External hard disk drives are a convenient, albeit somewhat expensive, way to store important files or back up files from the computer. These drives not only have the ability to back up the entire system, but the operating system as well. One of the huge advantages of external hard disk drives is safe storage. You can send your files to the drive on the computer, then physically store the drive in a protected area such as a safe or closet to avoid damage. Files from an external hard disk drive are accessed in much the same way as you sent them.
