Ext hard drive help!

[Quasievil]

Im a retard with this sought of stuff but I need to get an external hard drive in case my puter blows up (its 5 years old)

but what to get, any help guys n girls??

I use the puter for normal stuff, nothing unusual docs, pics, videos, music I dont play games on it or anything
I want to be able to back up my outlook in it as well (very important)

I have been looking on this site for deals but dont know what to get, only need 80- 120 gb (and thats overkill)

http://pconlineshop.co.nz/pcshop/

Something good needed but dont want to pay to much (ya know how it goes eh)

Thanks in advance

[firefighter]

Just get a terabyte one. They're cheap as now, I think I paid $200 for mine and it's a good one (as per online reviews anyway)

I'm the same i'd never in a million years use the space......but it's there should I need it.

[p.dath]

If your computer is 5 years, double check that it has a USB port.

+1, get the 1TB model.

Also consider getting something that comes with backup software. Failing that I can recommend Acronis Home edition for backups. It should be about $50. The nice thing about this is if your machine becomes unbootable (aka, completely fucked) you can boot the machine from the CD and perform a full image restore and get it working again.

[boomer]

get a perm !

[Quasievil]

get a perm !

What with ya muppet :oi-grr:

[boomer]

What with ya muppet :oi-grr:

you could always perm ya pubes.. a re perm !
mines just started to grow back, i have a 11 o'clock shadow and im desperate for a perm !

lol get the 1tb external drive for nada deneros !

[boomer]

i just bought one.. i couldnt believe how cheap they are.. when i was a kid they were more expensive than gold.. now theyre cheaper than chips.. !


same as ram or any pc bits really

[boomer]

Im a retard with this sought of stuff but I need to get an external hard drive in case my puter blows up (its 5 years old)

but what to get, any help guys n girls??

I use the puter for normal stuff, nothing unusual docs, pics, videos, music I dont play games on it or anything
I want to be able to back up my outlook in it as well (very important)

I have been looking on this site for deals but dont know what to get, only need 80- 120 gb (and thats overkill)

http://pconlineshop.co.nz/pcshop/

Something good needed but dont want to pay to much (ya know how it goes eh)

Thanks in advance


try www.pricespy.co.nz when u know what the go .. .is

[CookMySock]

Depends how much you have to back up. If you only have a little bit of office stuff, then a USB memory stick is far far more convenient to store securely, and a lot less risky to transport than a rotating disk.

Consider using an offsite backup company too.. its automatic over your broadband connection every night.. It's always done, always secure, nothing to worry about.

Steve

[pzkpfw]

Don't consider any single backup method to be 100% reliable.

That external HDD could die.

If it's really important stuff, I'd buy two 500 Gb drives (since you say you don't need the space) and halve your risk.

(And don't store in the same place. One fire = everything lost).

[nadroj]

I carry a 500gig portable hard drive (laptop hard drive in a USB case) as it doesn't need external power other than the USB cable. It's much smaller & able to be carried around & used like a USB stick. Cost me $300 18 months ago - they are cheaper now on pricespy.co.nz, just buy a laptop hard drive $70 for 160 gig + a 2.5 inch case for $10.80.

[bogan]

Depends how much you have to back up. If you only have a little bit of office stuff, then a USB memory stick is far far more convenient to store securely, and a lot less risky to transport than a rotating disk.

Consider using an offsite backup company too.. its automatic over your broadband connection every night.. It's always done, always secure, nothing to worry about.

Steve

+1 if its only for backing up small amounts of data, an external hard drive is overkill. USB sticks are pretty big now, ive got a 16gig one, for way less than an external drive would be. Web based is also another good idea, think theres an app floating round that lets you back up you data to you gmail account (dunno where it is though), ie, 3gig backup space for free.

EDIT, if anyone knows a good freeware app for online backups/sync-up let me know

[Insanity_rules]

+1 if its only for backing up small amounts of data, an external hard drive is overkill. USB sticks are pretty big now, ive got a 16gig one, for way less than an external drive would be. Web based is also another good idea, think theres an app floating round that lets you back up you data to you gmail account (dunno where it is though), ie, 3gig backup space for free.

EDIT, if anyone knows a good freeware app for online backups/sync-up let me know

Not online but try syncback. Its freeware sync is bloody good.

[CookMySock]

EDIT, if anyone knows a good freeware app for online backups/sync-up let me knowwinscp is fast, easy to use, no passwords to remember, free (GPL), and uses industry-standard encryption. I don't remember if it has an automated/unattended option, but you want to drag and drop it works mint.

