Data Archiving

[clickynext]

Hey guys,

What's your opinion on the easiest and cheapest reliable way to back up data? It's not critical data, but it's important data, family videos, etc.

I've been using DVDs, but 4.7GB really is tiny when you're doing video stuff, and it's a pain to burn all those.

How reliable is backing up to hard drive? Seems like that would be a nice easy solution, just buy a big one and dump all my stuff on there, with the ability to add to it easily too!

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: clickynext
Hey guys,

What's your opinion on the easiest and cheapest reliable way to back up data? It's not critical data, but it's important data, family videos, etc.

I've been using DVDs, but 4.7GB really is tiny when you're doing video stuff, and it's a pain to burn all those.

How reliable is backing up to hard drive? Seems like that would be a nice easy solution, just buy a big one and dump all my stuff on there, with the ability to add to it easily too!

Seagate FreeAgent Pro ST307504FPA1E2-RK 750GB 7200 RPM USB 2.0 / eSATA External Hard Drive - Retail

Also available 320 Gig, and 500 Gig I love mine !

 

[Old Hippie]

How reliable is backing up to hard drive?

'Bout the same as the one(s) in your computer, and probably a lot better than DVDs.

 

[Pirotech]

Using another hd isn't bad way to safe your data. Also you can try 3rd party backup software (e.g. Acronis True Image). It allows to backup specific types of files and folders and safe it to dvd, hd, and to other storage locations. It has free trial ver, so you can check it.

 

[0roo0roo]

assuming you don't delete off your main drive, usb externals are very convenient these days. yes burning dvds is a chore. and frankly once you get a spindles worth files within might as well be lost i use a program called cdbank cataloger to catalog contents but its still a pain. external drive is pretty safe for backing up stuff as a second copy, not the only copy esp if you leave it plugged in all the time. drives still fail. i've gota freeagent 500gb, works great. 5yr warranty. course it doesn't cover lost data

 

[JackBurton]

Get a NAS unit and just have each machine synchronize the data with the network storage unit. Nice and easy back ups with really no effort on your part (except for setting it all up).

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: Pirotech
Using another hd isn't bad way to safe your data. Also you can try 3rd party backup software (e.g. Acronis True Image). It allows to backup specific types of files and folders and safe it to dvd, hd, and to other storage locations. It has free trial ver, so you can check it.

Or you could just run NTbackup (start => run => ntbackup), it's free with XP, and I think Vista has something similar, though I don't know since I'm still on XP pro.

Anyway, :thumbsup: to external backup HDDs, that's what I do. Like someone else said, do turn the thing off when you're not using it, otherwise it'll age just as quickly as your main drive.

 

[clickynext]

Thanks for the responses. Is there any advantage to an external hard drive vs using an internal SATA2, and just taking it out and putting it in a box/antistatic/bubblewrap?

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: clickynext
Thanks for the responses. Is there any advantage to an external hard drive vs using an internal SATA2, and just taking it out and putting it in a box/antistatic/bubblewrap?

The convenience of not having to shut the computer down and open your case every time you want to backup.

 

[clickynext]

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger

Originally posted by: clickynext
Thanks for the responses. Is there any advantage to an external hard drive vs using an internal SATA2, and just taking it out and putting it in a box/antistatic/bubblewrap?

The convenience of not having to shut the computer down and open your case every time you want to backup.

I could be mistaken, but I thought SATA was hot pluggable?

I suppose it's never a good idea to open up the case switch around internal stuff while the machine is running, but in theory...

 

[tcsenter]

Long term strategy = DVD-RAM. And good media like Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden, not commodity grade like Ritek and the like.

HDD is safer, at any rate. If your DVD recording layer starts to degrade or you sit on it, the data is gone. On the other hand, you can toss a HDD out the window while driving down the interstate and the data is still good. You'll have to send it off to a data recovery specialist firm at significant cost, but its there.

 

[Pabster]

IMHO, the best option is a combination of all 3. Physical on-site backup via external HD or DVD; Off-site physical backup via external HD or DVD; And off-site backup such as Carbonite or Mozy et al.

It all depends on how critical the data is, of course.

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: clickynext

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger

Originally posted by: clickynext
Thanks for the responses. Is there any advantage to an external hard drive vs using an internal SATA2, and just taking it out and putting it in a box/antistatic/bubblewrap?

The convenience of not having to shut the computer down and open your case every time you want to backup.

I could be mistaken, but I thought SATA was hot pluggable?

I suppose it's never a good idea to open up the case switch around internal stuff while the machine is running, but in theory...

IIRC, eSATA is, SATA is not. But, Wikipedia is your friend, check it out yourself

 

[0roo0roo]

yup esata
very slighty different specs for longer cables and such

 

[Paperdoc]

Originally posted by: clickynext

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger

Originally posted by: clickynext
Thanks for the responses. Is there any advantage to an external hard drive vs using an internal SATA2, and just taking it out and putting it in a box/antistatic/bubblewrap?

The convenience of not having to shut the computer down and open your case every time you want to backup.

I could be mistaken, but I thought SATA was hot pluggable?

I suppose it's never a good idea to open up the case switch around internal stuff while the machine is running, but in theory...

SATA was NOT designed to support hot-pluggable / hot swap operations. True eSATA does, as well as supporting longer cable lengths to allow connection of external cases / drives. In practice, you are unlikely to find an eSATA connector inside the case for internal mounting. If you're going that route, get an external case using eSATA cabling (assuming you have a real eSATA controller / connector on your machine) and put a good HDD inside it. I put a 500GB Seagate SATAII drive into an AZIO case designed to accept SATA drives and connect to my computer via an eSATA system. My mobo (from ASUS) has a true eSATA controller with back-plate connector. The AZIO case has its own power brick (does not draw power from eSATA port) and an on/off switch. Turn it on and My Computer sees a new drive available to do my backups. Turn it off and the drive disappears while it rests. My mobo even allows me to boot and run from the eSATA-connected HDD. So when I clone my C: drive to the external one (including making it a bootable drive), I can then reboot and run completely from the external if necessary while the original internal C: drive is out of action for repairs, should that become necessary.

 

[Old Hippie]

I can then reboot and run completely from the external if necessary while the original internal C

Just for shits and giggles, I'm gonna try that with mine. I figured it would work with an internal eSATA port, but mine's connected via a eSATA PCI card.