I guess from the mixed responses - cudos to you that have had no problem and to those that have experienced our mishaps here - "your monies are someone elses".  I have 2 computers that are not being used soooooooooooooooo - I think in spare time I will build a mirror of poser/runtimes for my better half and once a month do a dump. In the meantime I am dumping to an external upstairs.

I have attached a 160 GB external 7200rpm USB harddrive and will give it a go. Her runtime files total 120GB so I'll give it a try. IF this fails I only have 2 options after this - a separate server with raid setup or another full-up desktop. I appreciate everyones comments. My wife has said many were using the external drives but after ordering replacements CD's ($$$$$) for her downloads I was hesistant. Slowly but slowly and surely I am replacing all her IDE drives with SATA drives. 

Noland

Quote - I have all my external runtimes on a seagate 160 GB external. It's on 24/7 and I've never had any problems with it. It loads the content at about the same speed as an internal, and Poser has never had problems finding it.

My wife is a beta tester and is running 12-14 hours a day and the techs at the computer stores are stating that the external harddrives are meant for backups only and will not hold up to the constant access.  

here is mine 24.91 24.92 24.99