More Storage on External Harddrive for Dell Inspiron?

Hello All. I have been browsing this thread for some time and finally wanted to make a post about the Mini9. I ordered mine on 9/5 and finally recieved it yesterday 9/22. I got it in black with 1gb of RAM, 16GBSSD, and Windows XP. Also with bluetooth and 1.3mp webcam. I must say, the quality of this mini laptop is awesome! Typing is not to bad but Im getting used to it. I usually work on my Inspiron 1501 and my Demensions Desktop. Yeah, big Dell fan I am and dont have much problems with them.

The computer runs great. After I deleted McaFee also and a bunch of other crap on here, it runs smooth and I now have 10.5GB of free space. My biggest concern also was the HD size. As I like to take things on the go. I guess my biggest question that I might have is a simple one but I need a good answer. Now, I have all my computers networked together to run and share my Maxtor 500GB external harddrive that is on my desktop computer. I also have a Iomega 250GB external harddrive that I bought for my laptop and havent really used it yet. I dont mind carrying around a harddrive with me in my laptop bag. The guy at Dell recommended buying the external harddrive because SDHC cards are not as stable as the drive he said, plus I wanted more space. Now, lets say for instance that there are programs I want to download for this device. Would I save the download file to the external hard drive and then run the set up from there also? Would I let it create a folder on the external hard drive and be able to put all the files on it there? Now, then what would happen for me to run the program of whatever it is on the actual mini 9? The reason I ask this, is because I want to keep the primary space on the Mini at the highest possible and dont want to install much on the units harddrive. Thats why I have the external. But I never really used an external harddrive before? Any input would be seriously much appreciated. Thank you all and I am very happy with my selection. Im on it right now

If someone can help me out it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Nick

 

You install most programs to the external HDD no problem. 99% of them should be fine. Just make sure you assign the external HDD a fixed drive letter. I will try and find instructions for this for you on google and post a link here.

EDIT:

Here you go this works exactly the same with an external USB HDD. Set the letter first BEFORE you install any programs.
http://mintywhite.com/tech/xp/assign-a-permanent-letter-to-a-usb-thumb-drive/

I can't imagine you are doing any amazingly demanding work with the Mini laptop so running apps from the external drive will be fine. Just don't try running demanding games using this method...not that you will be on that laptop as it is not for gaming.

 

Thank you so much for this information. This has helped me out a bunch!

I wont be using that laptop for gameing. Hell, I have an Inspiron 1501 im on right now and I dont use it for gameing either. I dont download many programs normally but I just wanted the external HD just incase some stuff starts to come up. Thank you for the info though, i am going to assing the External HD for this laptop and my mini 9. Your help is much appreciated!

Nick

 

@Terrigno

I also own a external harddrive(160GB) and yes you can install programs to the external hardrive just like installing it to your drive C: as long as you can choose the install path.
You can use basskiddanny's instruction to permanently assign a drive letter to your external disk.

But be sure to remember this:

http://ask-leo.com/can_i_install_programs_on_an_external_drive.html

 

Thank you gheagz. I went ahead and read up on ask leo which was very good information. I also followed the How to so I can make my Iomega Drive an External I: Drive. Tested the job done by downloading my blackberry desktop software to the hardrive and did it without a problem. Tested it again by trying to run it from the desktop and it not running when the drive wasnt plugged in, but when plugged in, ran fine. Which is exactly what I was looking to do. I guess my path now as for what I have done is:

1. Made a Dell Inspirion Folder for my 1501 on the External and a folder for my Mini 9. Any programs I want to work for either or, I install to there designated folders. I then, can run the program on each installed computer for what it is, and have it run from the harddrive for whichever system I am using at the time. This should work and I dont see why it wouldnt. Although, this has all helped me gain more knowlegde and getting the full potential out of the products I have now. Thank you guys a bunch!

Nick