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Oh boy, I now know why people don't do backup...

IHAVEAQUESTION

Golden Member
I bought a WD My book external HD because I thought it's time that I add a bit more insurance to my files. but boy! How long does it take to back up 80GB of files? Granted, Win 7 also creates a system image...I don't know what it means, I just want my personal files to be saved.

WD doesn't even provide backup software with the purchase. I could have just bought a HD with an enclosure that will do the same thing. Anyway, a weak rant...USB 2.0 fails!
 
I HATE external drives and their crappy 5400 rpm speed. I use a second hard drive and Norton Ghost to run background HD copies. Works like a charm and is done in about 20 mins (backing up 40gb from 150 raptor to 300gb WD)
 
Well, I have a lappy...a second HD is out of question.

USB 2.0 or firewire...that's all the options I have. I think one of the criteria for my next lappy would be USB 3.0, or something faster.
 
What is your transfer speed? Just moved 160GB of data to a WD MyPassport (the 2.5 inch USB powered external) and it only took an hour and a half...2 hours 50% done 80gigs? Sounds like something wrong is happening or Windows 7 sucks...
 
get an esata card as said.

or a gigabit adaptor. but esata probably cheaper as a whole solution.

as for usb 2, at 40mb/s isn't that about 30 minutes? course its prbably more like 30mb/s ...you not backing up to system image? things like incremental backup would take more time as well.

try clonezilla.


as for complaining about 5400rpm drives. usb 2 is the limit, not the drive these days
 
Ok, I think Win 7 is creating a system image while backing up some of my data. That's probably why it takes so long. But even when I was just cut & paste files from HD to My book and the other way around, I kept averaging 20mb/sec...it was slow!

Win 7 backup doesn't show the speed so I can't tell how fast it is.

eSATA? Hmmm...how much faster is it? Btw, I have a lappy...so I can't just go add another card.
 
well if its generating a self restoring image file/incremental backup or something wacky it might take longer sure. i haven't fiddled with win7 yet.

esata is fast as sata
only your drive limits you with that interface. you could even use an intel x25-m or raptor in an enclosure if you wished

lappys have expansion slots., theres a card slot on the side
 
Ok, I see an expansion port on the side but I have no idea how to expand on it.

The express slot I need it for TV tuner...so probably not a good idea.

But wait! I think my HP DV2000 has a eSATA port...mmm...I just use it as a USB, which external HD accepts eSATA? WD My Book doesn't.

EDIT:
Actually looking at it again. I am not sure if it's a USB/HDMI or a USB/eSATA combo port...so confused, they all look the same.
 
I don't think USB drives have the write buffer enabled by default - as I understand it, this is to allow for quick removal of the drive. If you remove a drive while there's still data in the write buffer, that data is lost, and that can be quite bad if that data happened to be related to the file allocation tables, or something like that.

No write buffer = very slow write speeds.

 
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
I HATE external drives and their crappy 5400 rpm speed. I use a second hard drive and Norton Ghost to run background HD copies. Works like a charm and is done in about 20 mins (backing up 40gb from 150 raptor to 300gb WD)

External enclosure + 10k Raptor + eSATA = WIN
 
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