[dmwmn]

Hi,

One of my New Years resolutions is to finally back up my stuff.
My desktop PC is 160GB /1024MB Compaq purchased approx 2 yrs ago. I am looking to purchase a hard drive to back up my files. I have a lot of photos, music, MS office documents, IE favs and email stuff I don’t wan to lose. I’ve done some reading but want to get some feed back from the forum also.


How large of a hard drive should I be looking for?
Any recommendations on MFG?
Should I be backing up anything besides my personal items? (I didn’t receive restore disks with this PC)
Do I need a software program to back up the files?

Thanks for help

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Hi,

One of my New Years resolutions is to finally back up my stuff.
My desktop PC is 160GB /1024MB Compaq purchased approx 2 yrs ago. I am looking to purchase a hard drive to back up my files. I have a lot of photos, music, MS office documents, IE favs and email stuff I don’t wan to lose. I’ve done some reading but want to get some feed back from the forum also.


How large of a hard drive should I be looking for?
Any recommendations on MFG?
Should I be backing up anything besides my personal items? (I didn’t receive restore disks with this PC)
Do I need a software program to back up the files?

Thanks for help

Really any sized harddrive will be sufficient but let me explain as you get more for you money the higher the GB is on the harddrive. For example if you spend lets say $50 for a hard drive and you spend $10-$20 more you can double/triple the hard drive space.

I have always had good luck with Western Digital but many people have their own brands they are stuck to. Just pick the one that has the best price per GB and you will be fine.


The windows backup is alright but the 3rd party backup programs are far better as you have many more advanced options, just letting you know.

Read here and it might help you on the windows backup.

http://www.microsoft...t_03july14.mspx



Back to the HD just pick one you like and post it so we can help you decide what would be best.

You can also get an external HD using the USB cable. It will be a little slower but you wouldn't have to open up your case and install a new drive. The external would be the best option for a true "Backup drive" as you can unplug it after you have backed up all your files and store it in a safe place.

[jrm20]

Hi,

One of my New Years resolutions is to finally back up my stuff.
My desktop PC is 160GB /1024MB Compaq purchased approx 2 yrs ago. I am looking to purchase a hard drive to back up my files. I have a lot of photos, music, MS office documents, IE favs and email stuff I don’t wan to lose. I’ve done some reading but want to get some feed back from the forum also.


How large of a hard drive should I be looking for?
Any recommendations on MFG?
Should I be backing up anything besides my personal items? (I didn’t receive restore disks with this PC)
Do I need a software program to back up the files?

Thanks for help

Really any sized harddrive will be sufficient but let me explain as you get more for you money the higher the GB is on the harddrive. For example if you spend lets say $50 for a hard drive and you spend $10-$20 more you can double/triple the hard drive space.

I have always had good luck with Western Digital but many people have their own brands they are stuck to. Just pick the one that has the best price per GB and you will be fine.


The windows backup is alright but the 3rd party backup programs are far better as you have many more advanced options, just letting you know.

Read here and it might help you on the windows backup.

http://www.microsoft...t_03july14.mspx



Back to the HD just pick one you like and post it so we can help you decide what would be best.

You can also get an external HD using the USB cable. It will be a little slower but you wouldn't have to open up your case and install a new drive. The external would be the best option for a true "Backup drive" as you can unplug it after you have backed up all your files and store it in a safe place.

[dmwmn]

I've been looking at Western digitals and Segate. I was planning on an external w/usb.

Here are 5 I am looking at on buy.com. The 500GB price seems too good to be true. It isn't as compact as the WD Passport model.

What is the average life of an external?

http://www.buy.com/c...rive/16076.html

http://www.buy.com/p.../207561251.html

http://www.buy.com/p.../207683100.html

http://www.buy.com/p.../208921075.html

http://www.buy.com/p.../207665545.html

Thanks again

Denise

[jrm20]

I've been looking at Western digitals and Segate. I was planning on an external w/usb.

Here are 5 I am looking at on buy.com. The 500GB price seems too good to be true. It isn't as compact as the WD Passport model.

