Internal or External drive for back-ups?

Me wrote:
"JAD" wrote in message
...
"Crackles McFarly" wrote in message
...
I want to be able to backup less than 80GB of data including basically
a mirror image so as to avoid re-installing the OS and other things.

Should I go with a cheap internal 80-ish GB hard drive OR an external
drive that is NEAR 80gb????

I know the Internal ones are cheaper but sometimes cheaper isn't the
best as we all know.

thanks

'External' is the only way to go for backing up. otherwise your NOT
backing up, your just copying the drive for later potential failure. I
really don't like to use hard drives for backups, but since the advent of
GIGS of data, it becomes a necessity.


External is the only ???

Yes. Otherwise your data is only copied, not backed up.


why not an 80+ gig added to a vacant connector internal SATA or IDE. No case
cost then.

If a PSU failure, power surge, theft, etc occur what happens to that
other internal drive and your data?

Ari


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"Crackles McFarly" wrote in message
...
I want to be able to backup less than 80GB of data including basically
a mirror image so as to avoid re-installing the OS and other things.

Should I go with a cheap internal 80-ish GB hard drive OR an external
drive that is NEAR 80gb????

I know the Internal ones are cheaper but sometimes cheaper isn't the
best as we all know.

thanks

Why on earth would someone use an internal HD for backups?

On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:51:50 -0800, "Timothy Daniels"
sayd the following:

"Crackles McFarly" wrote:
I want to be able to backup less than 80GB of data including basically
a mirror image so as to avoid re-installing the OS and other things.

Should I go with a cheap internal 80-ish GB hard drive OR an external
drive that is NEAR 80gb????

I know the Internal ones are cheaper but sometimes cheaper isn't the
best as we all know.

thanks


You don't say whether the HDs are PATA or SATA. If they are
SATA, you can use eSATA connections with an external enclosure
to turn any SATA HD into an external HD. Data transfer is faster
than USB 2.0, and you can boot from the external HD in an
emergency if it contains a clone of the OS. You would then have
the safety of a removable HD with the speed and bootability of an
internal HD. Kingwin makes such an enclosure for eSATA:
http://kingwin.com/product_pages/z135eu_bk.asp
Check Nextag.com and PriceGrabber.com for prices using the
model no. as the search term. PriceGrabber lists retailers asking
$28-$30 for them.

Of course, the same could be done with a "removable caddy"
or "mobile rack", but it requires the use of a 5 1/2" expansion bay.
Just slide in the tray holding the HD whenever you want to use it.
Kingwin also makes an extensive line of such equipment:
http://kingwin.com/mobileracks.asp . Search online again for
"street prices".

When you make a clone (an exact sector-for-sector copy
of an entire partition), don't start up the OS on that clone for the
first run while the original OS's HD is still connected. After the
first run is made, you can shut down and re-connect the "parent"
OS's HD, and the clone OS can view its "parent" with no problems.
The reverse, the "parent" OS seeing its clone before the clone
is run for the first time, is OK.

*TimDaniels*



Did not know this...thanks

In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt "JAD" wrote:


"Crackles McFarly" wrote in message
.. .
I want to be able to backup less than 80GB of data including basically
a mirror image so as to avoid re-installing the OS and other things.

Should I go with a cheap internal 80-ish GB hard drive OR an external
drive that is NEAR 80gb????

I know the Internal ones are cheaper but sometimes cheaper isn't the
best as we all know.

thanks


'External' is the only way to go for backing up. otherwise your NOT backing up, your just
copying the drive for later potential failure. I really don't like to use hard drives for
backups, but since the advent of GIGS of data, it becomes a necessity.


Um ... An internal drive will do just as well for backup as an external
one; and it's cheaper.

Whether you're backing-up or copying mainly depends on your personal
definition of what each is, and how often you do it. If often and
automatic, it has the advantage of your latest stuff being saved. OTOH,
it also means that often you might be saving the mistakes and crap that
happened before you noticed.

*Proper* backup would require at least one external drive and one to two
*other* drives (or partitions) which could be either internal or
external. For complete safety, you need at least *two* external drives,
and preferably two other drives (or partitions) which could be internal.

