Windows 10: Adding An External HD And Need A Little Help

Good morning. I've been away from PCs for nearly four years. My last system was an XP Pro setup. Now I've got a new machine with Win 10 and it is all so very new to an old guy and I need a little guidance here.



Over the next day or two I have a Western Digital Elements 2 TB External drive coming in. The website "quick installation" guide is simple enough. My question is: Should I power the system down, hook up the drive and let Windows detect new hardware on boot up? Or hook it up "on the fly" with everything up and running?



Thanks, I appreciate your time and advice.

:)

 

Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14.

I added a 1 TB external hd because windows 10 had filled up my original 32GB hd. And I wanted updates either sent to it or to delete nonessential current windows files. The laptop recommends using an external hd but doesn't tell the novice how to operate
from then on??

 

I need a little help.

There are WIndows 10 drivers posted for
Laptops and netbooks :: ThinkPad T Series laptops :: ThinkPad T510 - Lenovo Support (CA)

However most drivers are delivered during install and immediately thereafter via running all Windows Update.

If you want to a do a superior
Clean Install Windows 10 Upgrade

a new version 1511 will be released in early November that allows directly activating with the WIndows 7, 8 or 8.1 Product Key. This allows you to get a much better install.

Otherwise if you want to see how the Upgrade works save a backup image first of your present install so you can easily go back to the old OS in 20 minutes. But first be sure to follow all the steps I gave you earlier so that won't be necessary.

 

You can just plug it in - no need to power down.

If you mean this one it comes formatted NTFS so there is nothing else to do.

 

Yep, that's it. Noticed the NTFS format and no software to install when I ordered it. Shouldn't even need to create another Restore Point.

Thanks for the response.

 

This has to be the easiest hardware install I ever did! A far cry from the old days of DOS and configuring ports.

 

Good news *Smile

You can plug the drive in at any time.

Just remember to eject it before you disconnect it. You can do this through file explorer (right click on the drive and select "Eject") or in the notification area on the right hand side of the task bar.

If it won't eject for some reason then shut down before you pull the lead in case it is using it.

 

No, an external HDD is not classed as 'removable media' so File Explorer doesn't offer the Eject option for USB HDDs, only for USB memory sticks. Use the 'safely remove hardware and eject media' icon in the notification area.