Drive Care and Fixes
Do External Hard Drives Need to Be Formatted?
Do external hard drives need to be formatted? Learn when to format one, which file system to choose, and how to protect files before you begin.
Drive Care and Fixes
How long drives last, warning signs like clicking, safe ejecting, formatting, passwords and power questions.
- Drive Care and Fixes
How Long Do External Hard Drives Last?
Learn how long external hard drives last, what affects their lifespan, how to care for them, and when to replace a drive or make another backup.
Drive Care and FixesHow to Password Protect an External Hard Drive
Learn how to password protect an external hard drive, compare built-in encryption with drive software, and keep a safe backup of your files.
- Drive Care and Fixes
How to Safely Eject an External Hard Drive on a PC or Mac
Learn how to safely eject an external hard drive on Windows or Mac, fix an in-use warning, and choose a drive that fits your computer and storage needs.
- Drive Care and Fixes
How to Tell If an External Hard Drive Is Failing
Learn how to tell if an external hard drive is failing, which warning signs matter, how to protect readable files, and how to choose a replacement.
Drive Care and FixesWhy Is My External Hard Drive Clicking?
Learn why an external hard drive clicks, what to check first, when to stop using it, and how to choose a replacement that fits your backup needs.