Back-up

crisbduck · 25 May 2011 at 18:11

So I want to be able to set up a drive with windows and a few programs so that if my hard drive crashes at a time I really need it I could just boot up the other one.
I currently have a 1tb f3 drive and will be putting most of the essential programs on an ssd in the near future.
So I was wondering what the best option would be; would a normal hard drive last a long time without being turned on? or should I get a cheap ssd?

cheers for input

Tealc · 25 May 2011 at 18:32

Hard drives are pretty robust and should last a while without use. As long as you don't store them near magnetic fields or in a moist place they should power up without issues.

Are you talking months or years?

Does flash memory deteriorate? I know they say not to use USB flash drives as backups.

crisbduck · 25 May 2011 at 18:42

Awesome, well it'll likely be 2 years, but I guess I could turn it on from time to time if that would help? I think I'd store it in the pc, its just in case the ssd fails or I start getting problems when I really need to be working.
I back up any work files to an external so its only about the programs

TheGedi · 25 May 2011 at 19:17

You could try a RAID 1 Array, Several Copies of the same data. Even while running, its very very unlikely, 2-3 or more drives would completely fail at once.

AbsenceJam · 26 May 2011 at 00:15

TheGedi said:
You could try a RAID 1 Array, Several Copies of the same data. Even while running, its very very unlikely, 2-3 or more drives would completely fail at once.

RAID is not a substitute for backups.