external HDD casing query

[blacklisted]

i just bought a 200 GB Seagate Hard Disk for my laptop along with 3.5'' casing with firewire and USB .....it says max speed of 480Mbps....however all i get is max speed is 15MBps.....but my main prob is that the casing requires external power.....so if during transfer the power goes off would my ext hard disk be affected....i dont hv a UPS since i only use a laptop....what are the possible solns.....is thr any casing which can get the power from laptop itself so that i can safely remove the ext hard disk.

plz some1 reply.............its kind of urgent as i hv to leave for my univ in 2-3 days

any1?

[Panchu]

Well, the problem may be that, your Ext HDD may be a USB 2.0 version device, while your Laptop is USB 1.0 or likewise, I too have experienced similar problems.....

[infra_red_dude]

power for the external drive + casing will be external unless the hdd u bought was a laptop hdd. the power requirements for a desktop hdd is high which cannot be supplied from the usb port.

[manmay]

first of all for the low transfer speed.....the speed mentioned on the extcasing is 480 mbps that will be ...55 to 60 MBps that is theoritically....fine....but generally it is seen that the transfer speed do not cross 16-18 MBps in the extcasings....yes the ext casing will definitely require a external power source....
dont worry in case of power outage only the file u re transfer ing may get affected...hdd will be fine....