An external hard drive is a device that can store any file or app on, usually around the size of a book. They are portable, user-friendly devices that offer immediate storage whenever needed and can be connected to a computer from the outside via USB, FireWire, or Thunderbolt connection. External hard drives come in varying storage capacities but all connect to a computer.
External hard drives are similar to normal hard drives but are not connected inside a computer. They usually come as a separate unit, can be quite small, and can provide extra data storage space when internal drives are nearly full. They are an affordable way to back up data on your PC and keep it safe from system crashes and other potential problems.
There are two flavors of external hard drives: HDDs (hard drive) and SSDs (solid state drive). SSDs are faster than HDDs but are more expensive. Both types of drives have their pros and cons, but they both provide extra storage capacity for backing up data and storing files that you do not have room for on your computer’s internal drive.
External hard drives have transformed from simple storage devices into versatile, intelligent tools that enhance every aspect of our digital lives. They can be stand-alone hard drives, solid state drives (SSD), or optical disc drives that plug into the computer via USB or external SATA. An external hard drive is a portable piece of equipment that allows you to increase the amount of storage space on your computer.
An external hard drive is a convenient data storage device that can hold various forms of digital files. It is important to consider the pros and cons of using external hard drives when choosing a storage solution for your computer.
📹 What Is The Best External Hard Drive?
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What should you not do with an external hard drive?
To prevent external hard drives from malfunctioning or failing, it is crucial to avoid physical damage caused by factors like dust, power fluctuations, fire, and rain. It is essential to take precautionary measures not to expose the hard drive to these hazards. Monitoring the health of the external hard drive is crucial for data safety, and third-party applications can help efficiently monitor its health.
This helps identify issues early and prevent larger problems. However, waiting too long for problems to grow larger than manageable can lead to losing control and the hard drive potentially failing or stopping functioning altogether.
Is an external hard drive the same as a USB?
An external hard drive, similar to a USB, is ideal for transporting or backing up large amounts of data but may not be as easy to carry as a small flash drive. The speed of external hard drives can vary significantly, depending on the specific technology used. High-end external hard drives typically offer faster data transfer rates, especially those using solid-state drive (SSD) technology. However, the speed of a flash drive can also be competitive, particularly with USB 3. 0 or newer technology.
Many people have both external hard drives and USB drives, with external hard drives for home or office backups and USB drives for file transport. Some people prefer USB drives due to their small size, while others back up files on larger external hard drives. Always check the specifications before making a purchase to ensure the best fit for your needs.
What’s the difference between an external and portable hard drive?
External drives are devices used outside a desktop computer or laptop chassis, typically larger and heavier than portable models. They require a power source and a USB connection to transfer data between the computer and the device. While portable storage is increasingly popular, traditional external hard drives still offer advantages to some users. External storage has a unique history, starting with hard disk drives (HDDs) with large magnetic platters for data backup. Over time, external hard drives have evolved into 3. 5-inch and 2. 5-inch form factors, becoming an essential complement to internal hard drives.
What are the two types of external hard drives?
Hard disk drives (HDD) and solid state drives (SSD) are two types of external hard drives. HDDs are mechanical devices that read and write data, with their speed measured by rotations per minute (RPM). They consist of motor-driven platters and a moving read/write head, with speeds measured by 5400 and 7200 RPM. SSDs, on the other hand, are non-mechanical devices that use flash memory and are lightning-quick. HDDs are slower and cheaper, offering more storage for less money. SSDs are shock-resistant, but hard disk drives have a longer lifespan when kept safely due to their mechanical parts.
What are the disadvantages of external hard drives?
External hard drives are susceptible to physical damage, theft, and loss, which can result in permanent data loss if dropped, spilled liquids spilled, exposed to extreme temperatures, or forgotten. They can also fail due to wear and tear, power surges, viruses, or human error. Without a backup, data recovery may be impossible. Additionally, external hard drives can be slow or incompatible with certain systems or formats, leading to issues with formatting, encryption, or compatibility.
