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Community Newsletter: Q&A: External hard-drive buying advice and backing up data
- 8/8/08 10:24 AM
External hard-drive buying advice and backing up data
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 8/8/08 10:24 AM
Question:
I'd like to get an external hard drive to use for backup of files and maybe as a main access point for music and photos. I'm not sure what brands are best or what vendor I should purchase from. I want at least 300GB but probably more. The drive should be easily connected and detached, and synching between the drives for backing up data should be simple (I don't want to manually search all folders in a directory to figure out which ones have been updated since last backup).
I'm more concerned with reliability and durability than with getting the lowest price, as I will be counting on the drive for file backup. What are some members' recommendations? Is it a bad idea to use a backup drive for regular access to music and photos? I play music on my PC a lot and don't want to wear out my primary drive. Using a Dell Dimension 5150 with Windows XP. Thanks!!
--Submitted by Ben T.
Here are some answers from our members to get you started, but please read through all the submission within this discussion thread for more helpful advice and information.
External hard drives are important: choose carefully --Submitted by newscientist_Au
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=302253&messageID=2819594#2819594
External hard drives are not the best backup! --submitted by MarkFlax
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=302253&messageID=2819694#2819694
Have a backup plan --submitted kknudson
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=302253&messageID=2820109#2820109
Simple "balance" of life regarding storage volume --submitted rlessmue
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=302253&messageID=2822669#2822669
If you have any additional recommedation for Ben, please click the reply link and submit your answer. Please be as detailed as possible when providing a solution or recommendation. Thank you!
External Hard drives
by splicerjj - 7/25/08 7:40 PM In reply to: External hard-drive buying advice and backing up data by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Would not use nothing else but Western Digital.
Would probably not use Western Digital hard drives.
by john3347 - 8/1/08 7:26 PM In reply to: External Hard drives by splicerjjSince the mid 80's, I have experienced two harddrive failures. Both of these have been WD Caviar models. While I have probably used a number of harddrives approaching 100 during this time, two failures is not a great number but it makes one one lose confidence in the brand and model that failed. This is especially true when there has been an eclectic mix of brand names among these harddrives.
I would consider a two pronged approach for the most secure method of back-up of critical data. First, I would install a second (or additional one to however many you now have)internal harddrive large enough to hold everything you need to back-up. Then use an additional external harddrive that is connected only for and while transferring data. Microsoft SyncToy makes it quite easy to duplicate files from your "main" drive to each of these back-up drives. While it is conceivable that some virus or failure could destroy both main and internal back-up hard drive, the external back-up would be physically separated from the computer and the data would be safe.
Neither would I
by barry_grau - 8/1/08 7:52 PM In reply to: Would probably not use Western Digital hard drives. by john3347A friend and I each bought a 400GB WD Elements external drive at the same time around June, 2007, and both had problems with them almost right off the bat. And the WD returns web page was so frustrating that neither of us successfully requested a RMA. I opened them up last month. The drives inside are WD Caviar 400GB SATA drives. Last month when I plugged them into a Galaxy external enclosure with JBOD. They've been functioning ok as an external 800GB logical drive for about 10 days. At this point, I don't know what was bad--the drive, the driver or the SATA to USB adapter, but I won't buy WD drives again any time soon.
RE: WD RMA
by NoCindy - 8/25/08 2:02 PM In reply to: Neither would I by barry_grauI have or had a 500G WD My Book Essential USB 2.0 version. Mine died while doing a B/U when Vista SP1 auto-updated and installed prior to released knowledge of problems with certain drivers and 3rd-party software along with instructions to be sure all the correct updates were installed. Who would have guessed an SP would crash and burn not only my external HD but render my "New" PC useless?
After dealing with techs from both the MS Vista team (which I have to say at least tried his best and contacted me to let me know he was keeping my case open and would be the one handling it should I require his assistance *Shock and Awe*) and the rude and crude Dell "Supervisor" for the tech I was working with on a 3-way conference call between me, the MS tech (who made the call), and Dell, with his contribution of "you will have to do a full recovery." to which I replied, I would have done that earlier however I will lose my data as it killed my WD. His response, "Why do you people think we advise you all the time to do a B/U?" Me: "That is why I purchased the WD through Dell when I bought the system." Him: "Then you have no problem." Me: "apparently you have difficulty hearing or listening, It Died when the system crashed!" Him: "Then that's not our problem, get in touch with the vendor who sold it to you." Me: "Once again, I purchased it from you w/the system, so I believe I am talking to the vendor." He: "Sorry, we supply 3rd party hardware and software as a courtesy, you will need to contact the 3rd-party vendor." Me: "then can you please give me the name and address phone or website for them?" Him: "Sure, Western Digital. The other information is easily found on the product manual, but I'll give you the #." Me: "Thanks!" Oh, forgot, he mentioned I should take it to a technician to have the HD removed and replaced to recover my data, something I could well do on my own, but wasn't about to spend another cent on ****!
I called WD's service number, explained the situation, he attempted to help me revive it to no avail, then issued me an RMA and sent the information and link to print it right away.
That was the easiest part of this whole ordeal. So maybe calling them is the answer. I received an email saying they had received it and a replacement was on its way.
NoCindy
Agreed - NOT Western Digital Caviar
by quickrick - 8/2/08 6:05 AM In reply to: Would probably not use Western Digital hard drives. by john3347My experience has been very similar to yours. I run a number of different hard drives in various computers. My only hard drive failures were both Western Digital Caviar hard drives.
I've actually had some drives last for over 8 years using them continuously.
One other thought for reliability of back up. My last two computers I've bought with duplicate hard drives where my disc capacity is limited to the size of one because they are configured to mirror one another. (RAID) That way you not only have data back up but you have EVERYTHING backed up, including your operating system and all install software etc. THEN, I use an external hard drive to back up my data and it is only plugged in when I am backing up data.
