I bought a 250gb external drive to keep back up of my stuff, but since I don't want to be updating it constantly, I just leave it plugged in all the time and work directly from it. It's connected by usb, which is still plenty fast enough for me, but I wonder if this is bad for it or my computer? Logic tells me that since the one inside the computer is also plugged in all the time, it shouldn't be any different, but I thought I'd check. The computer also stays on all the time, so they both run 24/7.

Also, the usb cord has one plug on the hdd end, and two on the computer end. Am I supposed to plug both of them in, or just one?

If your computer is always on, then it shouldn't be a problem. Just keep a fan on it or something to keep it cool. Most Hard Drive damage comes from the stopping and starting of it, thus it heating up, and then cooling down, then heating up again.

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While this is true, there's also damage to the controller card to consider as well as the drive. However, keeping it cool is also the solution there, so... I hope your enclosure has a fan, and if not it should be the metal kind so that it acts as a heatsink (and you should aim a fan at it or mount one on it in this case).

As for those two plugs, they're probably for different interfaces. You should only have one plugged in.

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It's a 5400rpm 2.5" drive, in a metal enclosure, with no fan. However, when I say I work from it, what I mean is that if I'm reading a book or watching a movie, or downloading stuff to it, it's being used, but while I'm just browsing the net or writing, it is just sitting idle. It was in a soft leather case, but I've taken it out now so it can cool down faster, it doesn't feel very hot anyway, just slightly above room temperature.

Should be good then, so long as it's fairly cool. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot.

BTW, it's constantly spinning while powered on, unless you have power management in that enclosure. Most don't, that I'm aware of. Keep it out of that leather case or it may heat up too fast.

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Yeah, it's constantly spinning. Gives a neat gyroscope feel when you move it around too. Thanks for the help.

One plug is probably a power interface. Some enclosures require separate 5VDC power in order to support higher data rates. It's pretty common to see dual USB connector; with one having a round DC power connector at the other end.

Like others said, as long as it's kept relatively cool, and your not constantly accessing it on and off, you should be fine. It should have a slightly longer than typical life span of 3.5" drives, assuming you don't handle it carelessly. 2.5's typically are designed more efficiently (not implying they perform better), since they're expected to be handled often, unlike 3.5's.

My enclosure uses 120VAC, which I assume it reduces to a lower level, but it won't even turn on without external power. I'd think he'd notice a power adapter hole and know how to use it.

Then again, there are also combo USB/Firewire enclosures also.

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By his description, at the beginning of the thread, it sounds like he has a USB Y cable. These cables are explicitly made for devices that require extra power, without using a wall-wort. 2.5" enclosures that don't require extra power are common though.

Yeah that's right. Heres a pic just so we're all on the same page.

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/2958/usbycordld0.jpg