I have never owned external storage.

[StevenNevets]

Everytime I've ever reformated I've had to re-download everything.
I have it all written down so it only takes me like 5 hours but still. Not very efficent.

So I'm thinking I should get an external-hard drive.


I know there's slightly more complicated software for automatic back-up and such but what if I only want it for storage.

Is it as easy as opening my computer and copying/pasting or dragging files?



Also I'm kind of worried I'll get everything I want on there and then it just blanks. They don't ever randomly reset or something do they?

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: StevenNevets
Is it as easy as opening my computer and copying/pasting or dragging files?

Pretty much. You ever use a USB flash drive? External hard drives basically show up as a drive letter just like an internal drive. Only difference is that it is outside your case, and runs a bit slower.

Originally posted by: StevenNevets
Also I'm kind of worried I'll get everything I want on there and then it just blanks. They don't ever randomly reset or something do they?

It shouldn't. If it does, then something's broken.

 

[StevenNevets]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: StevenNevets
Is it as easy as opening my computer and copying/pasting or dragging files?

Pretty much. You ever use a USB flash drive? External hard drives basically show up as a drive letter just like an internal drive. Only difference is that it is outside your case, and runs a bit slower.

Originally posted by: StevenNevets
Also I'm kind of worried I'll get everything I want on there and then it just blanks. They don't ever randomly reset or something do they?

It shouldn't. If it does, then something's broken.

Oh sweet, yea that's what I thought.
Now to actually find and buy one.

If anyone has any suggestions go for it, I'll still look around on my own though.




Right now I'm thinking this one.
http://www.buy.com/prod/maxtor...loc/101/205467387.html

 

[SkyDiver]

I have an enclosure that provides both SATA and ATA connections, so I can put anything in there up to 1 TB and it will be compatible and convert it to USB. I'm not sure why anyone would want a "packaged solution" unless you need the backup software. I keep mine totally disconnected until I do a backup to it once or twice a week.

I backup an image with Acronis TrueImage. Around Christmas my RAM started going bad but it looked like Norton AV was going haywire. I restored from my USB drive several times before I finally figured out what the problem was.

 

[pugh]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: StevenNevets
Is it as easy as opening my computer and copying/pasting or dragging files?

Pretty much. You ever use a USB flash drive? External hard drives basically show up as a drive letter just like an internal drive. Only difference is that it is outside your case, and runs a bit slower.

Originally posted by: StevenNevets
Also I'm kind of worried I'll get everything I want on there and then it just blanks. They don't ever randomly reset or something do they?

It shouldn't. If it does, then something's broken.

what he said.

 

[Tweakin]

just plug it in...

 

[degibson]

Externals are staggeringly simple to use. Just obey all the usual precautions you would use with a regular hard drive (don't smash it with a hammer, for instance) and it will treat you nicely.

 

[StevenNevets]

Alright I get it.


Any 250gb recomendations?

 

[Binky]

Externals are easy unless it's esata. If you don't have built-in esata ports, you may have trouble getting an esata connection working. USB2 is pretty much idiot-proof.

 

[devilchrist]

I recomend getting 500GB+ external drives. They are extremely cheap and reliable.

I have WD 500GB external and its very simple to use. Great as storage but not as a constant on drive. I use it for my mp3 and mpeg back up as well as driver/cd image storage when reinstalling OS.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I have a Western Digital 120gb Passport and a Western Digital 750gb My Book (I think that's what they call it). Haven't had any problems so far with either. I love the Passport--small size, no external power required. Transfer speed isn't wonderful, but it's perfect for just storing files.

For backup of my RAID 5 array, I went with the My Book--eSATA, Firewire and USB connections.

 

[taltamir]

I have a simpler solution for you. It is called "partitioning"
You split up your shiny new 500GB drive into a 50GB partition (drive C - install windows here), and a 450GB partition (drive D - put junk here).
It is one physical drive that appears as two. And you can reinstall windows as often as you like and all the stuff on D drive stays.

 

[bruceb]

Not the best idea, for if it fails, then he still loses all his data & images.
The only way to properly save data & images is to a totally seperate drive
from the drive you want to backup. External is ok, but internal will be less
costly & not take up desk space. And transfer rates are faster internally.

 

[taltamir]

Actually, getting a second drive for his data does NOT protect it, at all, whatsoever.

To backup you need TWO drives. One holding the data, one holding a second copy.

He should partition his drive so that the OS is on the first partition and the data on the second. That allows him to format safely without loosing data. To protect against drive failure he needs to buy a second drive and put a copy of the data on the second drive.

If he just bought an external drive and put all his data there, so that he could easily reformat C, then if the external drive fails then he looses all his data.

Everytime I've ever reformated I've had to re-download everything.

He is actually reinstalling windows and loosing his stuff that way, not due to drive failure. Telling him to buy an external drive and put the files there is a waste of money, and will not protect him from drive failure (since the external can fail and it will all be gone)

Worst solution:
Drive 1: partition 1: C drive, OS and no data.
Drive 2: partition 1: D drive, all the data.

Drive failure protection - No
Allows windows reinstall without need for backup - Yes
Cost: ~100$



Better solution:
Drive 1: Partition 1: C drive, OS and no data.
Drive 1: Partition 2: D drive, data.

Drive failure protection - No
Allows windows reinstall without need for backup - Yes
Cost: 0$



Best solution:
Drive 1: Partition 1: C drive, OS and no data.
Drive 1: Partition 2: D drive, data.
Drive 2: partition 1: E drive, backup of data.

Drive failure protection - Yes
Allows windows reinstall without need for backup - Yes
Cost: ~100$

Also, get a second internal drive instead of an external, it will be faster, it will safe electricity, the drive will last longer since it will get more downtime and better cooling, and it will cost less money.

RAID1 works out similarly. Only it is harder to implement (due to drivers) but works out better in terms of speed and reliability.

 

[StevenNevets]

I see your points taltamir but I only have a 320GB hd and having copies of the data + the actual data would probably be too much.

I'd also like to be able to share it with other people/other computers.



That's really the main reason I want an external.

 

[taltamir]

in which case you should go for the best of both worlds.
partition your drive into a 30 - 50GB OS partition (your choice for the amount, depending on the OS and programs you want) and a storage partition for the rest. And buy an external drive.
You can use the external to share and move data around. And the data on the external and on the internal partition would be safe from loss due to reformat (but not due HDD failure).

Also, before putting data on a new drive you should break it in... Start by doing a full format (not a quick format). Fill it up with data (copy copy and copy some more), and leave it on for 2 days straight. Then try to access the data. If it survives this it should last for many years. But a good number of drives WILL fail afterwards (and it will suck if it breaks after you MOVED 50% of your data to the new drive... which happened to me before.)

 

[DBissett]

I'm planning on getting an internal HD and putting it in an external enclosure with eSata connectors, going to a MB with builtin eSata connectors, because from what I've read this would provide the fastest backup performance with minimal problems. Is that right? Then, if I use two partitions on the HD in the computer as described above, and want to create a drive image for total backup, not just data, would I also create two partitions on the external drive or will the imaging software (I'm using Acronis) do something with the two partitions automatically? Also, would Raid work with this drive setup and would that be a better backup solution than drive imaging from time to time? The main goal here is avoiding downtime should any catastrophies happen (history here proves that the unexpected will eventually happen, since I got wiped out once by an exploding PSU and again later by a flood). Thanks for any input.