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#70
Agreed
Last year, I bought a new desktop USB 1.5TB HDD (to use for backups) and it was broken.
The retailer replaced it when I took it back (2 days later). :)
I have 3 main desktop backup HDDs (plus two small portable HDDs) totalling ~5.5TB.
I also have a 2TB internal backup HDD in my PC.
Unfortunately I don't have any off-site storage.
Backup HDD images are also useful for testing new software programs (if you don't have a VM & VM manager).
Even after testing a program in a VM and deciding to install it on your physical machine, you may only use a program a few times, or you may discover it doesn't actually provide the benefits you first thought.
Re-imaging your PC means that there aren't any leftover bits clogging up your install.
Nowadays, I always create a backup before installing driver updates.
Driver installs/updates are infamous for causing havoc.
Last edited by lehnerus2000; 13 Apr 2013 at 22:53. Reason: Additional