Stay away from western digital
by rvchuck - 8/2/08 6:53 AM In reply to: Would probably not use Western Digital hard drives. by john3347I purchased 2 320gb my book premium external hard drives and both failed. 100% failure rate with western digital. Their recommended recovery company wanted $1,500 to retrieve the data on each.
Customer support was nothing more than we will replace the drive.
Had I used one to back up the other I still would have lost everything.
Internal Hard Drives - External Hard Drives
by Doug104 - 8/4/08 6:33 PM In reply to: Would probably not use Western Digital hard drives. by john3347Speaking for me personally as well as for a 30 Year old Non-Profit 501(c)(3)Corporation that I am Chairman of the Board and CEO of, I agree about not using Western Digital Hard Drives. Since the mid 1970s we have been very involved with computers and hard drives. At first we used mostly Western Digital Hard drives. I thought they were excellent at first but from 1980 on of the Twenty different Hard drives we have used all of the failures have been Western Digitals. Some of them in thir first month only to be replaced by another equally as bad as Western Digital. I have several Maxtor One-Touch external hard drives and I have never had ant problems with them. They range from 300 GB to 1 Terabyte drives. The oldest 300 GB has been in use for 4 years now, and still going strong. We boycott anything Western Digital now because of having so many bad expieriences with them. Doug
Mid-1970's ?
by M11MadMan - 8/4/08 8:34 PM In reply to: Internal Hard Drives - External Hard Drives by Doug104I've been working with computers since 1972. The first hard drive for a PC was introduced in 1979 by Seagate.
I've been using Western Digital since there was A Western Digital, and I've never had a catastrophic hardware failure. I'm currently trying to recover an IDE Maxtor, and I was glad for my Western Digital backups, because that Maxtor ate my system.
I think if you poll enough people, during the polling process, every brand drive with take the "lead" in failures.
One thing I have learned is that a vast majority of hardware failures occur during system power up and power down, due to heat factors. I you expand and contract solder connections often enough, eventually they'll fail. I leave my systems on 24/7 and I've never lost a board.
I don't think they're is any foolproof answer. Go with what you like and hope for the best. The main advantage to external hard drives is you can replace them easier. I've got a group of WD "My Books" and rotate them for daily backups just like I did back in the old days with the 8" floppies (anyone remember those ?)
LMAO - Raising hand
by NoCindy - 8/25/08 2:19 PM In reply to: Mid-1970's ? by M11MadManMy first PC was an IBM (don't think they had model #s at that time) with an updated 5 Mg HD, with additional RAM chips, yes they were chips back then :o)for the unheard of 512 kg (? not sure of that #, it was a while ago) 2 - 5 1/4 floppy drives, a monochrome monitor and keyboard. The mouse wasn't around then. Given an equality to the IBM in those days to a standard Desktop today, it's funny to think I ran so many programs and databases on that dinosaur! I wish I had kept it!
NoCindy
Chairman of the Board and CEO?
by PhooPhan - 8/8/08 8:49 PM In reply to: Internal Hard Drives - External Hard Drives by Doug104It took 30 years for you to make a decision to boycott Western Digital? All of your failures have been Western Digital? Ahhhhh, something smells a little fishy. Sounds more like sour grapes. I know a few CEO's and mid-sized company owners and I honestly can't see any of them making a statement such as you did here, especially using the word "boycott". Sorry, but when something smells, feels and looks like a duck.....
Backups
by Overington - 8/2/08 8:15 AM In reply to: External Hard drives by splicerjjI agree with Lee about hard drives. Most will last around 4 years. Having a UPS will help with longevity with your entire machine. Also, as we all know, heat is not good. As for backups, there have been quite a few options over the years. Tape drives, CD's, DVD's, etc. RAID has its good points and bad points. Needless to say, if you get a virus it's going to be on both drives (assuming your useing a mirrored system). Personally, I keep my old machine and partition and format my new machine the same. You can use something like pcAnywhere to keep the two machines in sync. Odds of both machines going out at once is pretty slim. If one machine dies, you can still keep going on the other while you fix the broken one. Worst case you would have to reload the OS and all your programs, but your data would be all duplicated on the other machine. I also have a Buffalo TereStation that I back up onto. It has 4 256GB drives. I don't have it raided, but I back up all my spreadsheets, word processor files, data bases, game backups, game plugins, downloads, clipart, photos, etc. on 2 of the drives. (Just in case one goes bad). I have 4 copies of all my data. Only way I'm going to loose any data is if my house burns down. At any rate, I've been using the 2 computer system for a long time and I've never lost any data. To each his own and whatever works.
Tom O.
off site storage
by guywayne - 8/6/08 6:08 AM In reply to: Backups by Overington"Only way I'm going to loose any data is if my house burns down".
That is why any backup plan should include some off-site storage for a back-up copy.
Off site storage-web servers storage
by vladone - 8/24/08 2:41 PM In reply to: off site storage by guywayneI was wondering why storage on web servers did not show up in this conversation. I will check on the the cost with my related Dell(laptop), Seagate( external drive) or Adobe(video business) resources.
Can anybody share some knowledge on this?
Thanks,Vlad
My external hard drive solution
by Dougcbum - 7/25/08 7:55 PM In reply to: External hard-drive buying advice and backing up data by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Ben,
I recently purchased and installed a Mercury Elite-AL Pro 800 RAID MIRROR (Raid 1) 400 GB drive using a fire-wire 800 connection. The install was smooth and easy, and 15 minutes after I opened the box my system was well on its way to a full backup.
Like you, reliability and durability are more important to me than saving a few dollars up front and then paying for it later in lost data.
Doug
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