2tb External Hard Disk to backup, photos, files, music

pjq

I have a 5 yr old portable 2tb Seagate backup plus slim, but have noted some issues on startup and disconnect lately. I would like to get an additional External Drive in case the Seagate fails, the drive does not need to be portable. Any advice would be appreciated, reliable brand? SDD versus HDD? Desktop v portable? Value for money of course.

NIMAN

First off, make sure you are disconnecting it correctly. Via the Eject option, don't just pull the cable out.

Secondly, there are only 3 Hard drive manufacturers left. Seagate, Western Digital and Toshiba I believe. So if you want a hdd you'll have to buy a drive from, or made, by one of those. They may be branded as something else, but it'll be one of those 3.

You could go down the ssd route, these are getting cheaper.

Or have you considered just buying a USB memory pen, or sd card? If its only to backup stuff and store it away, might be an option too. I have a couple of big capacity sd cards which are ideal for storing photos and throwing them in a drawer.

cnocbui

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058322530/2tb-external-hard-disk-to-backup-photos-files-music

I just got a 2TB Crucial external SSD from an obvious source for €106. I can't speak for reliability or even recommend it as it is too new, but it's small, compact and feels well made, due to the case being metal rather than plastic.

Be aware that SD cards and any solid state flash based memory isn't permanent so may fail if used for long term storage of photos. Flash needs to be connected to a power source every so often to 'refresh it's saved state.

ItHurtsWhenIP

Be careful about cheaper USB storage devices. You can get a lot of bogus drives on the amazing shopping site. Steve Gibson recently created a utility to test and verify drives are the size what they claimed to be:

https://www.grc.com/validrive.htm

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366783#Comment_121366783

Yeah got caught myself once before like that. Bought an ebay USB stick which said it was X size when plugged in, but really was about 1/8 of the size!

But if you buy from a reputable seller like Amazon, Argos, etc yoi should be OK.

NIMAN

Ultimately I think if it's something REALLY important, then you'll probably be best having 2 backups. Only having 1 copy of anything is risky imho

ItHurtsWhenIP

@NIMAN But if you buy from a reputable seller like Amazon, Argos, etc yoi should be OK.

If you scroll down on that link I posted, you'll see that the 12 dodgy drives Steve purchased were all bought on Amazon. 👀

NIMAN

Was that from Amazon themselves, or 3rd party sellers on Amazon?

I wouldn't expect Amazon themselves to be supplying fake drives. I would understand it from 3rd party though.

dickdasr1234

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366220#Comment_121366220

More Internet bunkum!

If you google "SSD maintenance" you will find no modern advice regarding power-ups.

Standard advice is that HDD drives are a more secure form of long-term storage.

ItHurtsWhenIP

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121392927#Comment_121392927

Most of the ones on Steve's list were unavailable, but 4 are still available and are shipped by Amazon, though sold by 3rd party:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081TFP1VM

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBR4S7RB

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SBHV3VT

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4NGBQT5?th=1

They all have 3.5-3.9 reviews, but 20%+ of one star reviews are mostly saying they don't store much or just don't work.

NIMAN

Then it's fairly easy to avoid those sellers.

Buy from Amazon themselves and you'll be ok.

cnocbui

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121393559#Comment_121393559

I stand corrected, I had thought connecting to power included a process of refreshing the charge on cells, but it doesn't, so you would have to copy the data off and back on again every 10 years or sooner, as the 10 years is just an estimate from accelerated aging tests..

My household has seen 3 hard drive failures. Their data retention isn't permanenet either.

Neither hard drives nor flash memory are suitable for archival storage of data.

https://www.howtogeek.com/660727/bit-rot-how-hard-drives-and-ssds-die-over-time/

pjq

Ok, so I understand HDD is better for long term storage, is the sonics desktop what I'm looking for?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sonnics-Desktop-External-Drive-SAMSUNG/dp/B07BL376JY/ref%3Dsr_1_37?keywords=2tb%2Bbackup&qid=1699884306&refinements=p_89%3ALaCie%7CSeagate%7CSonnics%7CToshiba%7CWestern%2BDigital&rnid=1632651031&s=computers&sr=1-37&th=1

Edit, I've just read CnocBui's post, now feel more enlightened, thanks