Suggestions for External USB Hard Drive for Backups

[allanc]

I am interested in purchasing an external USB hard drive (200 GB or
more) for storing backups of multiple PCs.
I have read some negative comments about WD recently.
All suggestions as to manufacturers/model numbers are appreciated.
TIA.

 

[Microsoft MVP]

Seagate is generally highly regarded.

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

Note u can put any HDD in $20 USB2 enclosure. Cheaper than USB2 HDD in
shiny case.

HTH-Larry

I am interested in purchasing an external USB hard drive (200 GB or
more) for storing backups of multiple PCs.
I have read some negative comments about WD recently.
All suggestions as to manufacturers/model numbers are appreciated.
TIA.

Any advice is my attempt to contribute more than I have received but I can only assure you that it works on my PC. GOOD LUCK.

 

[allanc]

Note u can put any HDD in $20 USB2 enclosure. Cheaper than USB2 HDD in
shiny case.

For $20 you get the enclosure, power supply, connectors, etc?
That seems like a good deal!

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

For $20 you get the enclosure, power supply, connectors, etc?
That seems like a good deal!

Yep- all u need do is put a regular HDD in it- I got WD 80GB for $25.
HDD with FDB r great- no ball bearings to wear out. All Seagate
Barracuda's have FDB

HTH-Larry
Any advice is my attempt to contribute more than I have received but I can only assure you that it works on my PC. GOOD LUCK.

 

[allanc]

I just did some quick number crunching.
It seems that an enclosure plus internal hd is about 1/2 the price of
ready made USB external drives.
I realize that the ready made is more convenient for the average
consumer, but why the big price difference?
I will be buying imaging backup software separately, so I am not
concerned with what is bundled with the ready made solution.
Also, I am assuming that the enclosure solution can accommodate a 200+
g.b. hard drive, correct?

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

Now its in $10 range - see http://tinyurl.com/2vesvq

HTH-Larry

For $20 you get the enclosure, power supply, connectors, etc?
That seems like a good deal!

Any advice is my attempt to contribute more than I have received but I can only assure you that it works on my PC. GOOD LUCK.

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

I realize that the ready made is more convenient for the average
consumer, but why the big price difference?

Well I refill laser cartridges for $20- new is $80. Labor costs maybe.

I will be buying imaging backup software separately, so I am not
concerned with what is bundled with the ready made solution.

Make sure u can run it from boot CD & it recognizes CD,DVD, & USB
Also u can image while running XP & if it has a BartPE plugin for
when u get sick of DOS crap & do 911 tasks from BartPE
I use http://www.bootitng.com/imagew.html

Also, I am assuming that the enclosure solution can accommodate a 200+
g.b. hard drive, correct?

Correct- only size limitation- get 5" enclosure & u can convert CD-DVD
burner to USB2.

HTH-Larry

Any advice is my attempt to contribute more than I have received but I can only assure you that it works on my PC. GOOD LUCK.

 

[allanc]

I was planning on purchasing Acronis.
What is BartPE?

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

What is BartPE?

XP on bootable CD with support 4 CF,USB, internet, all image files &
pdf's plus u can chkdsk, edit Registry, scan with AV,... all with XP
navigation & ur vcard driver. Ur real XP on HDD is just data to BartPE
so messing with System files is no problem.

U can surf, get email, post to NewsGp with BartPE. So u can get help
even if ur HDD r not available!

No more DOS crap!

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ Easy to make a basic CD with default
plugins(apps) to see how it works.

Its amazing- Larry
Any advice is my attempt to contribute more than I have received but I can only assure you that it works on my PC. GOOD LUCK.

 

[allanc]

What will 'they' think of next.
Thank you for the explanation.

 

[allanc]

I have been trying to find user reviews of the Seagate Barracuda's.
I found both internal and external.
The jury seems to be split on the externals. Actually, I was quite
surprised that a number of people had failures with the first year.
On the other hand, the vast majority of the reviews on the internals
were more favourable.

