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How to Add a Second HDD to an XBox

Most models of the Xbox 360 come pre-installed with an Xbox hard disk drive (HDD) although some low-end models do not. The hard drive is used to store game saves, game and media downloads purchased via the Xbox Marketplace. The drive can fill up quickly. In April 2010, Microsoft released an update for the Xbox that allowed the console to use external USB hard drives as storage devices. This allows you to use the on-board hard drive and add a second hard drive via USB. Adding the drive is simple but you must configure and format the drive via the Xbox.

Things You'll Need

External hard drive

Instructions

- 1
  Plug your external hard drive into the back of the Xbox 360 via USB cable.
- 2
  Power on the Xbox console. Sign into Xbox Live via the Xbox Dashboard. A software update may be necessary, depending on the last time your Xbox has been updated. If any updates are available, you will be immediately notified upon logging in. Follow the instructions on-screen to install the update.
- 3
  Navigate to "My Xbox," then "System Settings." Select "Memory," then "USB Storage Devices."
- 4
  Select the USB storage device and click "Configure Now." All data on the drive will be erased. Confirm the action. Once formatted, the Xbox will test the device. If the test is passed, you have successfully added a second hard drive to your Xbox. This second hard drive can be used to store game saves, profiles, game demos and multimedia.

Xbox 360