Internal hard disk
External USB disk
External SATA disk (eSATA)
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Other networked computer
Offsite (web-based or cloud-based) location
Other (please specify)
A few months ago I wondered whether the home NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices might become more popular than the standard USB devices, but it seems that the NAS is still too pricey to be able to compete with the cheaper USB drives.....
Lets put it to a poll. To which media do you backup your system images and/or data too?
Depending on the system, internal, external USB and external eSata. Usually I alternate between two.
I wouldn't back up my systems to a NAS device. If I had a NAS device it would be for storage of the original files.
My backups would always be to an external drive, so that they could be kept offsite. If my house burns down or is robbed, I don't want to lose the original and the backups in one shot.
Multiple:
Daily or more often to an internal SATA drive. This is ALL of my data files
Every even numbered month: To a USB stick. This is only my most important files (text documents that rarely change, plus jpegs), not mp3/video.
Every odd numbered month: To a standard SATA hard drive through an eSata external dock. This is ALL of my data files.
Above items are for data files only. I also make monthly images of my OS only, alternating between Macrium and EaseUS. All OS images are stored on the internal SATA drive.
Last edited by ignatzatsonic; 23 Sep 2011 at 13:59.
I think USB is too generic. USB 2 and USB 3 are essentially two different categories in terms of speed.
I backup all data to a second internal SATA drive almost immediately it changes - downloaded programs, Favorites, personal data etc. and to a USB drive a day or so later. The USB drive is stored in a safe place. I image my system about once a week using Macrium Free and images are kept on both internal drives and also on the USB drive.
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