We just lately acquired an e mail from Sylvia, who simply received a brand new laptop computer that has considerably much less house than her outdated laptop computer. She emailed us questioning the right way to retailer pictures and movies on a pc with solely 82GB of cupboard space:
“The newer laptop computer doesn’t have as a lot cupboard space (signifies 82.1 GB freed from 225GB) because the outdated one (signifies 322 GB freed from 446 GB). What’s the easiest way to retailer my pictures and movies to liberate house on the brand new laptop computer?”
Nice query, Sylvia. It is a frequent difficulty for anybody who has bought a light-weight laptop computer comparable to a Chromebook or Home windows-based ultrabook. Thankfully, there are a couple of simple methods to retailer information off your onerous drive.
I’M GIVING AWAY THE LATEST & GREATEST AIRPODS PRO 2
Enter the giveaway by signing up for my free newsletter.
A girl typing on her new laptop computer (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
A fast breakdown of file sizes
82 GB needs to be greater than sufficient for fundamental duties like internet searching, utilizing workplace functions or streaming video. Nevertheless, if you happen to plan to retailer giant information comparable to high-resolution pictures, movies or video games, or if you happen to’re utilizing software program that requires plenty of house, 82GB may replenish rapidly. Right here’s a tough breakdown of how a lot house various kinds of information sometimes take:
- Textual content paperwork: A single textual content doc is usually a couple of kilobytes (KB) in measurement. So, you could possibly retailer hundreds of thousands of textual content paperwork in 82GB.
- Photographs: A high-resolution picture could be about 5 megabytes (MB). With 82 GB, you could possibly retailer about 16,000 such pictures.
- Movies: A one-hour HD video could be round 1-2 gigabytes (GB). So, you could possibly retailer about 40-80 hours of HD video in 82GB.
- Video games: Fashionable video games can take up wherever from 1GB to 100GB. So, you could possibly retailer 1-82 video games in 82GB, relying on their measurement.
It is also essential to depart sufficient house in your pc for the working system to run easily. As a rule, maintain no less than 10%-15% of your onerous drive free to forestall software slowdowns. An external hard drive is a superb possibility for storing pictures and movies to liberate house in your new laptop computer. One other nice solution to save house is by storing your pictures in cloud storage. Whether or not it’s a tough drive or cloud house, having a backup is a good suggestion.
As you may see from the breakdown above, pictures and movies can take up a major quantity of cupboard space in your laptop computer. If you’re a photographer who offers with RAW pictures, this quantity may very well be even greater, as with video professionals who work with 4K content material.
Even if you happen to’re not a video skilled or photographer, having plenty of house movies and images can take up plenty of house. You have to a secondary storage answer with lower than 100GB of house left. Listed below are a couple of choices you may contemplate.
A Mac laptop computer subsequent to an exterior onerous drive (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Exterior onerous drives
An external hard drive is without doubt one of the most sensible and dependable options for increasing your laptop computer’s storage capability, particularly when you have many media information like pictures, movies or different data-intensive content material. These transportable storage gadgets connect with your pc by way of USB (and more and more by way of USB-C for quicker switch speeds), providing the pliability of storing and backing up huge quantities of information with out consuming your laptop computer’s inner house.
Sorts of exterior onerous drives
There are two essential forms of exterior onerous drives: HDD (onerous disk drive) and SSD (strong state drive). HDDs are sometimes extra reasonably priced and are available bigger capacities (as much as a number of terabytes), making them a wonderful possibility for these needing huge cupboard space on a price range. Nevertheless, their mechanical parts make them barely slower in knowledge switch speeds and extra vulnerable to bodily injury.
SSDs, alternatively, are quicker, extra sturdy and lighter, although they are typically costlier per gigabyte of storage than HDDs. SSDs are preferrred if you happen to often switch giant information, work with high-resolution media like 4K movies or require speedy entry to your knowledge. They’re additionally much less susceptible to break from drops or motion, which makes them excellent for on-the-go use.
Storage capability
Exterior onerous drives are available varied sizes, from modest capacities like 256GB to huge choices exceeding 10TB. The quantity of storage you want will depend upon the forms of information you’re coping with. For instance, a 1TB drive can retailer over 200,000 high-resolution pictures if you happen to want house for pictures. A bigger capability drive may be essential for video information, particularly HD or 4K, as these information can simply devour tens and even tons of of gigabytes.
An exterior onerous drive plugged right into a laptop computer (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
BEST DESKTOPS COMPUTERS FOR 2025
Portability and comfort
One key benefit of exterior onerous drives is their portability. Compact and simple to hold, they supply a wonderful answer for photographers, videographers or anybody needing entry to giant information whereas shifting. Some fashions are designed to be ultra-durable, with rugged, shockproof and waterproof options, preferrred for out of doors and journey use.
Many professionals label and manage their drives by undertaking or interval, permitting for simple archiving and retrieval. As talked about earlier, a easy organizational system, comparable to labeling your drives with the dates or forms of content material they comprise, can assist maintain your knowledge structured and simply accessible. That is particularly essential whenever you accumulate a number of drives over time. See Kurt’s picks for the best external hard drives here.
Cloud storage providers: Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive
Cloud storage providers like Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive supply handy, versatile choices for storing giant information with out consuming your laptop computer’s restricted house. These providers let you securely retailer your pictures, movies and paperwork within the cloud, releasing up invaluable storage in your gadget. One vital benefit of cloud storage is accessing information from any gadget with an web connection, whether or not in your cellphone, pill or one other pc.
Most cloud providers present a certain quantity of free storage (sometimes between 2GB and 15GB) earlier than upgrading to a paid plan. For example, Google Drive affords 15GB of free storage shared throughout Google providers, whereas Dropbox offers 2GB totally free with choices to improve for extra space. OneDrive offers 5GB totally free, however Microsoft customers can get further storage via Workplace 365 subscriptions, granting entry to the Microsoft Workplace suite.
