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External HDDs are becoming less common for storing files that you need to access regularly, such as bootable operating systems, virtual machines, high-resolution media files, design files, and games. These days that job is better served by solid-state drives (SSDs), because they offer blazing-fast speeds. They're also much safer to carry around since they have no moving parts. Depending on the enclosure, they can even be more portable. Still, HDDs are storage devices worth adding to your kit . Having the right accessories is also necessary for a smooth experience, whether you're buying them new or repurposing an old hard drive .

While SSDs are reliable in the short term , hard drives are better and more affordable for long-term storage. This is especially true for files you're not going to access for a while (cold files).…