Ron from Crystal Lake, IL writes:
You recommend that system image be created from time to time to an external hard drive. If one had a computer hared drive failure, hijacking, or etc, why couldn’t one take the external hard drive and install it in the computer?
Actually Ron, that’s a great idea. Now you can’t just install just any external hard drive in a computer. You’d need to use a drive that’s compatible with your computer.
You can purchase an enclosure that will turn any hard drive into an external hard drive for less than $50. So you could choose to have the exact same drive that’s installed in your computer or if you have an extra drive, you can re-purpose.
It’s a solution that could save you a lot of time and trouble if you have a hard drive failure.
~ Cynthia
The advantage of that external hard drive is it is like a file cabinet. You can store program, files, photos and graphics etc..
What that does for you,you can share this drive and contents with other computers at home or take with you and share at work or a friends.
I would keep that external drive as it is and go buy a new high capacity drive and reinstall the operating system. If you didn’t have a backup, shame on you.