What is the average life of an external?

http://www.buy.com/c...rive/16076.html

http://www.buy.com/p.../207561251.html

http://www.buy.com/p.../207683100.html

http://www.buy.com/p.../208921075.html

http://www.buy.com/p.../207665545.html

Thanks again

Denise

You can find better deals at many other places. I recommend newegg.com. All system builders I know buy from newegg.com and you save quite a bit. Very reputable company and the shipping is extremely fast. I have bought from them for years. Did I mention way cheaper prices LOL.


Here is 1 I actually found for someone else today it is a really good deal. The prices on Buy.com are actually pretty high still. You can get a 640gb external hd from newegg for the same price as a 250/320gb from buy.com..

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822101137

You would not need any bigger IMO.


This is just a comparison on the prices. This is a good drive but you do not need this large LOL.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822242011

Edited by jrm20, 02 January 2009 - 07:14 PM.

[dmwmn]

I tried finding the Calvary 250GB CAXB37250 on New Egg on the Calvary website for a spec page but the model appears to not exist.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822101137

I then found on New Egg another Calvary 250GB for same price after a $10.00 rebate. The features section made no sense to me. Would you know what the difference is between the two besides the eSata?

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822101006

[jrm20]

I tried finding the Calvary 250GB CAXB37250 on New Egg on the Calvary website for a spec page but the model appears to not exist.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822101137

I then found on New Egg another Calvary 250GB for same price after a $10.00 rebate. The features section made no sense to me. Would you know what the difference is between the two besides the eSata?

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822101006

The first one would be the best buy unless you spend $15-$20 more for a 400 / 500gb drive, up to you on that.. I see the first drive is out of stock but should be back. I don't understand what you are getting at about the spec page. The drive exists on newegg and newegg will not mess you over. Calvary does not make the harddrive in it they just make the external casing. Inside of the casing it probably has a Western Digital HD in it as I have read up on some..


The second one you found has bad reviews on it and I wouldn't buy it but thats just me. What do you mean the features section you do not understand? What do you not understand?
The second one has the sata port and the casing looks different and the HD inside of it is PROBABLY different but there is no way to find out.

[dmwmn]

The New Egg page for both items has a Specifications tab.
The specs for the CAUA37250 model (2nd item for 59.99after rebate) noted RPM, Avg seek time. This is not noted on the CAXB37250 (1st item fro 49.99).

I was attempting to determine if the RPM & avg see time were the same for both units. I was also looking for the weight.

Also under the Specifications tab is a section titled "features". The features for the CAUA is much more detailed than the CAXB and I really didn't understand most of the features for the CAUA copied below in part:
"... to reduce firmware overhead Dual (ping-pong) buffer to minimize bus latency Intelligent interface uses no host CPU resources to control/monitor time-consuming drive phases other than data transfer Embedded MacOS and Windows 2000, windows XP driver support Universal firmware supports all devices, automatic detection for ATA or ATAPI protocol Low power consumption with possible bus or device powered..."

It is the CABX model that has the eSata port, but I believe I only have USB 2.0 ports. Can this still be used with USB 2.0 ports?

In a nutshell, I was wondering if for $10.00 more I would get a better unit. I wasn't questioning New Eggs integrity. I’ll likely wait for the CAXB to be restocked.

Thanks again for help. Denise

[jrm20]

If you don't want to wait for that 1 model to come back in stock as it may never because now I see it listed as deactivated item. This could mean for a short time or permanently.

The next best deal is this one for $69.99 the one I listed above with the 500gb hd. Calvary makes one for the same price but you only get 320gb. will you really need that big, probably not but for the price its a steal.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822242011


Yes all of these I am showing you has usb 2.0 so it will work on your pc. Some of the models had BOTH USB & ESATA.

[dmwmn]

I'll wait a week see if they replenish stock on the 1st one. Thanks a lot for help. Have a safe week

[Kylethornock]

JRM20 is right i always try and shop at newegg unless i absolutely need it right then. Newegg always has the fastest shipping from anywhere online i ever bought and they are very trustworthy