Best backup method for new laptop?

S

Smudge

New Member
I will be getting a new laptop soon and was wondering if I should spend the extra money and get an extra internal HD for backing up or get an external USB Hard Drive. I am looking to backup photos, music, word processing files and some software (most importantly Palm Desktop software). Should I look into an internal or external HD or stick to backing up on DVD-R or DVD-RW? Which is the safest from corruption and most logical)? Thanks
 
I wouldn't get an external USB HDD, it'd be really slow. I would say get at least a Firewire 400 HDD (I would go with an 800 myself). As for what means of backup, I'd definitely go with an external, at least that way you don't have to use it as much which, in theory, will give it a longer life expectancy.
 
Breaks said:
I wouldn't get an external USB HDD, it'd be really slow. I would say get at least a Firewire 400 HDD (I would go with an 800 myself). As for what means of backup, I'd definitely go with an external, at least that way you don't have to use it as much which, in theory, will give it a longer life expectancy.
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OK - so I guess Firewire 400 HDD vs DVD-RW, DVD-R or CD-RW's??? Any advantages or disadvantages to Ext HD vs. DVD-RW's, ect?
 
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Well it's all down to personal preference to be honest. I would rather go with an external HDD to any form of CD/DVD media purely for the fact that: Your data is more centralised, more managable, you can alter your files on a HDD as opposed to having to reburn any files that have been changed, You can store more on 1 HDD which means less mess with hundreds of CD's / DVD's laying around your room and if your anything like me, I lose my CD's / DVD's in a pile of junk on the floor so finding files I need proves to be a task in itself lol.

So my personal preference is an external HDD. Obviously there are pro's and con's for both, I just prefer the ease of an external HDD.
 
Breaks said:
Well it's all down to personal preference to be honest. I would rather go with an external HDD to any form of CD/DVD media purely for the fact that: Your data is more centralised, more managable, you can alter your files on a HDD as opposed to having to reburn any files that have been changed, You can store more on 1 HDD which means less mess with hundreds of CD's / DVD's laying around your room and if your anything like me, I lose my CD's / DVD's in a pile of junk on the floor so finding files I need proves to be a task in itself lol.

So my personal preference is an external HDD. Obviously there are pro's and con's for both, I just prefer the ease of an external HDD.
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Ok, however wouldn't a HDD be more prone to crashes due to a virus attack, ect (I am new to most of this stuff)? And I am guessing that reburning files on a CDRW or DVDRW is just as easy......as far as the mess aspect - I tend to be overly organized and do not see that as an issue. Thanks again for any thoughts
 
Well, the only main fault you could possibly run into with external HDD's is that the hardware itself may fail. It's rare if not impossible for a HDD to have a software fault because they don't have anything such as no operating systems etc on them to crash (unless you attempt to update the firmware and end up crashing it, however you should have no need to do this). The only thing you'd need to do if it isn't done already is to simply format it.

So the HDD failing due to hardware is the same problem as a burner faulting, although granted the HDD costs more to replace. I find HDD's to last many years more than basic optical drives though.

Virus attacks could be a problem if you don't use common sense with your HDD. Although the same could be said when burning to a CD / DVD. You could end up burning a virus to the CD / DVD and infecting any machine you insert it into. As I said there are very similar pro's and con's for each. All you need really with an external HDD is common sense and you'll be fine. If your worried about viruses, just scan the external drive each week as you would your main internal HDD.

The main problem with an external HDD choice though is cost. They're not exactly the cheapest component on the market. However purcashing an optical burner and the media to burn on each time you run out of blanks all adds up too. Both are good efficient means to backing up data, at the end of the day it's which appeals more to you.
 
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Breaks said:
Well, the only main fault you could possibly run into with external HDD's is that the hardware itself may fail. It's rare if not impossible for a HDD to have a software fault because they don't have anything such as no operating systems etc on them to crash (unless you attempt to update the firmware and end up crashing it, however you should have no need to do this). The only thing you'd need to do if it isn't done already is to simply format it.

So the HDD failing due to hardware is the same problem as a burner faulting, although granted the HDD costs more to replace. I find HDD's to last many years more than basic optical drives though.

Virus attacks could be a problem if you don't use common sense with your HDD. Although the same could be said when burning to a CD / DVD. You could end up burning a virus to the CD / DVD and infecting any machine you insert it into. As I said there are very similar pro's and con's for each. All you need really with an external HDD is common sense and you'll be fine. If your worried about viruses, just scan the external drive each week as you would your main internal HDD.

The main problem with an external HDD choice though is cost. They're not exactly the cheapest component on the market. However purcashing an optical burner and the media to burn on each time you run out of blanks all adds up too. Both are good efficient means to backing up data, at the end of the day it's which appeals more to you.
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Thanks for the info - very helpful! So would an Ext HD be less prone to viruses, ect? How about only connecting a Ext HD during a backup (which for me would be about weekly or every other week)? Or even disconnecting the laptop from the internet prior to making a backup onto a Ext HDD? You mention common sense - I take it you are referring to what you store on the Ext HD and running virus scans of your Ext HD??? Thanks again
 
Well, the only way an external HDD would be prone to viruses more so to that of CD's / DVD's is if you had no common sense. Meaning, not very internet sensible as in with what you download, website you visit on the Internet, how well protected you are firewall and anti-virus wise etc. If your sensible enough as it is with your current computer and barely have, if any, viruses as it is then I really wouldn't worry about getting any viruses on an external HDD. If you disconnect it when you aren't using it and virus scan it on a regular basis then that would be even better for keeping the files stored on it safe from any harm virus wise.

CD's / DVD's wouldn't be as easy to get damaged obviously because viruses can't be ran on them causing any damage to the files burn't on them what with CD's / DVD's, unless rewritable, can only be read from after they've been burn't. But as mentioned before, if you were to burn a virus onto a CD / DVD without knowing and then end up running it on other PC's you stick the CD's into, you cause them harm too.

Most logical choice in my opinion would be to choose an external HDD. Esp. with how easy it is to simply drag and drop files to and from the HDD as opposed to having to constantly burn data onto DVD's. The main question with getting an external HDD is 'What is your budget?'. However if you are going for a less hastle quick fix option then an optical drive (DVD Burner etc) would be the choice for you.

Hope this helps and your welcome :).

Just consider an external HDD to be similar to a normal folder located in 'My Documents'. As long as you keep virus scanning that folder, keeping your data within it organised and are sensible with what you put in it etc you'll be absolutely fine. Although if you do plan on getting a firewire ext. hdd make sure your laptop supports firewire. If new as you mentioned though, I'm sure it will.
 
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I use online backup for all our important data files in my office. All our computers backup to an external HD. Each night the external HD is backed up online. Cost is nominal and the backups are offsite. When we need a file we just go online and transfer the file to the proper computer.

Kevin
 
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