I need general info on using an external hard drive. My computer is full and I'm unsure if I should replace the computer or start moving thing to the external hard drive. Also, I keep getting a message about paying for online storage or back up. I want to get rid of this and any of the 3 icons that appear on my toolbar and the associated files that I installed and don't need. I looked for an online manual but apparently there isn't one. Basically, I've lost as to how to use this external hard drive!

You did not post the model of the unit. There is a port for external drive support and there is an internal drive depending on the model. You can try formatting on a computer if you would like or you can select OVERWRITE recording when the HDD is full
1. Access the [General Settings] and open the [Disk Drive Info] page. 2. Open the drop-down menu at the top next to the "Hard Disk Drive Full", select "Overwrite" and press save.

The files are placed on the drive by you. Unless someone setup a special application files will not automatically migrate to another drive. You would not generally want them to because they would never be where you left them and be much harder to find. Primarily you will want to be moving data files and not application files (unless you uninstall from the internal drive and reinstall to the external drive) You can open my computer and find both drives -- you can drag/drop folders (containing only data, mp3s, videos, etc) between drives. I always like to check these moves by doing a right mouse click selecting properties on each folder separately to assure that an equal number of folders and files were copied before deleting them off of the smaller drive.

I emphasize again moving programs in this fashion will cause them to break. If you have large and seldom used applications you can uninstall them then using the installation process and media provided by the manufacturer then reinstall them choosing the external drive as the destination..

I hope this helps.

Start with photos and music files: if there are duplicates - make SURE they are exact duplicates (name/file size/R click-quicklook). You can get an external hard drive cheaply (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_19?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=external+hard+drive&sprefix=external+hard+drive%2Caps%2C166) and move important info. If you are unsure of your knowledge - ask friends!

You can run Disk Management (check the unallocated space if any):
Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management (please run as administrator; right click it), Disk Management.
Click on the hard drive info, right click, and you can do some actions (expand the volume is the one you need)

Plug the external hard drive into your laptop or desktop computer.

Most external hard drives do this through a cable connecting the hard drive to the USB outlet on a computer.

Plug your external hard drive into a wall outlet if it receives power from an AC adapter rather than your computer.

Click on the "My Computer" icon on your desktop, and open the external hard drive.

It will be located under the USB connecting drive, which is labeled with a letter ranging from "E:" to "K:".

Open the folder on your external hard drive where you would like to save the photographs.

usually in my documents my pictures or if you want to save them to a specific spot so as not get them mixed up.

Create a folder if one is not present right click in my documents select new folder and name it lets say my pics 1

Move this window to the bottom right corner of your screen to be used in future steps.

Open the folder on your home computer where the files are being stored that you wish to transfer to the external hard drive.

These may be on the desktop, in "My Documents" or elsewhere in your computer.

If you are unsure where they are located, you can always search for them by file name by going to "Start" then "Search."

Right-click on the photo file, and select "Cut."

Click on the window showing your hard drive files to bring it into use on the screen.

Right-click on the white space in the window where you would like to transfer the files, and select "Paste."

Your files have now been deleted from their original location and transferred to your external hard drive in the folder you selected

hope this helps

If it's almost full and you've been moving stuff to an external, sounds like you really need a bigger hard drive.

You've only got three options:
1) Buy a bigger hard drive
2) Move stuff to the external then delete it off the laptop
3) Delete things off the laptop such as programs you don't use and files .
Make sure you empty your recycle bin, it can hold a lot of junk

If you get no joy using the Troubleshooting Guide then try this...
You will need to check You Tube to find a Dismantle on your product and follow the step guide on here, the procedure should be similar.
Check 1st that your External HDD has an P.C. internal HDD inside, from You Tube, before dismantle of your External HDD. Connections for an Internal Laptop HDD may have same connections as P.C. not sure though.
Once your happy that it has continue reading and follow the step guide on the link below.
My neighbour has the Seagate FreeAgent Desk 500GB, and in under 2 weeks it started to beep and was not recognized by any Laptop or P.C. if this is the same for you with any FreeAgent Desk series ( not GO series, different procedure for GO products). You maybe in luck click this link, you may have to register in the forums to view thread.... http://www.yo-lid.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=84 Thread can be found in 'Technical' under 'General Technical Issues',
Only attempt this option if you have important information saved in it, you will find that you will be charged by your product makers for retrieval of any information saved on your product.
Thumbs up please if it's any use to you Thank you.

Do a "disk cleanup"
Click on [My Computer]
Right-click on the External drive (D?)
Select [Properties]
In the [General] tab, click on [Disk Cleanup]
It will "scan" your drive, but not remove anything... alow it to complete the scan.
Look at the recommended list that appears and accept its findings.
This should remove non-essential files and leave your data intact.

Burn some of your data, especially video content to DVD (make at least two copies) ... then remove the data from your external hard drive.
You may want to purchase another (larger) external drive. You can use two of them or move your data to the new one.

Computer technology moves swiftly and your aging G4 is a casualty in that movement. I suggest purchasing an external hard drive and move your audio files and your video fines to the new drive. Another option is to purchase a larger internal drive for your G4 but the disadvantage it going this route will not be easily transfered to a new computer in the future. The external will give you the freedom to move it from machine to machine.

Hard Drive requires lots of power to load. If you have purchased only the IDE cable to connect it to USB port, USB port will be unable to initialize the Hard Drive.
To make it work,you require an external casing for IDE Hard Drives with external power support. Like this one --  
http://shopping.rediff.com/shop/productdisplay.jsp?3.5Inch-USB-2.0-EXTERNAL-Casing-For-SATA-/-IDE-Hard-Drives&prrfnbr=10209520&source=browse&frompg=Hard%20Disk%20Drives

If you already have this casing with external power support, please let me know.