External Hard disk buying advice

[TheReaFireblade]

Welcome to the forums

I have got an Asus 160GB External HD,it comes with one usb port and one esata plus one mini usb cable with two usb plugs at other end.
Why are there two usb plus at the one end.

I assume the enclosure isn't 'powered' - i.e. it doesn't have it's own (mains) power supply?
One of the two USB connections on the twin-cable is for data (like a standard USB connection), and the other is to make sure the enclosure draws enough power through the USB bus.
If you're not having problems using the enclosure/hard drive through just the standard USB connection, you don't need to use the power connection as well.

I also have the esata cable. I would also like to know how to use the esata.
i plugged that cable in and there didn't seem to be any power to the device.

The cable has to be plugged into an eSATA port, specifically. I assume that's how you connected it?

If you don't have an eSATA port, you'll need to get yourself a SATA > eSATA cable, and connect it to an external SATA port.

[malamute]

"i plugged that cable in and there didn't seem to be any power to the device." so YES i Do have an esata port

[malamute]

Oh so when i connect the esata,it gets it power from the usb port ?

[EndlessWaves]

yeah, eSATA can't currently provide power so I guess you need the power head of the USB cable pluggd in when using it over eSATA