New External HDD advice

[Big Dee]

Hi,

I have a desktop PC with a 320Gb hard-drive and have been advised that I should back-up my PC and I'm looking for advice as to which one to go for as I have only some knowledge. My budget is about £75.

Some of my thoughts are:

- my 320Gb HDD is nowhere near full but have a lot of pictures and will eventually have videos. So what size ext HDD shuld I get? the same size or bigger.

- I understand that some ext HDD do not have an on/off switch. Is this problem?

- would I get any security software with the ext HDD so as to prevent some walking off with it and plugging it into thier own PC and seeing my data?

- is one with USB interface OK or should there be another interface.

- if the ext HDD does not have a fan, what is the advantage apart from being fairly silent.

- if the ext HDD fails, how easy is it to fix and recover data on it?

- I understand that I can build my own ext HDD by selecting an internal HDD and buying an enclosure. Did I understand correctly? If so, what advantage does this have how would cost vary compared to a prebuilt ext HDD.

- can you recommend manufacturers and models please for 320Gb and also 500Gb?

- Is there a procedure for carrying out backups efficiently? would I backup all applications & the data or just my data? Would I just use the SW that might come with the ext HDD?


Thank you.

 

[rpstewart]

Hi,

I have a desktop PC with a 320Gb hard-drive and have been advised that I should back-up my PC and I'm looking for advice as to which one to go for as I have only some knowledge. My budget is about £75.

Some of my thoughts are:

- my 320Gb HDD is nowhere near full but have a lot of pictures and will eventually have videos. So what size ext HDD shuld I get? the same size or bigger.

There's no point in having a backup HDD larger than your main one unless you want to get into the realms of multi level backups or you intend to upgrade your main disk.

- I understand that some ext HDD do not have an on/off switch. Is this problem?

It only tends to be portable externals (laptop drive based ones) that don't have power switches because they're USB powered. Ideally you want a backup drive either off or disconnected when not in use

- would I get any security software with the ext HDD so as to prevent some walking off with it and plugging it into thier own PC and seeing my data?

Depends on the drive. You could always use the built in encryption in NTFS. I'm in two minds about encryption though - if you need to re-install the OS then you can be in trouble.

- is one with USB interface OK or should there be another interface.

USB2 is fine, it might be worth having a look at eSATA if you have the option on your existing machine.

- if the ext HDD does not have a fan, what is the advantage apart from being fairly silent.

No other advantages

- if the ext HDD fails, how easy is it to fix and recover data on it?

Same as any other HDD, it is a backup of course so you still have the live copy.

- I understand that I can build my own ext HDD by selecting an internal HDD and buying an enclosure. Did I understand correctly? If so, what advantage does this have how would cost vary compared to a prebuilt ext HDD.

Cost tends to be more when building your own but you have the benefit of being able to select the particular drive and caddy to suit your needs ie interface, drive warranty etc

- Is there a procedure for carrying out backups efficiently? would I backup all applications & the data or just my data? Would I just use the SW that might come with the ext HDD?

Microsoft's Synctoy powertoy is pretty decent, it's basically a configurable directory syncronisation tool so it only copies changed and new files.

 

[Big Dee]

Hi,

Please see my response:

[sorry, I don't know how to tidely do this with text boxed off]

There's no point in having a backup HDD larger than your main one unless you want to get into the realms of multi level backups or you intend to upgrade your main disk.

>>> OK, well I've seen a 250Gb and 500Gb and the 500Gb Seagate is about £75 and thought that's a good buy as the 250Gb is about £50.


USB2 is fine, it might be worth having a look at eSATA if you have the option on your existing machine.

>>> I'm not sure whether I have eSATA, need to check as I built my PC last summer with the brilliant advice I had from other members of this OC Forum.
If I do have eSATA connection, I guess that would be on my MOBO. How would I get a connection from MOBO to the Ext HDD?


Cost tends to be more when building your own but you have the benefit of being able to select the particular drive and caddy to suit your needs ie interface, drive warranty etc

>>> I see. But as I don't know a lot about HDD mught be easier to just get one off the shelf. I know I have a good Seagate internal HDD and had no probs with it, so I guess an ext HDD by Seagate is a safe option.


- can you recommend manufacturers and models please for 320Gb and also 500Gb?

>>> any other suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[Jumping]

I would personally just buy a normal 3.5" drive and then a USB enclosure. That way you can keep changing the drive to a bigger drive if you need to etc and it's usually cheaper than buying ready made external drive solutions.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-036-SA&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=940
For the drive and
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-005-AK
should do ok for the enclosure.

If you dont want a 500gb monster drive like that you can just get a smaller one instead.