External hard disk - important issues to be considered

[sunandoghosh]

External hard disk - important issues to be considered

Dear friends and respected tech gurus...!!!

Hi this is my first post here.

I have a compaq presario laptop with 40 GB hard disk inbuilt. I purchased it almost three years back.

The hard disk contains very important critical data and therefore i am thinking of having an external hard disk
for backing up my hard disk of laptop.

I would also like the external hard disk / storage device to draw power from the USB itself without need for extra power adapter.

In this context please answer the following queries...

1. Should i purchase one external hard disk of 40 Gb...???

If yes which company's hard disk is preferable and reliable and affordable...???

2. Should i purchase external hard disk enclosure and external hard disk separately...???

3. Should i purchase 2.5 " or 3.5 " hard disk...???

4. Is firewire a better option than USB 2...???

5. How do i know whether my desktop computer (Intel motherboard 865GBF) and Comapq Presario laptop (purchased roughly three years back) have firewire ports or not...????

If yes then is it 400 or 800 ...???

Will cloning internal hard disk to such external hard disk be possible through USB...????

Please suggestkeeping in view the above details.

Also if u wish to add anything please feel free to do so. if u think i am missing something or try otherwise or a better solution exists, please do let me know.

Thanks in advance for help and support.

Happy Diwali and Id to everyone!!!!

best regards

sunando

sunandoghosh at rediffmail dot com

[Midknyte]

1. you should get a drive large enough for your data. it's your call. 40 makes sense.
2. again up to you. it might be cheaper to get them separately, rather than buying a prebuilt kit.
3. it would have to be a 2.5" laptop drive if you want it to be bus powered.
4. get USB2.0
5. you probably don't have FW and it would be 400 if you did. I doubt it, though.