preview.php?articleID=49

 

Hi Acadia,

I use an Maxtor external HD, but one that is connected through firewire (IEEE1394). If you have room for a firewire card that would boost the transfer speed and they are not very expensive (over here that is).

Just an idea.

Regards,

Pieter