Steve

[scracha]

Im a retard with this sought of stuff but I need to get an external hard drive in case my puter blows up (its 5 years old)


Quasi, you need imaging software to take a "snapshot" of your PC. Suggest you do this every 2 or 3 months.
If it's Vista Home then I wouldn't fuck around with free stuff, go to Dork smiths and get Norton Internet security 2009 (3 user) with Save and restore for $80.
If it's Vista Business (or Ultimate) then there's built in imaging softare.
As it's 5 I'd assume it's XP. In which case, there's free imaging software at :-
http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm
If it's a Mac or linux box then you probably wouldn't be asking :-)

For regular backups, Synctoy, syncback (2 brightsparks) or cobian backup are all good depending on your requirements.
http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C26EFA36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en

I'd recommend a 320GB 2.5" usb portable hard drive which from memory are about about $140. The 3.5" are are normally much larger but most need an extra power lead and due to their size they normally end up being sat on top of your base unit which kinda defeats the purpose of a backup. Besides, no point in buying a 1TB drive to backup a 80GB of data.

[SPman]

I don't trust just 1 external HD (I've had one die on me - I use 2x320G Seagates, plus numerous 4,8 & 16g sticks. I figure I should be covered if the laptop shits itself!

[scracha]

I don't trust just 1 external HD (I've had one die on me - I use 2x320G Seagates, plus numerous 4,8 & 16g sticks. I figure I should be covered if the laptop shits itself!
Mirrored? You're still having to reinstall and recover from your pen drives if you
a) One of Micro$hafts updates gives the dreaded BSOD
b) get hit by a virus
c) get burgled or house goes on fire.


If your computer is 5 years, double check that it has a USB port.
Helpful as ever. Worry about it if your computer is over 10 years old.



EDIT, if anyone knows a good freeware app for online backups/sync-up let me know

Cobian can do incremental backups via FTP. I'm pretty sure syncback can too.

The PITA with online backup is the sheer speed and time and possibly extra charges or bandwidth throttling from your ISP when you go over your allowance. There's 2 or 3 ISP's in NZ that offer offsite backup as part of their package though.

[Quasievil]

I brought a 1TB external hard drive and nearly everything is on it already, will schedule back ups regularly, cant cover of every eventuality but feel better now I have this at least.

Thanks for the help guys !

[Hoon]

Keep it simple. Just get a 2.5" laptop USB drive. Costs more with less capacity but way more convenient.

Backup software is a bit overkill for you (and prob too over your head). If its just files and Outlook you want to back up then just drag and drop them onto your new HD. Outlook comes with its own backup tool too (see Outlook help)

You'll have piece of mind 15 mins after unwrapping your new drive. Then you can decide whether thats enough or if you want to pursue the more thorough options.

[edit] do'h too slow!

[Quasievil]

Seems good, now trying to find out a auto back up method for files docs etc

[SMOKEU]

Buy a Seagate. I bought my 1st Seagate about 7 years ago and I've had about 5 other ones and I've never had any problems with that brand. Maxtor seems to have rather poor quality control though.

[mynameis]

bits really

She said bits :lol:

Try getting another one or maybe two hard drives, backing up and storing them in a different physical location.

Cost to recover data from a hard drive which has suffered "fatal" physical damage is astronomical.

[Spuds1234]

Buy a Seagate. I bought my 1st Seagate about 7 years ago and I've had about 5 other ones and I've never had any problems with that brand. Maxtor seems to have rather poor quality control though.

Heh every seagate I touched didnt work to well, every Maxtor I had (ok so it was 1) worked perfectly. Now I just buy WD drives as they are some of the quietest, cheapest, biggest drives around.

[scracha]

Seems good, now trying to find out a auto back up method for files docs etc
http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

[NighthawkNZ]

Seems good, now trying to find out a auto back up method for files docs etc

Cobian Backup

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/cobbackup.html
http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

[Pixie]

Quasi, you need imaging software to take a "snapshot" of your PC. Suggest you do this every 2 or 3 months.
If it's Vista Home then I wouldn't fuck around with free stuff, go to Dork smiths and get Norton Internet security 2009 (3 user) with Save and restore for $80.
If it's Vista Business (or Ultimate) then there's built in imaging softare.
As it's 5 I'd assume it's XP. In which case, there's free imaging software at :-
http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm
If it's a Mac or linux box then you probably wouldn't be asking :-)

For regular backups, Synctoy, syncback (2 brightsparks) or cobian backup are all good depending on your requirements.
http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C26EFA36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en

I'd recommend a 320GB 2.5" usb portable hard drive which from memory are about about $140. The 3.5" are are normally much larger but most need an extra power lead and due to their size they normally end up being sat on top of your base unit which kinda defeats the purpose of a backup. Besides, no point in buying a 1TB drive to backup a 80GB of data.

Macrium Reflect is a good freeware imaging app.I found it easier to use than Drive Image

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

[Pixie]

Seems good, now trying to find out a auto back up method for files docs etc

Comodo Backup:

http://www.comodo.com/home/data-storage-encryption/comodo-backup.php

[scracha]

Macrium Reflect is a good freeware imaging app.I found it easier to use than Drive Image

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

Nice find. I'll have a play when I get a chance. Does it do imaging in Vista without turning off UAC?

Main thing I've found with Drive Image is it's pretty bulletproof. I actually prefer it to the Acronis $hite I paid good money for (only + point for Acronis is that VMWare supports its images).


The reason Drive Image is so popular is that if you find an early version then it can be used in commercial environments free of charge.