Do I really need an external hard drive?
External hard drives offer numerous advantages, including more storage space than a computer’s internal hard drive, cost-effectiveness, and faster performance compared to cloud services like Dropbox. There are various types of external hard drives, including SATA, USB, Firewire, and Thunderbolt, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. USB is typically faster but may not be compatible with older computers. Researching the specific model before purchasing is crucial to ensure it meets your needs.
Some models require an AC adapter, which can be found in the laptop’s AC adapter. It is essential to check this before purchasing an external drive, as some models only function when plugged into another device’s AC adapter, while others do not require any additional power source. Overall, external hard drives provide a versatile solution for storing various files and documents without the need for additional power sources.
Is it safe to leave external hard drive always on?
The maintenance of an external drive is typically considered a safe practice due to the low power consumption of such devices and the extended lifespan of modern HDDs, which can be replaced before they reach the end of their operational capacity.
What is the purpose of an external hard drive?
An external hard drive is a storage device that connects to a computer via USB, Firewire, or Thunderbolt, providing extra storage capacity for backing up data and storing files that are not on the computer’s internal drive. It operates by having its own dedicated power supply and connection to the PC, allowing it to be connected for longer periods. The drive can be accessed as if it were part of the local machine, allowing easy access, reading, writing, and deletion.
The main advantage of using an external hard drive is that it provides more storage space than what is available on the computer’s internal hard drive, allowing for more music, photos, videos, and documents without worrying about running out of space. Additionally, external drives are cheaper than purchasing additional memory and faster than cloud services like Dropbox.
Can I use a USB stick as an external hard drive?
A USB flash drive can be used as a storage device on both Windows and Mac computers, providing the same functionality as a hard drive. These modern, affordable, and fast devices are ideal for those running out of space on their hard drives. They can be used for storage, backups, and even booting operating systems like Ubuntu Linux.
To use a flash drive like a hard drive on Windows or Mac, simply plug it into your computer and copy files to and from the drive in File Explorer. On a Mac, connecting the drive will add an icon to your desktop. To boot Ubuntu Linux from a flash drive on a PC, enter the BIOS and make removable devices first in the boot order. This wikiHow article provides simple ways to use a flash drive like a hard drive on Windows and Mac computers.
Which is better, SSD or external hard drive?
SSDs are faster, more durable, compact, quieter, and consume less energy than HDDs. They are also more affordable and may offer easier data recovery if damaged. However, SSDs are generally more reliable and are preferred for large amounts of data without frequent access. HDDs are best for those who need to store large amounts of data but don’t need frequent access. The main differences between SSDs and HDDs are their performance, cost, and compatibility. HDDs are suitable for users who need to store large amounts of data but don’t need frequent access.
Is 1TB external hard drive enough?
For general file storage, a 500GB-1TB hard drive is recommended. This is sufficient for most standard needs and is typically cheaper than a 500GB drive. If you expect intense usage, larger drives, starting with 2TB, can be explored. It is crucial to back up your data in case of hard drive failure. Whether you’re purchasing an internal replacement, external solution, or a new system, it’s essential to choose the right hard drive for your needs. Remember to back up your data in case of failure.
📹 Can You Recommend a Good External Hard Drive?
Quality and features in external hard drives change over time. First, look at what you need. ☝️ External hard drives When …
I only bought an ext drive one time and it’s a WD Element and it’s working for years using it about 10 times per month for system images. The other external drives used for data backup are repurposed internal 2.5″ drives. These are small and don’t require a separate power supply. And by the way all these ext drives are unplugged and off during normal PC use. That prevents potential malware from infecting backups.
