External hard drive but not 64 bit compatible?

eskimo26

I'm getting myself in a silly fuss over this, I found this HD on offer:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/1tb-external-hard-drive-513860

The price blows comparable products out of the water, even the same companies product with less space costs more. My problem is i found this review on amazon for the 80 gb version:

Warning to 64-bit OS users
This product is very small, light, a good price, and perfectly functional. On 32-bit Operating Systems!
If you are buying this and are planning to use it with a 64-bit OS, navigate away from here immediately as the driver software will not be able to install, thus resulting in you winding up with a useless piece of black plastic.

2 laptops in the house are xp [32 bit i checked] but with the newest ones [my parents] one is 64 bit and the other is a brand new apple imac so i presume 64 bit.

This looks like a potential disaster, would i have problems in compatibility? How can i tell if an HD is 32/64 bit compatible without chancing upon a review on Amazon!
Thankyou.
:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Never heard of a Hard drive not compatible with 64 bit... i reckon that he downloaded the wrong driver... he should of downloaded a 64bit but still i might be wrong sumone else will come along in a min and correct me. I thought extenal HDD are plug & play

Mondez

It says its plug and play like all USB hard drives are nowadays. There is no driver to install it will just use windows standard builtin USB mass storage driver, who knows what that review is talking about, his system probably has a virus or issues with driver signing or something.

muddyl

As said above, I cant see any reason for it not to work. Windows 32 or 64 will recognise an external drive and set up to use it.
Think the person reading the review made a c*ck up there.
I'm a trained IT technician, never came across this.

Hammyman

+1. Even in the early days of USB hard drives they just worked.

John_Gray

Agree with all the above: external hard drives are bit-agnostic!

Mr_Toad

eskimo26 wrote: »

This looks like a potential disaster, would i have problems in compatibility? How can i tell if an HD is 32/64 bit compatible without chancing upon a review on Amazon!
Thankyou.
:rotfl:

Please don't believe everything you read on the Internet. Just because it's a review on Amazon doesn't mean that the person who wrote isn't too stupid to own a computer.

SteveJW

OP original link points to Maplins website

IMHO Maplins are very good at exchanging items, at point of purchase tell them you are purchasing to use with (whatever opeating system you are using) and ask is it compatible. As they have set themselves up as a retailer of such goods, in the eyes of the law they are "the expert" and you have relied on their expertise. SOG if it is not compatible you can return.

Never heard of drives not compatible with 64 bit systems

oxygen_thief

Agree with everyone above.

External hard drives dont require any additional software, just plug it in and away you go. There's no such thing as a 32-bit hard drive.

fenlander_uk

I'd be more concerned about the description "Available in portable and external versions". That confuses me, plus the fact that nowhere does it say whether this is a 2.5" portable drive or a 3.5" mains-powered one. If both are available, are they the same price - normally a 2.5" drive would be more expensive? If you're going to buy this in store you'll be able to check just what you're getting but if you're ordering online, you might want to give them a call first and check out the details.

One reviewer says "Quite a small neat unit, piano black outer. Cool blue activity/power light." That sounds like a 2.5" unit, but it's not clear.

I'm sure that 64-bit operation will not be an issue, anyhow.