Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

I just want to back up the usual home stuff...pictures and the like.

Currently I have back ups on recordable DVD and memory sticks but wondered if a portable hard drive would be better?

Any suggestions?

Cheers

Shaun

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Hi Shaun if you have USB3 motherboard(or you can buy USB 3 expansion card) you will benefit from from this,but on USB 2.0 you will still struggle with write/read speed around 45MB/s or you can have look for internal HDD(WD Black/Blue,Samsung F3,F1 are good,just don't buy WD Green )
For external HDD you can have look for WD which are for good money.
Or you can buy standard SATA HDD and HDD caddy for few £


Jura

mike1210

I find external HD's great for backups, I have a USB 3 caddy so I can plug in Hard Drives to that.

I use Acronis True Image for backups which is great.

How much do you need to backup and how often?

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

Speed really isn't a problem, I can always go and put the kettle on and have a cup of tea

I was just wondering how reiable the portable USB hard drives where, There are a few in Maplins and on Amazon for about 60 odd quid I don't need to back up an image of a hard drive, just pictures and school stuff.

Shaun

Ant

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/176613 this will be fine

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

antc

The one above seems to have it's own power supply..........are those better than the ones which pull power from the USB ??

Cheers


Shaun

Ant

I would always use a powered one as some units can be picky with USB I.e don't give enough voltage.

But that's just my opinion I'd always have a powered one until USB 3 is more mainstream

jura11

iTrader: (7)

USB powered or PSU powered are same,both using USB and USB can transfer maximum 45MB/s,USB powered using 2.5" SATA used at Laptops etc.,PSU powered using standard 3.5" SATA(some IDE) HDD.
Personally look for Firewire(FW) HDD which is little bit faster than USB.


Jura

mike1210

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

worth a look

GazTheHat

There's a great deal on a 500GB portable one at the minute, if that's big enough for you. (£35)
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/buff...86200#comments

mike1210

http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

free backup tool

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for all the help

The house has 3 laptops and a desktop, I'm typing on a compaq nc6000 which must be 10 years old but still running LOL so not sure how the power to the USB's will be for the rest of my astmatic computers !

I never realised they were so cheap, I guess if you look at how expensive they are they are less than a tank of petrol !!

I'll get a mains powered 500GB one for the moment and as the PC's get changed go for a USB / 3.0 powered one later

Cheers

Shaun

GazTheHat

Mains 500GB, should be less than £30. I've stuck with WD ones, have 5, all faultless. 350gb, 1TB, 1.5TB & 2x 2TB. The latest 2TB i bought only cost £73 delivered. Just to give you an indication of price. HotUKDeals is normally full of offers on HDD's.

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

Dave

I'm not all that computer literate so I thought I'd go for simplicity

Yep, I remember my first 10 MB hard card for the Amstrad PC 1512....... £210 if memory serves me LOL

Shaun

Xx-IAN-xX

http://data-backup-software-review.t...-released.html