HDD Installation

[habb]

I have bought a Transcend Store Jet 25M3 2TB HDD and want to use it on my W7 steam-driven p.c.
I am also steam-driven.
It is to be used for simple back-up storage only, no other frills, just a password.
I want it to require a password before entry, otherwise I don't want any sophistication whatsoever.
Can anyone tell me, in simple terms, how I can achieve this?
Many thanks in anticipation of your advice.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Well, your description leaves me, and I'm sure others as well, guessing as to just what the heck you're doing.

Is that a bare-bones HDD, or is it a USB Backup drive?

I'll just tell you what I do.
I have a 2TB Seagate HDD, that I use to backup my entire SSD drive that is my main HD in my desktop PC.
I connect the HDD to my PC when I want to do a backup, then run my Ghost backup program from a bootable CD, then perform a clone of my SSD to my HDD. And when I'm done, I disconnect the 2TB drive and put it away in a safe place. NO passwords are required.

Me thinks you're making the proverbial molehill into a mountain.

K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple Sam!)

 

[habb]

Thanks for the reply.
'What the heck am I doing?' I am asking a simple question of a forum.
It seems a molehill to me, as well.
Whether it is a 'bare bones' affair I have no idea.
I pay loadsadosh for a Transcend StoreJet25M3 2TB HDD sent to me through the post, plug it in to my p.c. via the supplied usb cable, and hope to periodically download my W7 'My Docs' into it. I would like anyone to have to negotiate a password before being able to do that.
Simple enough, it seems to me.
Is there an available prog for a password included in/on the supplied HDD or do I have to download something from the internet?
Your description of what you do would be helpful to me if I had any idea of what you are saying.
Thanks for the reply anyway.

 

[samuria]

How big are docs the best option is to backup to Google drive or one drive there protected and save and it's free giving you over 20 gig

 

[habb]

My 'My Docs' is 36 GB, Music 8 GB and Pictures about 3 GB.
For the past couple of years I have been using a 2TB Western Digital HDD which came with a built-in password programme.
Periodically I download the above files onto it, adding them to the ones already there. When they begin to fill the HDD I delete some of the older ones.
I now want a back-up back-up.
Before buying this new Transcend HDD I thought I read on the internet that these things come with a security password system, and that seemed reasonable to me, hence my surprise at not finding one.
Thanks for your reply.

 

[habb]

Well, what an expensive mistake I have made!
It seemed so obvious to me, in my ignorance, that a password prog could be quickly found and downloaded onto my new 2TB external hard drive in the event that one isn't installed by the manufacturer.
I have just spent hours browsing the internet for such a prog, and failed to find one. I am very careful about downloading anything that looks even slightly suspicious.
I will be grateful for any simple advice but I think I have to hiding it away more carefully.
Thanks.

 

[bigmck]

I have bought a Transcend Store Jet 25M3 2TB HDD and want to use it on my W7 steam-driven p.c.
I am also steam-driven.

I have just gotten on this thread, but I have to ask. What does the above mean?............ Steam-Driven?

 

[habb]

Sorry, it is an expression commonly used in the UK to suggest old and out-of-date compared to, say, diesel, gas, nuclear power etc.
I meant that my p.c. is old and slow and so am I, both of which are irrelevant, possibly, but I wanted to 'paint the picture' just in case it helped with the answer.
Thanks.

 

[DavidE]

If you have Win 7 Ultimate or Enterprise you might be able to use the built in Bitlocker encryption.

You could consider using a backup program that allows using a password for the backup files.

Most WD external drives use hardware encryption.
If the encryption chip ever fails or you remove the drive from the enclosure you won't be able to see your data.
You probably would need to use and pay for a WD data recovery service to get the data.

 

[bigmck]

I have bought a Transcend Store Jet 25M3 2TB HDD and want to use it on my W7 steam-driven p.c.
I am also steam-driven.

I have just gotten on this thread, but I have to ask. What does the above mean?............ Steam-Driven?

Thanks for the explanation. In that case I suppose I am also "steam-driven".

 

[strollin]

Here's one I found (haven't used it personally): StorageCrypt, encrypt and password protect external hard drive, usb drive, flash drive.. It's not free though, cost about $30US.

I question why you need a 2TB drive to do your backups? You listed about 44GB of data that you backup, how could that ever fill a 2TB drive unless you copy the same data over and over again? That seems pointless. You should use a backup program that can make differential backups which, after the first full backup, only copies the changed files. Most backup programs also let you password protect the backup.

 

[DavidE]

Here's a link i found that has some free encryption utilities:
TrueCrypt Alternatives and Similar Software - AlternativeTo.net

The OP stated

It is to be used for simple back-up storage only, no other frills, just a password.
I want it to require a password before entry, otherwise I don't want any sophistication whatsoever.

Any of these programs would require a learning curve, and i don't know if @habb wants that.
To me, it depends on how important it is to encrypt this data, and what @habb is willing to do.
That's a choice for @habb.

I think i ask too many questions, don't understand the real problem, and over-think things, so i try to keep my posts as simple as i can and see if the OP replies with more info

 

[strollin]

Great find DavidE. I found TrueCrypt while searching but since it's no longer supported I didn't mention it. Good to see there are many alternatives.