Moreover, cloud storage providers include options like computerized syncing and backup, making it simpler to prepare and safeguard your information. This may be notably useful for giant photograph and video libraries, which could be set to add mechanically out of your cellphone or pc. With options like file versioning and collaboration instruments, cloud platforms supply extra than simply storage. They improve productiveness and permit seamless file sharing with pals, household or colleagues.
Lastly, many cloud storage suppliers supply encryption and different safety measures to guard your information for added peace of thoughts. Nevertheless, it could at all times be greatest to take additional precautions, comparable to enabling two-factor authentication and utilizing robust, distinctive passwords, to make sure your knowledge is secure. Kurt’s favorite cloud services can be seen here.
iCloud: A complete cloud storage answer for Apple customers
Free storage and subscription plans
iCloud affords 5GB of free storage to all customers, which is ample for fundamental providers like iCloud Keychain, testing different options and storing some information. Nevertheless, for customers who want extra storage, iCloud+ subscriptions can be found. These plans include:
- 50GB for $0.99/month
- 200GB for $2.99/month
- 2TB for $10.99/month
- 6TB for $32.99/month
- 12TB for $64.99/month
Integration and value
iCloud is tightly built-in with Apple gadgets, making it extremely handy for Apple customers. Recordsdata saved on the desktop and in paperwork folders on Macs are mechanically synced to iCloud Drive, which is particularly helpful for gadgets with restricted cupboard space just like the MacBook Air. iCloud Drive will also be accessed from Home windows machines via a devoted file folder and information could be managed by way of icloud.com.
Computerized syncing and backup
iCloud offers sturdy computerized syncing and backup options. iCloud Backup mechanically backs up essential knowledge on iPhones and iPads when linked to energy and Wi-Fi, guaranteeing that your gadget’s knowledge is at all times updated. This backup can be utilized to revive your gadget or arrange a brand new one seamlessly.
Safety and privateness
iCloud makes use of 128-bit AES encryption to safe all information. Moreover, iCloud+ subscriptions embody superior privateness options comparable to iCloud Personal Relay, which protects your searching historical past and identification, Conceal My Electronic mail, which generates random e mail addresses, and Customized Electronic mail Domains for personalised e mail addresses.
Collaboration and compatibility
Whereas iCloud is extremely user-friendly for Apple customers, it may be much less dependable and glitchy for non-Apple customers. Collaboration is proscribed to Apple customers, however information could be shared and accessed throughout completely different Apple gadgets utilizing the Recordsdata app on iOS and iPadOS, the Finder on Mac or File Explorer on Home windows PCs.
Signal-in web page for iCloud (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
BEST ANTIVIRUS FOR MAC, PC, IPHONES AND ANDROIDS – CYBERGUY PICKS
Steps to guard your self and your knowledge
When storing your pictures, movies and different essential information, it is essential to prioritize knowledge safety. Listed below are some important steps to guard your self and your invaluable info.
1) Use robust passwords: Create distinctive, advanced passwords for all of your accounts and gadgets. Think about using a password manager to generate and retailer safe passwords.
2) Allow encryption: Encrypt your exterior onerous drives and cloud storage accounts so as to add an additional layer of safety to your knowledge.
3) Implement two-factor authentication (2FA): Allow 2FA on all accounts that supply this characteristic, particularly for cloud storage providers.
4) Set up and keep robust antivirus software program: Use a robust antivirus program and maintain it up to date to guard in opposition to malware and different safety threats. The easiest way to safeguard your self from malicious hyperlinks that set up malware, probably accessing your personal info, is to have antivirus software program put in on all of your gadgets. This safety may also provide you with a warning to phishing emails and ransomware scams, conserving your private info and digital property secure. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
5) Often replace your working system and functions: Preserve your gadgets and software program up to date to make sure you have the newest safety patches.
6) Be cautious with public Wi-Fi: Keep away from accessing delicate info when linked to public networks or use a VPN for added safety. Utilizing a VPN (virtual private network) service can improve your privateness by encrypting your web visitors, making it more durable for hackers and third events to intercept your knowledge, particularly on public Wi-Fi. A VPN masks your IP tackle, serving to to obscure your location and on-line exercise. Whereas VPNs don’t immediately stop phishing emails, they cut back the publicity of your searching habits to trackers that will use this knowledge maliciously. With a VPN, you may securely entry your e mail accounts from wherever, even in areas with restrictive web insurance policies. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
7) Again up your knowledge frequently: Create multiple backups of your essential information, together with no less than one offline copy.
8) Use safe file switch strategies: When sharing information, use encrypted switch strategies or password-protected links.
By following these steps, you may considerably improve the safety of your knowledge and defend your self from potential cyber threats.
SUBSCRIBE TO KURT’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICES
Kurt’s key takeaways
Managing storage on a laptop computer with restricted house requires considerate planning, particularly when coping with giant information like pictures and movies. Whereas 82GB could also be ample for fundamental duties, media information can rapidly add up. By leveraging exterior onerous drives or cloud storage providers, you may maintain your laptop computer operating effectively whereas guaranteeing that your essential information are safely saved and accessible. Whether or not you go for bodily or cloud-based options, keep in mind to prioritize knowledge safety utilizing robust passwords and encryption the place essential. With the best technique, you may profit from your laptop computer’s storage with out sacrificing efficiency or dropping valuable reminiscences.
Do you will have a manner of storing pictures and movies that we did not point out? Tell us by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For extra of my tech ideas and safety alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report E-newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
Observe Kurt on his social channels:
Solutions to probably the most requested CyberGuy questions:
New from Kurt:
Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Source link