 

[Rock]

I am interested in purchasing an external USB hard drive (200 GB or
more) for storing backups of multiple PCs.
I have read some negative comments about WD recently.
All suggestions as to manufacturers/model numbers are appreciated.
TIA

Purchase a regular EIDE hard drive and a hard drive enclosure. Connect this
through USB to the computer. This is much cheaper than buying an external
hard drive from any of the vendors.

I have had great success with WD drives. I recently put together a 320GB
EIDE WD Caviar drive in a Kingwin external drive enclosure. The drive, as a
white box, was less than $90 at Newegg.com and the enclosure was just over
$20. That WD drive is very popular. You can't beat that price compared to
a manufactured external drive.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Purchase a regular EIDE hard drive and a hard drive enclosure. Connect
this through USB to the computer. This is much cheaper than buying an
external hard drive from any of the vendors.

I have had great success with WD drives. I recently put together a 320GB
EIDE WD Caviar drive in a Kingwin external drive enclosure. The drive, as
a white box, was less than $90 at Newegg.com and the enclosure was just
over $20. That WD drive is very popular. You can't beat that price
compared to a manufactured external drive.

I'm a user not an expert and I now have 3 external USB 2.2 drives and they
work fine. This way I don't have open the case to add an EIDE HDD.

Be sure to use USB 2 as a connection.

With the price of raw WD drives being what they are there's no excuse for
not adding a drive to a computer.

Regards,

 

[allanc]

Thanks to all who responded.

Purchase a regular EIDE hard drive and a hard drive enclosure. Connect this
through USB to the computer. This is much cheaper than buying an external
hard drive from any of the vendors.

 

[Rock]

You're welcome.
--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Thanks to all who responded.

 

[skeeter]

Thanks to all who responded.

That's an interesting solution. I have a couple of EIDE hard drives in
my old computer that I would like to use as external back-ups. But, a
few questions, (1) where do you find a enclosure for an internal hard
drive, and (2) where can you find the connector cables and (3) how do
you power it?
Walt

 

[allanc]

I am interested in purchasing an external USB hard drive (200 GB or

That's an interesting solution. I have a couple of EIDE hard drives in
my old computer that I would like to use as external back-ups. But, a
few questions, (1) where do you find a enclosure for an internal hard
drive, and (2) where can you find the connector cables and (3) how do
you power it?

Kingwin (among others) manufacturers these enclosures. The power
supply is built into the unit and the cables are included.

 

[Rock]

That's an interesting solution. I have a couple of EIDE hard drives in
my old computer that I would like to use as external back-ups. But, a
few questions, (1) where do you find a enclosure for an internal hard
drive, and (2) where can you find the connector cables and (3) how do
you power it?

Many places sell enclosures. Newegg.com is one example. Kingwin is one
brand of enclosure. Get one that is self powered, so it has a power adaptor
that connects to a power outlet. They are available with USB and/or eSata
connections, so you use one of these to connect the enclosure to the
computer.

Here is an example of one. It is self powered with a USB connection.
Installation of the drive is easy. Use a Philips head screwdriver to remove
the end plate, attach the ribbon cable power connector that's integral to
the end plate to the drive, Secure the drive into the case with four
screws, then reattach the end plate. Plug in the external power connector
and the USB cable which comes with it and your all set.
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817146307

There are other enclosures, just look around for them.

 

[skeeter]

Many places sell enclosures. Newegg.com is one example. Kingwin is one
brand of enclosure. Get one that is self powered, so it has a power adaptor
that connects to a power outlet. They are available with USB and/or eSata
connections, so you use one of these to connect the enclosure to the
computer.

Here is an example of one. It is self powered with a USB connection.
Installation of the drive is easy. Use a Philips head screwdriver to remove
the end plate, attach the ribbon cable power connector that's integral to
the end plate to the drive, Secure the drive into the case with four
screws, then reattach the end plate. Plug in the external power connector
and the USB cable which comes with it and your all set.
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817146307

There are other enclosures, just look around for them.

Allan and Rock, thank you very much for the info.
Walt