External 3.5" Hard Drive Advice

[Queelis]

Hello,

I'm in a market for an external 1TB HDD. It's for occasional backing up of my music/pictures/videos/documents. I don't want to constantly be in sync with my PC, only to back up when I ask to and just merge the existing files/folders with the newly-backed up ones. Now regarding the backup software, should I just go with a simple HDD or for the ones supplied with manufacturer's own software? Would some freeware programs do what I need them to? I'd like some suggestions, then.

I don't want the drive to be on a lot of time since it's a backup drive and I want it to last long, so as to minimize the probability of it failing. So I think an on/off switch would be useful (wouldn't want to simply unplug the power brick, sounds scary for an HDD). Of course, please say your opinion.

I'm not currently fixed on any particular manufacturer, but I'd like to settle on the more common Hitachi, WD, Samsung, Seagate.

Oh and BTW, I only need USB2 (no need for FW/RJ45/eSATA).

Any help is very appreciated.

Cheers,
Queelis

[killie99]

microsoft synctoy would fulfill your needs and it's dead easy to use.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...displaylang=en

[Queelis]

Great, just what I needed, I guess.

What about the drive itself? I'm thinking either these Hitachis (only the first would be a 1TB one), this WD or this Seagate.

Is there any marked difference between them?

[killie99]

External drives are much of a muchness - you'll find people who swear by a particular brand and others who claim the same brand is no use. The Hitachi Simpledrives are nice as you can stand them vertically with no danger of them being knocked over.

[Sputnik]

The free version of Cobian would also back up your files. Have you considered using an icybox trayless drive rack and a bare HDD ? that is what I use and that way I get a transfer speed of around 100Mb/s.

[Queelis]

The free version of Cobian would also back up your files. Have you considered using an icybox trayless drive rack and a bare HDD ? that is what I use and that way I get a transfer speed of around 100Mb/s.

Uhh.. I feel silly, but nevertheless: what's a trayless drive rack? Might try it, but I think simply buying an external HDD will be cheaper.

[Sputnik]

Uhh.. I feel silly, but nevertheless: what's a trayless drive rack? Might try it, but I think simply buying an external HDD will be cheaper.

This http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/IcyBo...D-Black-Colour

Buying that and a 1TB HDD probably works out around the same price as buying an external 1TB unit but, I like it as I can use several drives with it.

[Queelis]

Looked it up, where I live they aren't in stock, but according to the last price it works out ~20% more than a simple external HDD. Knowing that I'll struggle to fill 1TB anyway, I suppose I'll stick with the "much of a muchness" solution

Thanks for the advice!

[Sputnik]

Looked it up, where I live they aren't in stock, but according to the last price it works out ~20% more than a simple external HDD. Knowing that I'll struggle to fill 1TB anyway, I suppose I'll stick with the "much of a muchness" solution

Thanks for the advice!

I forgot you was not in UK. I know in the Ukraine they don't seem to sell 1TB externals or they didn't a while back when I took one out there with me.

[Queelis]

Naw, we're good on that front

Only takes a bit more time for the newly released products to arrive.

[ChaosSystem]

Purchase an External 3.5" USB SATA case and look for a hard drive with a long warranty. Seagate used to do 5 years.