external hard drive backup for pictures: Any recommendations for backup for my Dell laptop? I already use Carbonite but I want something I can attach to my computer and have handy when...

bobburk3 Loc: Maryland

Any recommendations for backup for my Dell laptop? I already use Carbonite but I want something I can attach to my computer and have handy when I need it. I want a 2T backup system. I have heard that Seagate are unreliable but that was a few years ago so I don't know if they have improved their units.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I have three external HDDs, including Seagate, WD and Toshiba, they are all 2gb capacity. All these drives contain my pictures and are kept in separate locations. I also have a WD My cloud attached to my router which acts as an NAS (Newtwork Attached Storage) this also includes my photographs and some videos so I can view them from anywhere with an internet connection.
Finally if you do not use the DVD player on your laptop you could remove it an replace it with another HDD by using a caddy, so this is permanently attached to your Laptop, I have this method year or so now and consider it a very good extra storage method.
Here is one from Amazon, although they can be bought for much less.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Optical-Laptops-SAMSUNG-TOSHIBA/dp/B008KS6V0W

toxdoc42

Unfortunately, Carbonite is not really a backup, in that it backs up only files currently on your HD. If you erase a file on your HD, it will disappear from the Carbonite back up! I also use MS "one drive" which seems more like an external HD. The problem with that is the same as all cloud storage, time to upload and download. On a recent trip my cruise ship's WiFi was so bad, that I could not back up to the cloud and my "Surface" did not have enough free space to store all of the photos. Luckily I brought a lot of SD cards. I just hope they will be reliable and readable when I get home. Next trip, I will also bring a 1-2 TB external drive!

CO

I purchased the Samsung T3 solid state portable external back up not long ago. It's highly rated. It's available up to 2TB.

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

You have 2 external drives backing up your computer. Your house burns down and destroys your computer and your external drives. What do you do now? Alternate drives and keep one seperate in a safe place.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

bobburk3 wrote:

Any recommendations for backup for my Dell laptop? I already use Carbonite but I want something I can attach to my computer and have handy when I need it. I want a 2T backup system. I have heard that Seagate are unreliable but that was a few years ago so I don't know if they have improved their units.

HGST Ultrastar. This is an enterprise drive, designed to run 24/7. When I want a new drive, that's what I buy. Never shop for a hard drive by looking for a low price.

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=hgst+ultrastar+7k3000+2tb&sprefix=hgst+ultra%2Caps%2C147&crid=1FMK2LQN2BHYB

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

bobburk3 wrote:

Any recommendations for backup for my Dell laptop? I already use Carbonite but I want something I can attach to my computer and have handy when I need it. I want a 2T backup system. I have heard that Seagate are unreliable but that was a few years ago so I don't know if they have improved their units.

I’ve used a number of hard drives over the years. G-Drive uses Hitachi drives and I’ve found them to work best for me:

G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 4TB External Hard Drive (0G03594) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ND4DV9M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jpeaAbGAY6FQ8

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'd suggest looking at G-Tech products.
--Bob

bobburk3 wrote:

Any recommendations for backup for my Dell laptop? I already use Carbonite but I want something I can attach to my computer and have handy when I need it. I want a 2T backup system. I have heard that Seagate are unreliable but that was a few years ago so I don't know if they have improved their units.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

bobburk3 wrote:

Any recommendations for backup for my Dell laptop? I already use Carbonite but I want something I can attach to my computer and have handy when I need it. I want a 2T backup system. I have heard that Seagate are unreliable but that was a few years ago so I don't know if they have improved their units.

I just bought a seagate 4TB external hard drive. Had them on sale at staples for $100.

Nikonman44

bobburk3 wrote:

Any recommendations for backup for my Dell laptop? I already use Carbonite but I want something I can attach to my computer and have handy when I need it. I want a 2T backup system. I have heard that Seagate are unreliable but that was a few years ago so I don't know if they have improved their units.

I use a three T and have never had a problem with it and it is very portable and connects where ever I need to move it

My Passport by WD.

Nikonman44

Nikonman44 wrote:

I use a three T and have never had a problem with it and it is very portable and connects where ever I need to move it

My Passport by WD.

My Passport is connected to my Dell and also flips over to my laptop, also a dell

toxdoc42

That is why I use Carbonite AND one drive as well.

Jim Bob

jerryc41 wrote:

HGST Ultrastar. This is an enterprise drive, designed to run 24/7. When I want a new drive, that's what I buy. Never shop for a hard drive by looking for a low price.

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=hgst+ultrastar+7k3000+2tb&sprefix=hgst+ultra%2Caps%2C147&crid=1FMK2LQN2BHYB

Jerry, I thought the OP asked about external drives. Isn't the Ultrastar an internal drive?

Jim Bob

bobburk3 wrote:

Any recommendations for backup for my Dell laptop? I already use Carbonite but I want something I can attach to my computer and have handy when I need it. I want a 2T backup system. I have heard that Seagate are unreliable but that was a few years ago so I don't know if they have improved their units.

Western Digital.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

bobburk3 wrote:

Any recommendations for backup for my Dell laptop? I already use Carbonite but I want something I can attach to my computer and have handy when I need it. I want a 2T backup system. I have heard that Seagate are unreliable but that was a few years ago so I don't know if they have improved their units.

At the moment, I have three external drives in use: One is a 2TB, my "working drive" - after the computer's HD, this 1 TB is the first one I copy my photos to. After I finish editing, the edited photos are also stored on this 2TB HD.
Frequently, I will copy from the 2TB HD to a 4TB HD that is kept in a fireproof box at the opposite end of the house from where the computer is. ("Frequently" not meaning "now and then" but often and regularly). When we go to visit our son and his family, about an hour's drive from here, the updated 4TB comes with me. Using grandson's computer, I update the second 4TB HD that is "living in" with my grandson, so that I now have 3 copies of all my photos (and some other stuff as well). Grandson is happy with a couple of dollars "boarding fee" every once in a while (he's saving up for driving lessons, starting on his next birthday :-))
The 4TB HDs are WD MyBook, the 2TB is WD as well, but can't remember the "model" off-hand.