Unused, but operational hard disk drives, can be recycled and used as back up or storage devices. Sometime you do not need to buy expensive external hard disk drives; for instance, this simple tutorial helps to re-used your redundant hard disk drive.
I've been using those USB enclosures but that looks a lot cheaper to do it that way. I suppose a person can mount them in an empty case and plug them into a multi-port USB lead and plug it in to your hard drive so it shows up as multiple and separate drives?
That may be possible; however, it will mean you need more than one IDE adapter and as many vacant USB ports to cater to multiple drives connection. Furthermore, I forgot to note that, it also works in Linux, since such USB drives are mounted as removable devices.
I dont really get this thread at all are we talking about extra hard drive memory thats not inside the computer?
It seems that you are not sure about the hardware stuff. Hard drive, as I state, is the conventional IDE hard disk drive, it has nothing to do with the memory chip (with the exception of Solid-State drives, which is not yet matured) I am talking about hard disk drives, which you may use to connect directly to a USB port, like a removable thumb drive.
always.. delete files forever.. do not put it in the recycle bin which keeps your hard drive full and full.
I bought a couple 3.5" external hard drive enclosures from woot during one of their woot offs for less than $15 a piece a while ago. You can't get much cheaper than that.
That's different It's a USB hub I bought something quite cheap in the past before, but the enclosure is malfunction. Since then, I decided not to settle on unbranded goods.