External Hard Drive longevity
Aug 16, 2020 15:02:34 #
smussler wrote:
Depends on which raid level in use. Two drives only is raid 0 - mirroring. Most inefficient raid level, but probably closest to be considered a backup. But if a file gets corrupted, it just propagates to the other mirrored drive. I've seen it used on servers c: drives mostly.
RAID 1. Inefficient in terms of the fact that you get half the total of the two drives as usable storage. Absolutely correct that problems (corruption, malware, accidental deletions, viruses) on one drive are mirrored to the other.
Aug 16, 2020 15:07:21 #
Aug 16, 2020 15:09:31 #
grichie5 wrote:
Like many, I back up my hard drive regularly to an external hard drive. I have used the same external drive for the last five years or so.
They do have a limited life and do fail unexpectedly.
Is it good practice to change out external drives periodically, after a few years use, even if they're still working?
Or, is the Virus getting to me?
They do have a limited life and do fail unexpectedly.
Is it good practice to change out external drives periodically, after a few years use, even if they're still working?
Or, is the Virus getting to me?
My practice is to have two copies on two different external drives - none on the internal drive - plus a third copy in the cloud (for me, that's Backblaze). Actually, I have several smaller desktop drives containing my primary files, and they are all copied to a large external drive by my iMac's backup system, TimeMachine, as well as to the cloud. I have had the experience of the virtually simultaneous crash of both one small drive and the large backup. Fortunately, Backblaze covered the small 4 TB drive in less than a week, and Amazon provided a new large backup. What I've been taught, and what I've found through this terrifying experience, is that two copies on my desk just is not enough.
Aug 16, 2020 15:21:08 #
photoman022
Loc: Manchester CT USA
I've had 3 external hard drives fail over the years. The first time my only hard drive failed. Thankfully, I still had all of my file on my LAP TOP! From that point on I've always had 3 external hard drives, all backed up monthly.
Aug 16, 2020 15:45:46 #
I use OneDrive which linked to a computer can be backed up to an external drive. I have two external drives, one at home and one in a safe deposit box. OneDrive also now has a personal vault with two-factor security. The personal vault cannot be backed up to the external drive and I wouldn't want to do it anyway. So I have two thumb drives to back up the personal vault, one in our home safe and the other one in the safe deposit box.
If a catastrophe happened wiping out everything in our house, I still have two external sources of all my data including the personal.
If a catastrophe happened wiping out everything in our house, I still have two external sources of all my data including the personal.
Aug 16, 2020 15:55:26 #
rfmaude41
Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)
ELNikkor wrote:
The best way to anticipate the failure is to have 2 exact copies. If one fails, THEN you buy another and back it up with the other. They'll never both fail at the same time.
Never say NEVER.....
Aug 16, 2020 16:01:23 #
drrobins
Loc: San Francisco East Bay (Walnut Creek)
NCMtnMan wrote:
Any drive of any age can fail at any time. If tha... (show quote)
A hint- through toms guide.com, IDrive first your for 5TB max is $3.48 for the whole year. Then it is $69.50/yr.
Aug 16, 2020 16:14:20 #
drrobins
Loc: San Francisco East Bay (Walnut Creek)
If it's a Mac, you can use two externals for TimeMachine backup at the same time. It will then alternate the hourly backup. Gives you 2 independent backups. Deleting on the main hard drive does not delete from the backup, so some assurance against accidental deletions. I have two WD Elements 8TB drives working like this. (In addition to IDrive online backup and a NAS backup in a central closet).
Some have argued against TimeMachine backups, and like CarbonCopy Cloner or SuperDuper. Gives you direct access to the backed up files. Rather than having to get to them through TimeMachine. TimeMachine is simpler, and cheaper, since its built-in to the Mac OS.
Some have argued against TimeMachine backups, and like CarbonCopy Cloner or SuperDuper. Gives you direct access to the backed up files. Rather than having to get to them through TimeMachine. TimeMachine is simpler, and cheaper, since its built-in to the Mac OS.
Aug 16, 2020 16:27:23 #
I have my primary storage on an external solid state drive, which as others have said is a better alternative to rotating drives.
Then I have copies of all my photos in the Cloud, currently on both Google Photos and on OneDrive (Microsoft). Google runs around $100 per year for 2TB. If you get Office 365 for family, a little over $100 per year, you get all current versions of Office plus, effectively, 5TB in 5 x 1TB chunks, purportedly one for each family member, but if there are no family members you can use it all.
Both permit automatic copies from selected folders
Both also permit auto copies from internet connected devices, like the camera in your phone or pad, and probably internet connected cameras as well.
Then I have copies of all my photos in the Cloud, currently on both Google Photos and on OneDrive (Microsoft). Google runs around $100 per year for 2TB. If you get Office 365 for family, a little over $100 per year, you get all current versions of Office plus, effectively, 5TB in 5 x 1TB chunks, purportedly one for each family member, but if there are no family members you can use it all.
Both permit automatic copies from selected folders
Both also permit auto copies from internet connected devices, like the camera in your phone or pad, and probably internet connected cameras as well.
Aug 16, 2020 16:47:34 #
chrissybabe
Loc: New Zealand
Leaving a computer or backup hard drive turned on all the time or only when you want to use them is a tricky question. Unless you have a really good power filter (that can handle a lightening strike) then the longer it is on the more likely it will have a power failure. Theoretically you should also unplug it when not on.
However my experience over 30 years is stuff fails either at initial power on or power off with power on predominating. Like about 95% of failures. So just plugging in a backup drive every couple of weeks you are more likely to have a failure than leaving it plugged in all the time. You have to balance this against the possibility of issues through the mains of it being left powered on all the time.
However my experience over 30 years is stuff fails either at initial power on or power off with power on predominating. Like about 95% of failures. So just plugging in a backup drive every couple of weeks you are more likely to have a failure than leaving it plugged in all the time. You have to balance this against the possibility of issues through the mains of it being left powered on all the time.
Aug 16, 2020 17:13:03 #
Picture Taker
Loc: Michigan Thumb
I have my back-up drives (2 back up on each) and back up all my jobs on each ( by dragging them on to each drive) each time I finish the work. I also have 2 separate drives to load all may pictures as taken to be saved by date. In reality (might be over kill but lost my pictures over 10 years ago) I ALSO HAVE AN EXTERNAL WORKING DRIVE. The end result is I work wit 5 drives ( 2 8TB all in coming by date 2TB Final storage and a 5TB, which was my old storage, that I filled up as my working file) It's a lot but I never want to lose all my pictures again. It is extra time and money but, the few hundred used compared to my time and work, plus the thousands in equipment, I just do it. So I'm nuts>
Aug 16, 2020 17:15:23 #
Aug 16, 2020 17:18:33 #
Aug 16, 2020 17:22:29 #
Picture Taker wrote:
I have my back-up drives (2 back up on each) and b... (show quote)
I don't see any off-site storage listed there. What do you do if you have a fire or a flood? How about cloud storage for safety?
Aug 16, 2020 17:28:44 #
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