I need to buy an external HD. Which one, please?

Stevekir

Stevekir

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My LaCie 2 TB USB ext. HD has failed (after only 3 years!). It was my backup of my 1 TB internal using Second Copy. A conventional replacement would be another USB drive.

My system:

--C: drive is a 256 GB SSD containing Windows 7 and some programs. (I use Windows 7's Backup and Restore for this drive);

--1 TB Internal conventional HD to hold Documents, Movies, Pictures, Music. (I used "Second Copy" and an external USB to make backups of this, until the drive failed).

I have checked Click Free. While very simple to use, its method of operation is complex (proprietary storage system, setting up for my system). I have rejected it. What could be more simple than what I have been using: Windows 7's regular Backup and Restore for the C: drive and a regular "Second Copy" backup of the Internal 1 TB drive to an external USB drive?).

Therefore:

1. What reliable make of USB ext. HD?

2. If not USB, what connection type and make?

Thanks for any advice.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitIntel Pentium Edition G3220 3.0 GHz8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz DIMMNot Known
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Gigabyte ATX case with 500 W power supply GZ-M1
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
Intel Pentium Edition G3220 3.0 GHz
Motherboard
Gigabyte Socket 1150 MicroATX Mot Ultra Durable, GA-H81M-S2H
Memory
8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz DIMM
Graphics Card(s)
Not Known
Sound Card
Not known
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung LS24D590 23.6"
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
256 GB Solid State Drive (C: on which Windows 7 is installed)-
1 TB internal conventional HD (X:)-
Two WD "Elements" " 2TB USB drives as backups
PSU
500 W
Case
Gigabyte ATX case
Cooling
Several fans!
Keyboard
Accuratus 301 USB Compact, white.
Mouse
Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse v2.0, two-button, tethered
Internet Speed
10 to 12 Mb per second
Antivirus
Kaspersky Internet Security 2016, Malwarebytes (paid)
Browser
Firefox (ocassionally Safari)
Other Info
The 256 GB SSD (C:) also has Adobe Photoshop CS6 and InDesign CS6, MS Office, Adobe Lightroom, and other small programs.
I'd probably go with WD for the drive, but I wouldn't be particularly excited about it. You can still have issues related to the drive or the enclosure. I avoid external drives because I don't want to deal with enclosures.

Some motherboards have eSATA ports, but I don't know if external drives can be purchased with an eSATA connection. I use eSATA with an internal drive mounted in an external dock.

I used to use Second Copy--for 10 years. Great program.

Some would say Macrium Reflect or Aomei Backupper are simpler than Windows Backup and Restore, but it you are comfortable with Windows B and R, no problem.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bitIntel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
I've been using an Hitachi Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 external drive for the last two or three years and it's been brilliant. Great transfer speeds and very reliable so it seems. Just another option for you.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

W7 Pro x64 SP1 | W10 Pro IP x64 | W8.1 Pro x6...i7-4790k @ 4GHz (4.4GHz Boost)16GB DDR3 Kingston HyperX Fury @ 1600MHz CL 9...EVGA GTX 980 Classified
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
W7 Pro x64 SP1 | W10 Pro IP x64 | W8.1 Pro x64 VM | Linux Mint VM
CPU
i7-4790k @ 4GHz (4.4GHz Boost)
Motherboard
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 (BIOS Rev 2004)
Memory
16GB DDR3 Kingston HyperX Fury @ 1600MHz CL 9-9-9-27
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GTX 980 Classified
Sound Card
Realtek Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung S27D390
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
240GB Intel 520 Series SSD |
Samsung 850 EVO 120GB SSD |
2TB WD Caviar Black |
2TB WD Caviar Black |
2TB WD Caviar Green
PSU
Corsair HX850-80 Gold Modular
Case
Cooler Master Silencio 650
Cooling
Corsair H80i w/2 x Corsair SP120 | 2 x 120mm Noctua NF-S12B
Keyboard
Microsoft Sidewinder X4
Mouse
Gigabyte M6900 optical
Internet Speed
152mb
Antivirus
F-Secure
Browser
Firefox 38.0
Other Info
Backup Rig: Win 7 Pro 64-bit | AMD A10-5800k | ASUS F2A85-V Pro | 8GB Samsung DDR3 @1600MHz | 120GB Toshiba SDD | 2TB Seagate HDD | Cooler Master Silencio 550
Another option.
Hot Swap 5 1/4 bay device.
You can get them for hard drives and ssd's or a combination of both.
I use hot swaps and have also tried eSata. I prefer Hot Swap.

 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pr...Intel i7-6800K @ 4.3Corsair Platinum 16 gig @2400EVGA GTX 1070 OC
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home made Desktop
OS
Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
CPU
Intel i7-6800K @ 4.3
Motherboard
ASUS X-99 Deluxe II
Memory
Corsair Platinum 16 gig @2400
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GTX 1070 OC
Monitor(s) Displays
Asus 27" LED LCD/VE278Q
Screen Resolution
1920-1080 or 1280-720 HDMI
Hard Drives
INTEL SSD 730-240 Gb Sata 3.0/
PSU
EVGA Platium 1200W
Case
Phanteks Luxe Tempered Glass 8 fans/ one radiator
Cooling
XSPC/ Water Cooled CPU
Keyboard
Das 4 Professional
Mouse
Logitech M705/MX Anywhere 2-S
Internet Speed
100 mbits
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials/ Malwarebytes Premium 3.0/ SAS
Browser
I.E. 11 default/Firefox/ ISP Time Warner Cable/Spectrum
Other Info
LG BluRay Burner/
Sound system-KLipsch-THX/
Icy Dock ssd Hot Swap bays.
Love me some hot swap bays Jack.
IMG_0978.JPG​
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

W7 Pro x64 SP1 | W10 Pro IP x64 | W8.1 Pro x6...i7-4790k @ 4GHz (4.4GHz Boost)16GB DDR3 Kingston HyperX Fury @ 1600MHz CL 9...EVGA GTX 980 Classified
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
W7 Pro x64 SP1 | W10 Pro IP x64 | W8.1 Pro x64 VM | Linux Mint VM
CPU
i7-4790k @ 4GHz (4.4GHz Boost)
Motherboard
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 (BIOS Rev 2004)
Memory
16GB DDR3 Kingston HyperX Fury @ 1600MHz CL 9-9-9-27
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GTX 980 Classified
Sound Card
Realtek Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung S27D390
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
240GB Intel 520 Series SSD |
Samsung 850 EVO 120GB SSD |
2TB WD Caviar Black |
2TB WD Caviar Black |
2TB WD Caviar Green
PSU
Corsair HX850-80 Gold Modular
Case
Cooler Master Silencio 650
Cooling
Corsair H80i w/2 x Corsair SP120 | 2 x 120mm Noctua NF-S12B
Keyboard
Microsoft Sidewinder X4
Mouse
Gigabyte M6900 optical
Internet Speed
152mb
Antivirus
F-Secure
Browser
Firefox 38.0
Other Info
Backup Rig: Win 7 Pro 64-bit | AMD A10-5800k | ASUS F2A85-V Pro | 8GB Samsung DDR3 @1600MHz | 120GB Toshiba SDD | 2TB Seagate HDD | Cooler Master Silencio 550
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