Excellent article Leo. I would like to add a few things: 1. If you’re infected with ransomware it will probably encrypt any attached storage (such as your backup drive). You should therefore probably rotate backup drives and not use them for anything other than backup (i.e. don’t have them mounted unless you’re running a backup). 2. The shelf life of an SSD is much shorter than that of a hard drive. If there is any risk that your backup will be stored for a year or more, a hard drive is a better choice. 3. Two of my backup drives rotate between a fireproof safe in my basement and a security deposit box in my bank. The SD box is too small to hold a 3.5″ drive, so that set has to be 2.5″
I use two 8TB hard drives for backup. I store them in a fireproof small safe box. I can keep four full monthly backups with weekly increments between them. I keep the drives in a cheap keep case inside the safe box and use a hot swap drive bay in my computer to back up. Been doing it for years. Sure beats those old tapes.
Is this odd. I never delete anything. Over the 20 years digital I now have over 50 external. hard drives. My older hard drives are 500 mb. Note that my older hard drive cost far more per bit than the new ones. This also may be odd. I always keep my SD cards. I have a number of compact flash drives. Now not to forget about my thumb drives. I use them for backing specific groups of pics. Even with all the backups that I have I can find pics. The age of the hard drive helps. Not finished. I keep my old computers and have many pics on them. Why. My wife and I travel a lot and I am always taking pics of kinds of things. This year my wife and I will be visiting Iceland for are 8th time. Many cruses and trips to Europe. Russia twice. Most National and State parks. No job. Retired 20 years ago and love to take pics. My wife thinks I have OCD. What do you think? Want a pic of something different I am you guy.
G Technology is WD while LaCie is Seagate. Neither uses any other drives. Also, from an IT professional, any device your computer’s OS can see is not a backup. If you can see it in File Explorer or Finder, ransomware can also see it. Backups need to either be stored on a NAS, with unique credentials stored in the backup software, or cloud backup. I’ve seen the results of an external drive as backup. Not pretty.
Great guidance as always. Any thought about backing up multiple partitions and/or multiple internal disks onto one external HD, assuming it has the capacity? Is there a back up software that would be easier to use with this approach? I’m assuming it would mean a separate disk image being created for each internal Disk and/or partition.
I installed a couple dozen WD drives (on my own PC, and others’); internal, external, NAS. In all for over 500 000 drive-hours (POHs). Not one failed so far*. OTOH, got 2 Seagates which BOTH failed within three years. Never again. YMMV. *) At one time one of them (a 2.5″ Elements) started to make a ticking sound, often the preamble of an imminent failure. That was 2 years ago, the ticking stopped, and the drive still works.
My first computer had a 40 mg hard drive and the drive still works. It’s just a drive that sits on a shelf to remind me where I first started with these computers. I actually started with a VIC 20. LOL That’s a long way back. Your advice is right on the money. Things are changing to fast to recommend a particular drive.. Excellent informative article. Thanks Leo.
My take home message from this is that the rotating discs still can be good as a backup. I bought one recently, not realising it was a rotating disc. I paid just over a £100 for 4TB WD drive. Then I searched for SSDs of this capacity and they were at least twice the price for this capacity. I went with one, also because the mentioned portability and size. My next one may be a HDD again, if it really doesn’t matter as much. A fun fact: I bought a Sandisk USB, what I thought was 64 gb capacity, went to create a bootable usb for my computer that needed anything larger than 32 GB and it failed… that little bastard was just 32 GB. But on the package, the item itself and description of the website (Currys), it was 64 GB. Got a refund for that, but it puzzles me how this company (Sandisk) and their distributor (Currys) could get it so wrong. Was it just one off or was there a whole batch that was faulty?
Perhaps my setup is a bit complicated, but here it is. I have a NAS (Network Attached Storage) and I store most of my user data there on drive 1. I have an automated backup which copies changed working files files from NAS drive 1 to drive 2. I also collect lots of downloaded stuff on NAS drive 1, which is not automatically backed up. I occasionally do full drive backups of my computers to NAS drive 2. I periodically copy everything from the NAS to my portable drives. These are mostly refurbished name brand enterprise drives. Two are in drive enclosures, but I’ve found a SATA dock to be convenient for others.
