What's the best back-up drive?

[maryanneevans]

Can anyone recommend a really reliable back-up drive? This is something I've been meaning to sort out for a while as it takes too many discs to back-up my system now.

[KidsBeeHappy]

I use a seagate external drive. Which is probably billy basic compared to what most of the techy folk etc will use. But it's excellent. Really really good. Mamouth storage and it simply auto backs up every day at 6pm whilst i'm cooking the kidies tea. All software for autobackup is on the drive already.

[alanc]

For a low-cost, a couple of USB external hard drives will do the trick (or even large memory sticks if you don't have much data). Why a couple? If you're not working from home you can take one home at night. If you are working from home, it might be advisable to find someone to hang onto a backup for you.

Backup space on the internet is another possibility (if you bank with Barclays Business Banking, they'll try and sell you this).

For lots of data and greater reliability (and a higher cost), a multiple-drive backup server on your network is the answer. Once with hot-swap drives mean you can still take a copy home at night.

[fisicx]

Why are you backing up the system?

Everything except your documents can be reinstalled so all you really need to do is an incremental backup. That means you only need to copy the docs created or modified since the last backup. I use an online service, jest leave the PC turned on and they do it all for you.

There are plenty to choose from: http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q=online+backup&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&fp=6acfc3f425e5adc5

[KidsBeeHappy]

Would also recommend that when you download any new programs or applications that you save the download file to the external drive/backup.

[alanc]

...
and your email configuration
and your emails
and your browser favourites (ok, maybe not those)

[KidsBeeHappy]

personally, I always leave a copy of the email on the server until deleted. That way I can access all of them from any PC if necessary, as well has being able to redownload again if required.

[Jonas_LT]

You can also use online backup services, they are quite useful.
You can select what you want to backup and it's stored offsite, so if your computer gets stolen, or there is a fire or anything of the sort.

I got my self 2 x 1TB backup drives (NAS).
The first one, a WD WorldBook, it broke after a few months and the second one is a Lacie (not sure which one) and it has held up since I got it quite some time ago.

There are some of them that comes with backup software as well, so you can select what data you want to backup (including emails etc.) that can be quite handy.

[maryanneevans]

Thanks everyone for your help. I'm never quite sure about storing clients data online - floating in the ether! I think I may go down the route of having two external drives and alternating them, that way I've got two copies of everthing.

[Edward Moss]

I've been happy (so far) with the Western Digital my book studio for my library, runs nice and quiet and is reasonably priced.

[MikeJ]

I've been using Buffalo, with no problem. The ones I use include a system which allows you to access it through the web, which means I can get hold of files while travelling.

[Jonas_LT]

Thanks everyone for your help. I'm never quite sure about storing clients data online - floating in the ether! I think I may go down the route of having two external drives and alternating them, that way I've got two copies of everthing.

If you are really worried about client data etc. then use TrueCrypt.

You can use it to encrypt entire partitions on both your backupdrives so if anyone actually steals one of these drives the data won't be available to them anyway.

TrueCrypt is free, and I've used it for lots of sensitive data.
You can also encrypt chunks on your harddrive and move them around.

The performance is surprisingly well too.

Anyway, just wanted to make you aware about TrueCrypt if you find that you really want to keep your client data safe

[Slartibartfast]

Why are you backing up the system?


Personally I tend to back up the entire system because of the [I]time it saves if the worst should happen. If you need to re-install everything it can take ages and ages (though to be fair Windows 7 seems to have improved on this a lot). Finding all the software, registration keys etc, re-setting up email accounts and software and system preferences and so on. When my last PC hard disk went bang, I nipped out, bought a new disk, and was up and running in about an hour. (Using Norton Ghost).

However if you don't have much software installed on your PC then a data backup will of course be quicker and take up much less space.

I use two USB external hard drives and alternate them. My only specification really is that they don't contain Maxtor hard disks - as these are the only brand I've ever had fail. YMMV :cool:

Prices for drives vary a lot, I usuall check at least eBuyer/Play/Amazon and Dabs (or BT Connect or whatever they are now).

Cheers,
Slarti.

[FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper]

This is something I need to look at ASAP too.

I run 2 HDDs in a RAID Mirror, 1 had been seemingly failing recently only to come back on again. This morning I turned on to the BSOD! Removed the offending drive and the good one loaded fine on it's own. It's a worrying sight when the BIOS shows 'Degraded' against the HDDs.

After some frantic backing up to memory sticks I changed the SATA cable and the drive immediately came back on again. If I lose it again i'll return the drive.

I was also thinking of using an external HDD with full image backup, it's a nightmare having to reconfigure and reinstall everything.

I'm glad the RAID did it's job, it's the first time i've used one when I got this PC about 3 months ago.

[Logan86]

In my opinion western digital,seagate and apricorn are the best available options

[AmberSite]

Here is what i do for my backups:

For backups i use 2 external hdd, one WD and another is Seagate. Both doing well so far (had them over a year now)

Why 2? Because some information is important and i don't want to lose it :)

Also, it is a good idea to have an ISO file which includes all the software i need, so basically i can reinstall everything in no time.

[craiga1971]

I use Cryptainer for my personal data (documents, emails, etc..) - This appears as another drive letter once the correct password has been entered.

I backup my data using www . iDrive . com (http://www.iDrive.com) and get 115gb for $5 USD per month. IIRC you get 2GB free. You specifiy your own upload encryption password so, in theory, your data cannot be compromised.

This solution protects me from theft, fire, flood, hardware failure, etc..

Craig

P.S. Do not underestimate the pain you will go through if you lose data and the amount of money you migh thave to spend to retrieve it. Secure it and back it up. Today!

[Pandybearse]

We use Amazon Online Storage, no point having a nice, easily stealable, hard drive in the office when it can all be securely backed up automatically online at a time you chose, using Jungle Disk, or some other Freeware. You pay per GB, our bill each month to back up 3 companies is around £1.50. Fully encrypted and unbeatable in our opinion.
PM me if you need more info

[popunder]

Agree 100% with Pandybearse - doesn't matter how big and reliable your backup disk is if you get burgled (it'll get taken, like a colleague of mine's recently) or if you have a fire (it'll fry along with the rest of your hardware). Backups should be OFFSITE and the sensible option for most people is online backup. You can always rebuild your PC so just backup up the stuff you can't afford to lose. It's cheap, automated so you won't forget, encrypted, and you can access your backed up files from anywhere.

[leemason]

Thanks everyone for your help. I'm never quite sure about storing clients data online - floating in the ether! I think I may go down the route of having two external drives and alternating them, that way I've got two copies of everthing.

What sort of data do you want to backup? It's OK to have external drives as long as you do remember to cycle them offsite. Personally I prefer something more automated. Online backup is very secure as it is fully encrypted and is also stored encrypted (depending upon the service that you choose). And it is (or can be) fully automated so the backups are performed at pre-determined times of the day. Some services even off a continuous backup facility whereby every time a file is changed the changes get backed up.

[jjreview]

I've heard good things about Acer EasyStore. Comes with 1 terabyte, but it's scalable. About $350 ... 228 pounds.