Portable External Hard Drives choices and best way to backup

Hey guys, been looking for an external hard drive to back up my m11x, and I think I have it narrowed down, but wanted your input/experience if you own either of them: Iomega 1TB eGo BlackBelt or the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB.

So, praise, complaints, horror stories, etc would be appreciated.

Also, do you guys have any backup software preferences? Any suggestions on multiple solutions, images vs drag and drop, etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

I wouldnt waste your money with the usb 3.0 mainly because the m11x doesnt have any 3.0 ports. Id honestly get the cheapest one from a good known maker like WD, samsung, etc. Also, if its cheaper to get a 5400 rpm drive rather than a 7200k one, go for the slower one since you'll be limited by usb 2.0 bandwidth anyways and wont be able to go faster than 60mb/s (i think thats what the cap is).

 

I tried the Seagate GoFlex and had a problem with it the 4th day I owned it. Took it back and got a WD My Passport Essential 1TB for $89 at wallmart. Havent had a problem with it yet. Yeah the USB 3.0 is a waste of time.

 

Here, here. I second that.

And I turd that. (sorry Irish accent)

You specifically state backup (commendable) and as such throughput and etc is not an issue.

Just using WD as an example.

I have a WD 500GB USB 2.0 external drive (USB power) 30MB/sec avg transfer rate.

They're almost giving them away if you buy a meat pie and a packet of crisps at the canteen.

If you're backing up and externally storing stuff, then a 1TB is a good option. I believe (need to confirm) the WD external portable 1TB USB2.0 drive is USB 2.0 powered at 500mA

Also... and haven't really looked into this, the USB 3.0 spec draws more power and I'm assuming that's why you need a Y-Cable on a USB 3.0 device to use 2 USB 2.0 ports to boost the power. (2 x 500mA)

USB 3.0 ports provide 900mA.

If this is the case, then with USB 3.0 on a USB 2.0 system you're getting marginal bandwidth transfer increase and having to use two USB 2.0 ports to do it.

Doesn't that just sound wrong????

I'd go for an external USB 2.0 drive that runs off USB power as that way you can do a backup while on the train to work.
Or in class, as that's really going to impress the girls as only a thinking man does backups.

If you can find a 1TB USB 2.0 powered external HDD even better.

Don't even think Intel have native USB 3.0 chipsets yet. X79???

 

Thx for the info so far guys. Still kind of new to the "more advanced" backing up (I, in my old, naive, stubborn ways, have just used ye olde drag and drop onto an external, or 2ndary hard drive on past pc's). What software do you guys use, and do you guys use "images", back up select files, both?

What software do you find works the best, easy to use, yet good options and customizability, etc?

Thanks again!

 

I use Karen's Replicator 3.6.9

Automatically backup files, directories, even entire drives! Karen's Replicator copies selected files from one drive/folder to another. Source and Destination folders can reside anywhere on your network. Files larger than 2 GB are supported.Options include repeated copies at intervals as short as a few minutes, or as long as several months, copy only files that have changed, and the replication of file deletions.New features allow you to specify which files should not be copied, and also which days a file should be skipped! ​

Seems to do the job with timed back's (should you choose), exclusions and file change backup and etc.

Save's the files in .... file/folder format and not some weird backup format, which means one can search the backup for that lost file without having to use an application/recovery.

Other backup service may and probably do, compress your files/folders into a backup structure and thus compress the size.

To sort of mirror this with Karen's Replicator, one could always compress the backup directory structure.

Anyway, it's what I use and as a friendly 'perky' little thing , I like it.

 

I am using this guy for a backup Amazon.com: Western Digital WD Elements 2 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive: Electronics. Got it even cheaper than listed price. The only drawback - it needs external power source. But this drive is reliable as hell.