Sectorgame

I've been using one of these for about six months - Had no problems with it and hope to not get any - But my friend once had a problem with one, it just suddenly got corrupted like a dodgy DVD-R and wouldn't work anymore - After being repaired, everything was lost. Right now I'm *very* dependant on this drive as it stores a lot of data I can't fit onto my regular drives anymore. Should I be concerned at all? I do make DVD backups of things every six months except for those things I'm working on, which are backed up more often. I'd also like to take this thing on a plane in my luggage which is why I bought it, do I need to declare it?

I have a 400Gb external drive that I've actually knocked off the desk twice by accident while putting up sheliving in my room, it still works ok.

I suppose it always best to have multiple back-up options, I have backed up everything onto CD as well as onto the External Drive, simply to be certain I have the stuff I need.

As far as I know the lifespan is no different to that of an internal drive. I'd assume your friend just got unlucky.

It's still a good diea to declare it when you travel

I was thinking of packing it with a laptop. I checked out these tips: http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/busine ... safety.htm

But there's a flaw or this article is out of date, afaik you can't have much hand baggage anymore?

Hunter wrote:I was thinking of packing it with a laptop. I checked out these tips: http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/busine ... safety.htm

But there's a flaw or this article is out of date, afaik you can't have much hand baggage anymore?

I took one on a flight back from the US (along with a new lappy for the parents - Vista is cripplingly slow shite BTW) without any problems. If the airline allows handbaggage plus 'a personal item' then you should be ok.

Fitting an external HD into your carry-on shouldn't be a big problem. They'll probably ask for it to be sent through the scanner with your laptop though.

Ok, thanks. That's all I needed to know really. Although I was under the impression Carry-On luggage in UK is kinda restricted atm...

You're ok as long as you have only one bag. It's more strict on the hand carry for flights that go out from the UK.

That could be difficult since a Laptop really requires it's own bag.

Hunter wrote:That could be difficult since a Laptop really requires it's own bag.

According to law or just because?

Just because a laptop case is good at keeping your laptop secure. Only downside is that it obviously shows your carrying a laptop.

Just put on a pair of high heels and tell them it's a purse.

Well, get a big enough bag that your lappy bag will fit if you want to have more than 1 hand carry (or use a trash bag to put both). I am not joking, those people at the security check point are very stupid and stubborn about the "one-hand-carry-only policy".

it all happened when people got paranoid after 9/11. before, you could bring 3 bottles of water not sold at the airport!