File Backup question

[250]

I'm looking for opinions/answers on the best way to back up about 400 GB of files.

BACKGROUND - My desktop has roughly 400 GB of pictures, movies, and other misc files that need to be backed up. Mostly pictures. Currently I have two 500 GB Seagate hardrives on RAID 1. (I know this isn't the best liked RAID but at the time I set it up I liked it) I think the one drive is already screwed up so I think I currently have no back up at all.

REASON FOR URGENCY - Wife recently was talking with friends about loosing pictures from hard drive. Seeing as pretty much all of our pics from the last 15 years are on the hard drive loosing them would be devastating to her. I'll agree.

STIPULATIONS - I/we are not that open for some sort of online backup. We wan't to keep our stuff "ours", not floating around on a cloud or stored in a warehouse far far away.


I'm thinking of a external drive or even a small simple server. I wouldn't need daily backups. Maybe 2x a month or even monthly. Or whenever we download the camera. (BIG SD card so it sometimes isn't that often) I can work off USB, Ethernet, or Firewire. I think I would prefer something I can unplug often without worrying about messing up the electronics so it could be safe from power surges, etc.

That being said I don't know much about any other options. How reliable are external drives?

Just looking for opinions and advice. I never looked into backing up stuff other than a few things on CD/DVD

Thanks

[jdeb]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822236187

Expensive but gets the job done. Quality hardrive. USB powered.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by 250 Wife recently was talking with friends about loosing pictures from hard drive.

Who's hdd? The one on your computer? Or who's ever it was she was talking to?
Hdds fail. That's what they do. There's no less chance of that Passport failing than your internal. The advantage to the Passport is that it's external.

[250]

jdeb - any reason you linked that particular model? Or do all of the "My Passport" models have the same reliability/features? For that matter do the "Mm Books: fall into the same catagory?

rwest - As far as I know nobody's harddrive has failed, but at least it's not ours. Don't know how or why the topic came up. I realize HD's fail. But CD/DVD's don't last forever or get scratched, I don't think Zip Drives are popular anymore, Flash memory is crazy expensive at the GB's I need.

That's why I set up my desktop to RAID 1. Just to have two identical copies. It is unlikely that both drives would physically fail at the same time. A severe power surge or some sort of virus would most likely wipe out both though. Having an external HD would give my one more copy and it unplugged would be isolated from the problems.

Anyway that is how my brain is thinking at the time. All this assumes two things:
1. That I actually take the time to disconnect things. (Unless you guys tell me USB is safe from power surges.
2 If I get a virus it will only attack the "C" (OS) drive and not the files on the other drives (Partitions)

[glc]

How much space do you feel you need for a backup drive? There are good less expensive options to that 2TB external.

[jdeb]

I linked that one fort the storage capacity, usb power for portability and convenience, and quality of drive internally. It also has nice backup software if you are so inclined to use it.

[tmathews]

I'd recommend using an external HDD for backups like that. It would take too many CD/DVD/BDs to back up 400GB; flash is expensive and not that reliable for long-term storage; uploading 400GB is going to take a while.

Yes, external HDDs suffer the same failures as internals but as you point out, the chances of both failing at the same time are slim. I personally keep a pair of backups: one at home for convenience and one in a locked drawer at work so even after theft or fire I'd still have a copy.

As you're also concerned about privacy, I'd also recommend keeping the backups encrypted. I use Truecrypt for mine so I don't have to worry about personal information falling into the wrong hands, even if the drive suddenly dies and an ambitious data thief fixes it. It won't keep the NSA out but I figure it's good enough to make it not worth a thief's effort,

[Nuclear Krusader]

You really should print those pictures out. At least the most important ones.

[doubledragon5]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader You really should print those pictures out. At least the most important ones.

Or he should save those pictures to a DVD...

[rwest]

Originally Posted by 250 rwest - As far as I know nobody's harddrive has failed, but at least it's not ours. Don't know how or why the topic came up.

I just noted that it seemed your current reasononing for getting backed up very soon, was due to somebody telling your wife about losing pictures off her hdd. The only way that's going to happen is if the hdd is starting to fail. (or if you accidentally write over it)

While an external hdd is the best choice, I've never had a virus touch a second drive. Not that it couldn't, I've just never had it happen. My backups are on a seond internal drive partitioned with: the restore, data files, and working files. I don't see the need for the extra expense if you happen to have another internal drive. The only advantage the external has, is it can be easily unattached, or powered off, depending on its capabilities. An external drive is more secure and can be portable.

I think if a virus is going to effect a second or third drive, it's going to find it no matter how it's connected(ext. or int). Unless there's no power to it or it's disconnected.

[250]

O.K. Thanks for the replies. I like the idea of an external drive and I can see backing up the important ones on CD/DVD. I think my question has been answered.

But................ Since looking into this and starting this thread I'm coming around to the idea of online storage. But still not sure. Any opinions on online storage in general? They any recommendations on where. If I had to choose right now justcloud looks good but I only looked a little.

Thanks again

[glc]

The biggest problem with online storage is how long it takes to upload all the files. The average broadband Internet connection these days is about 1 mbps, and at that rate it would take about 40 days to upload 400GB.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Your data is safer on your hard drive, really. If you're that concerned about major destruction, buy an extra external drive and put it in a safe box in the bank.

[250]

Thanks again,
It looks like I'm going to be storing the files on a "My Passport" like jdeb linked to or some other type of external storage. As jlc hinted to there are alternatives and I really don't need 2TB's yet. Time to start looking around.

I think I might be moving from one family desktop in one location to two or three networked computers in the future. The wife is wanting a Macbook for the kids and an Ipad. I'm hesitant to move from PC. I'll have more questions started in other threads soon.

[glc]

For reliability and flexibility, I prefer full size 3.5" housings and drives that you assemble yourself, so you can swap drives if necessary. That way, if the drive itself craps out, you can remove it from the housing without damaging it or voiding the warranty - and if the housing craps out you can do the same without voiding the drive warranty. You can also replace the drive with a larger one if needed. Only real disadvantages are AC power is required, and housings don't come with software.

My housing of choice:

Rosewill RX-358 V2 SLV (Silver) 3.5" SATA to USB & eSATA External Enclosure w/Int.80mm Fan

A bit costly, but I prefer WD Black drives for the 5 year warranty.

If you want to plan for a network, you may want to look at a NAS box.