At present, I have 3 externals. One is a Simpletech 3.5″ I bought in 2008 that is still going strong. Thought it used a WD drive, but it appears it actually has a Hitachi drive in it. I don’t access it much as it’s all storage, divided into article, photos and music (or audio) partitions. It’s full for the most part, though photos and article partitions are not. Then I have 2 WD passports (2.5″) mechanical external drives, one 500GB that WAS to be for backups, but the software from WD, I could not figure out if it actually saved, or backed up anything, or not, so abandoned things all together, however, did a clone of my HD using the then free Macrium Reflect and it did great in 2019, until I tried to restore my boot drive a couple of years later after a cleaning, not realizing initially I may have swapped SATA cables and the image got horked. That went that. Now, I have 2, 3.5″ mechanical drives at 500GB each, both used, and from 2013/14, but to start off, it’ll do. I will get cases for them eventually, but have an adapter that has a power supply, good for IDE/SATA drives for now, and I have a dock that can accept 2 drives that is connected to the desktop, and can do an internal clone of one to the other. I also have two Dell computers, one a laptop, the other a desktop (both business workstations, bought used. So one drive for each. Software will be EaseUS for backups and cloning. in 2008, I did tons of research on my first external, looking for defects, poor design etc, and one, a Hitachi had major issues on the 1TB and higher capacity due to poor ventilation cooling so the drives overheated, some had defective controllers, others bad USB cables (a bad batch at that time), and how frequently they were found defective, and if they had the capacity I was looking for (500GB), LaCie didn’t go beyond 350GB being one example.
Hi Leo – thank you for your articles! I have my files backed up on a nas and almost all of my work is stored under Onedrive with pictures being replicated in Google and/or Amazon. None of this is an incremental backup though. I would like to combine the backup of my computer with the onedrive contents if not as one entity (the whole system at once as presented by file explorer) then at least as one job (and incremental for the pc and an incremental for the onedrive)? I was thinking of a schedule a little more aggressive than yours like keeping a few dailies, a few weeklies, a couple of monthlies and all the yearly (is this overkill?) Do you have a article where you show how to set that up (probably :))?
SSDs are better back up precisely because they have no moving parts. but you need to keep powering them up every 6 months for the data to be refreshed and it doesn’t get lost. you might be able to do it once/year and they will last for 10 years. but here is a mistake, that you fall into, a backup in external drives, is ALWAYS a short/mid term back up, It is NEVER A LONG TERM. For long term back up you need the king which is LTO (Linear Tape-Open) with LTO-9 standard of 2021 you can store up to 18TB in one cartridge or cassette, however you wanna call it. It is used by IBM, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, made by Fuji, Sony. This is what is called Archival Format. The drive is expensive, around 5,000 USD, but each tape is super cheap. The second best archival format, but is second by a long distance is Blu Ray M-Disc, the drive is cheap, around 50, 60 USD but the media is not as cheap as LTO in cost per TB.So this might be a great medium for archiving stuff like emails, photos and thats it. To archive article, I think the best is to use LTO.
Lots of great advice. Truthfully I wish I consistently use a hard drive to back up my main PC. Actually might get another 8TB or 14TB external Seagate to do the backups. But have not seen them at Costco for a while. Usually they have discounts there and Seagate supposedly offer a 3 year warranty on the device and data recovery. I DO NOT get sponsor by them or affiliate with them. I do image my main pc a few times a year. And just got a sturdy 10 hard drive container case so I can put a hard drive on an external enclosure, make the backups, remove the case and put the drive away for safety.
Way too complicated, the FIRST thing that counts is the type of interface in terms of speed, there are things like eSATA (6Gbit/sec), USB 3.0 (5Gbit/sec), USB-C 3.2 10 GBit/Sec. SECOND the type of HD such as M.2-SSD, mSATA-SSD, SATA-SSD or just the regular hard disks. THIRDLY, one can opt for the standard single external hard drive or a docking station (multiple use). In short, everyone has their own personal choice.