Needageek...help!

[hawg]

Okay...my name is Hawg and I am not a geek. :D Wish I wuz... :rolleyes:

BUTT, I do have a Dell Dimension 4550 computer with only 40gb storage. Since my photography work has expanded rapidly, I need desperately to increase to 250gb or so...Maybe even kick up the RAM...

So, what, where and how? Yikes!!! :eek:

[dwsdad]

Easiest way is to add an external USB drive and move all your photos over to that.

[messenger13]

You may want to consider buying an external USB drive, or two. As for the RAM, you'll need to find out what the machine is capable of. Go to Dell.com and enter the service tag number and you should be able to find out what type of RAM you need and how much more the box will support. Or, call Dell . . . aka India. :rolleyes: Adding the RAM is as easy as shutting the thing down, opening the case, installing it, then button her up. Done deal.

[dshealey]

-------- Adding the RAM is as easy as shutting the thing down, opening the case, installing it, then button her up. Done deal.

Just be sure you touch the computer case (where it is not painted) before, and preferably while opening the package the new RAM is in, and do not touch the RAM module except by the edges. It is preferable to leave the computer plugged in, but turned off so that the case is grounded. ESPECIALLY if on carpet! There is no voltage that can hurt you outside the power supply case.

I have a ground mat and attached wrist strap I use when working on my systems.

Just a small static discharge (one you won't even feel) from you to the computer parts can cause problems. Sometimes static damage is not readily apparent, but will show up later. Static sensitivity of computor circuits has gotten better over the years, but it is still an issue that should be addressed anytime you are working on them.

[zippy_gg]

See Dave? You asked for a geek, and so far 4 of us replied!:rotf:

In addition to the recommendation of adding an external USB hard drive I would also suggest an external USB DVD burner if your machine does not already have one. I suspect your photography work is static and can be stored on DVD and keep the added hard drive space for temporary storage while working. Make sure your PC supports USB 2.0 for greater speed. You will know if it doesn't as you will get several messages about connecting to a higher speed USB port. If you do not have USB 2.0 capability you can always add an updated USB card in your machine. Real easy to do.

[scottydawg]

Computers are getting so inexpensive now it may be time to just upgrade. You will get everything you need plus lots more power from the new processors. I do say +1 on getting a USB back up drive no matter what you do.

[tmgs]

Okay...my name is Hawg and I am not a geek. :D Wish I wuz... :rolleyes:

BUTT, I do have a Dell Dimension 4550 computer with only 40gb storage. Since my photography work has expanded rapidly, I need desperately to increase to 250gb or so...Maybe even kick up the RAM...

So, what, where and how? Yikes!!! :eek:

you have good advice,

FRY's has two locations here in atlanta area one in Alpharetta on 9 about a block nroth of windward pky (ga 400 exit 11) and one at gwinette place mall off of pleasant hill exit on I-85

the prices seem to be real good there, I just picked up 500 gb drives for a recorder here

BTW best buy off exit 9 has higher end cameras n stuff now, they have the cannon 16 Mega pixel for just under 8k

(the wife took my credit card away from me!)

<grin>

[Zotter]

If it was me (I geek for a living too)...

I'd install an internal 250GB hard drive. Maybe even a couple of 'em.

I'd ghost the existing system over to the new drive.

I'd maybe use the 'old' 40GB drive as an 'archive' drive D: (or E:) on the system. Another storage closet, so to speak. But really, I'd likely give it up to someone who could use it. If even just for the magnets for a 'green light' trigger.

I'd also do the external USB idea - but only as a BACKUP device. A way to know I've multiple copies of my images so when (not if) a drive fails, I have 'em someplace else.

If I had the fundage, I'd consider a sysetm upgrade. If I was penny aware, I'd upgrade the RAM after ensuring my storage needs and backup minimums are met.

But that's just me - i can't take a picture of white without screwing up the frame somehow.

[eljeffe]

500GB Network Drive

Maxtor makes a really nice one where you can daisychain USB drives into it to expand it.

[kflanigan]

I'll second what Zotter said. Photoshop uses a scratch disk for improved performance. By moving the OS, applications and files over to the new HD, the old 40gb drive can be used as the scratch. Works for me with either PhotoShop Elements or CS.

[Morley]

I personally love Seagate hard drives. They are quiet and reliable. Most have an 8mb (some have 16 now) cache and come with a 5 year warranty. If you have the room in the case and don't plan on using the drive with a laptop too or have some other need for the drive to be portable, I would opt for an internal drive. A 500GB drive can be had for as low as $170 from NewEgg http://www.newegg.com/ As far as RAM, that would depend on how much you already have and its configuration (1 stick or 2 sticks) and how much your motherboard can support. I'd go 1 gig minimum and if you already have 1 gig, double it to 2 gigs.

[gfspencer]

Easiest way is to add an external USB drive and move all your photos over to that.

I have had two laptops die in the last two years! I thought I had backed my stuff up but when they failed I found that there was stuff that I had lost . . . . never to return.

So I bought an external USB/Firewire hard drive! If my computer hard drive dies I have the external hard drive for a backup . . . . and vice-versa.

My son told me to get a Seagate. (I am not a computer expert.) It comes with backup software. The first backup takes a while but subsequent backups are pretty quick.

I read a report on a digital photography website and it said that an external hard drive is one of the cheapest ways to go. On a per picture basis it is much cheaper than DVD's or CD's. (And DVD's/CD's can be corrupted!)

[rickcavanaugh]

I don't know what you are doing with the photos, but if you are shooting raw and want plenty of storage....go with a 500 gig external drive. If you value what you shoot get them off the Dell on a backup drive! Hard drive space is incredible cheap compared to losing you work. Get the biggest and fastest external drive you can afford.

I personally use photoshop cs2 (creative suite cs2) on a powerpc quad with 2- 500 gig hard drives and a 500 gig backup firewire 800 drive and 4 gig of ram. Photoshop uses alot of ram and hard drive space if you are using layers in your work. I save the original raw files in subdirectory and the final files in psd. So even with all this space raw plus the psd files can start filling big drives fast!

[kevincook]

I always create a "Data" folder on my computers and then create subfolders under that to store all my data files. This is for everything other than pictures, video and mp3 files.

I backup my "data" directory across my home network to my son's computer. The chances of losing both those drives simultaneously are remote.

I store all my pictures, etc on an external firewire drive and back those up to another external firewire drive.

I use the Microsoft Synctoy utility and all the backups happen every night without any need for me to remember to back them up.

I also backup the kids data for them just in case....they don't even know I'm backing it up but when their hard drive goes I'm going to be a hero :D .


The Synctoy program is free from microsoft along with several other Powertoys. Just do a google search.

Good Luck,
Kevin

[larrykay]

Backing up from one computer to another is good, except, if you have a fire, flood, electrical surge.etc. You should on a regular basis, back up the data off premises to a "foreign" location for ultimate security. There are plenty of USB drives that will do the job depending on stoarge capacity. I personally use the net to transfer files on a daily backup between office and home.

[deputy5211]

Scrub the 40 after imaging/ghosting to at least a 250gb. You can get these for around $125. DVD burner, USB, is good for project by project backup of your raw (and maybe finished) images.

If you can swing the $$, you can get a nice new Dell with big, fast drive and lotsa RAm for under $800. The trick with Dell is not to be in a hurry. They have two day specials once or twice a week. Wait until the config you want is on sale, and pounce!

[hawg]

Thanks to all who have responded! Got some great advice...actually better than I have received from the Nikonian site!!! :thumb:

Ride safe, guys...

:D:D:D

[mwnahas]

With only a 40gb HD I would definatly install a second HD. Its not that hard.