New backup drive required

Broadback · Jan 06, 2017, 13:21:23

I seem forever here looking for help, and getting it!

I have been trying to back up my new computer, but it runs out of space, so I need a larger capacity DD. I would welcome any recommendations. I I need a 1TB drive, there are so many to choose from, I do not want to make a mistake and get something unreliable.

stevenrw · Jan 06, 2017, 14:40:07

There are many out there and if I'm honest, probably not much to tell between any of them.
However, I've been using the Samsung M3 units for a while now and find them really good.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Slimline-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B00ZQXP3Q2
They are available in various capacities and are all USB3 (backwards compatible with USB2 of course). They (like most of their competitors) are powered via the USB cable so you don't need an ac adapter.
A really nice feature that they have is a Secure Zone which is something you can set up whereby you can password protect an area on the drive so you can store personal info (banking, passwords etc).
Its easy to set up.
FWIW I'd select a capacity far greater than you think you will need, because the extra cost is not great and you do tend to use it up. I assume you are backing up your Operating System as well as your data?

Broadback · Jan 06, 2017, 16:08:51

Thanks Steve. Yes OS as well as Data, they are not cheap are they? Of course generally you get what you pay for.

stevenrw · Jan 06, 2017, 22:55:13

I think I gave you an old link. Looks like they have been repackaged under Maxtor and are much cheaper..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxtor-Slimline-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B01AJWNXAM/ref=dp_ob_title_ce?th=1

Simon · Jan 06, 2017, 23:20:13

I've got a couple of those and they have served me well so far.

J!ll · Jan 07, 2017, 05:43:30

http://www.ebuy2016.com/c-15-2-TB.html

Broadback · Jan 07, 2017, 09:21:46

Thanks Steve, I've ordered one from amazon! They should pay you commission!

Broadback · Jan 09, 2017, 11:07:20

The Drive arrived this morning, was not due until Thursday, so I would have wasted money if I had paid for faster delivery! I am now running Reflect. another question if I may. Macrium is certainly more user friendly than Acronis, which I am kicking into touch. Now the question, is it worth paying for an update? Asnwers from this expert team appreciated.

Ray · Jan 09, 2017, 11:19:55

Quote from: Broadback on Jan 09, 2017, 11:07:20
The Drive arrived this morning, was not due until Thursday, so I would have wasted money if I had paid for faster delivery! I am now running Reflect. another question if I may. Macrium is certainly more user friendly than Acronis, which I am kicking into touch. . Now the question, is it worth paying for an update? Asnwers from this expert team appreciated.

Depends whether you just want to do Image backups of your HDs or whether you want to do File and Folder backups too, the free version doesn't do these, if you only want Images then the free version is fine.

You can actually extract individual files from an Image backup by mounting the image in Windows explorer as a virtual hard disk.

I would also recommend that you that use the option to create a Macrium recovery option on your boot menu this will get out of trouble if your operating system become unusable but the HD is still ok. Also make sure you create a rescue boot CD or USB stick for use if the HD fails and you have replace it.

Wolfy · Jan 09, 2017, 14:15:26

Quote from: Broadback on Jan 09, 2017, 11:07:20
I am now running Reflect. another question if I may. Macrium is certainly more user friendly than Acronis, which I am kicking into touch. Now the question, is it worth paying for an update? Asnwers from this expert team appreciated.

I too dumped Acronis in favour of Macrium a few years back. I assume you are referring to the update from the free Macrium to the paid for version? When I looked into it back then there wasn't much in the way of extra features in the paid version vs the free one that I actually needed but I decided it would be worth paying for the full version so that I would have support should anything ever go wrong. However I was a bit miffed with macrium (and told them so!) because less than a year later they brought out a new version and told me that if I wanted to continue being entitled to support (which I had never had need to use) I would have to upgrade to the new paid version. I can't afford to keep buying the same piece of software every year so Ive stayed with the version I paid for but no longer have the support that I thought I was paying for. Just be aware of that one.

Simon · Jan 09, 2017, 16:56:42

Acronis works reasonably well for me. I have a lot of data to backup (all in all, probably about 800Gb and counting), so I tend to schedule it in stages, rather than tying up the machine for about 12 hours trying to do it all in one go. I also feel, by doing it that way, I'm not relying on one singular backup for everything.

The thing which put me off Macrium was the lack of File and Folders backups in the free version, and I also believe, until recently, only the paid for version would do incremental backups, but I think that may have changed now.

I also tried Paragon, which was a little too basic for my needs, but did the job, and could be ideal for someone who just needs a simple, non-techy solution.

https://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/

colirv · Jan 10, 2017, 09:32:55

I use free Macrium for the occasional image backup, and a cloud a/c with iDrive for automatic instantaneous file and filder backup.

stevenrw · Jan 10, 2017, 22:37:13

Macrium Free is great for System backups, and as Ray says, be sure to create a boot disc in case your system does not boot. Macrium normally prompts you to do this when you run your first backup.
Be sure to set it up to auto-verify the disc image after its created it, otherwise it will not work.
Your new shiny M3 drive has file and folder backup software included in the Samsung Drive Manager, called AutoBackup if I remember rightly so I'd take a look at that first.
Another good alternative is EasUS ToDo Backup Free. That will do everything including disc image (like Macrium) and folder/file backup, but you will get pestered with nag screens to buy the paid-for version.
So I'd say stick with Macrium Reflect Free (subjet to the caveats above) and look at the Samsung Autobackup for data.

Wolfy · Jan 11, 2017, 07:54:10

I use Macrium for System backups and FreeFileSync for backing up my data partitions.
A benefit of FFS is that it does not use any proprietary encoding of the backed up files and folders, they are straightforward copies of the original files.
So in ten years time if you've moved to another computer and no longer have your backup software you can still access the files as long as you can access the file system.

stevenrw · Jan 11, 2017, 17:25:16

Wolfy makes a lot of sense, the FreeFileSync looks good and yes, you do not need any additional software. The only potential drawback is that you will need a drive with enough capacity to hold all the files/folders you back up because "normal" bacup software compresses the files, so you can't just read them with whatever program you used to create them (Word etc).
But there is a big reassurance factor in being able to see the files that you've effectively made direct copies of. Just make sure your drive is big enough to hold the Macrium image(s) and the folder/file backup.
Another thing to consider, and I'm perhaps feeding your paranoia here, is to store your precious backup drive off site. perish the thought, but if you were burgled or even worse, suffered a flood or fire, you may well lose that backup. If you have a friend/family member that lives close enough then get them to store your drive. You can always get it from them to rerun images and/or backups as and when necessary.