Back up changes to one of the second sets as often as possible.
Back up all changes in another at a periodic rate (say every day or at
least every week).
Back up *everything* in one of the external drives at least once a week
(If you have room, you can do it in one or more partitions on that
drive.) Take that drive *off location* to someplace safe, and rotate it
with another drive that you keep there; bringing back the old backup
drive for the next time.
If you have the drives (or partitions) to spare, also make local backups
of everything at the same periodic rate ... Then you don't have to go
off-site to get the last backup.

That, of course, is for the really paranoid.
*I* just backup things changed to another internal drive which is used
for nothing else ... Pretty much just as secure as an external drive and
faster. However, the external drive does have the advantage of being
much easier to get stuff off of when using another system if things go
wrong with your main one. Just plug it in; no cabling and opening
cases. It also has the (minor) safety feature of having its own
power-supply (but sometimes that's a disadvantage as well.)

--
_____
/ ' / â„¢
,-/-, __ __. ____ /_
(_/ / (_(_/|_/ / _/ _

On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:39:25 -0800, "Timothy Daniels"
sayd the following:

I still don't know what your exact situation is,


I have less than 80 gb of info on my master drive.
I want to clone an exact copy of all the data to another drive in case
this drive fails.
In other words, clone it so that I can hook up that drive and boot as
though nothing ever happened.

And for real, about 80gb is all I need now.

Crackles McFarly wrote:
On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:39:25 -0800, "Timothy Daniels"
sayd the following:


I still don't know what your exact situation is,



I have less than 80 gb of info on my master drive.
I want to clone an exact copy of all the data to another drive in case
this drive fails.
In other words, clone it so that I can hook up that drive and boot as
though nothing ever happened.

And for real, about 80gb is all I need now.



Hi,

You can try Terabyte Unlimited's CopyWipe (it's free):

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/copywipe.php

Jim

"Frank McCoy" wrote in message
...
In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt "JAD" wrote:


"Crackles McFarly" wrote in message
. ..
I want to be able to backup less than 80GB of data including basically
a mirror image so as to avoid re-installing the OS and other things.

Should I go with a cheap internal 80-ish GB hard drive OR an external
drive that is NEAR 80gb????

I know the Internal ones are cheaper but sometimes cheaper isn't the
best as we all know.

thanks


'External' is the only way to go for backing up. otherwise your NOT backing up, your
just
copying the drive for later potential failure. I really don't like to use hard drives
for
backups, but since the advent of GIGS of data, it becomes a necessity.


Um ... An internal drive will do just as well for backup as an external
one; and it's cheaper.


Um...no its not....and cheaper when backing up your data,,,is sick reasoning..cheaper yet,
get a used harddrive from the second hand store.....

Whether you're backing-up or copying mainly depends on your personal
definition of what each is, and how often you do it. If often and
automatic, it has the advantage of your latest stuff being saved. OTOH,
it also means that often you might be saving the mistakes and crap that
happened before you noticed.

*Proper* backup would require at least one external drive and one to two
*other* drives (or partitions) which could be either internal or
external. For complete safety, you need at least *two* external drives,
and preferably two other drives (or partitions) which could be internal.

flip-flop


Back up changes to one of the second sets as often as possible.
Back up all changes in another at a periodic rate (say every day or at
least every week).
Back up *everything* in one of the external drives at least once a week
(If you have room, you can do it in one or more partitions on that
drive.) Take that drive *off location* to someplace safe, and rotate it
with another drive that you keep there; bringing back the old backup
drive for the next time.
If you have the drives (or partitions) to spare, also make local backups
of everything at the same periodic rate ... Then you don't have to go
off-site to get the last backup.

That, of course, is for the really paranoid.
*I* just backup things changed to another internal drive which is used
for nothing else ... Pretty much just as secure as an external drive and
faster. However, the external drive does have the advantage of being
much easier to get stuff off of when using another system if things go
wrong with your main one. Just plug it in; no cabling and opening
cases. It also has the (minor) safety feature of having its own
power-supply (but sometimes that's a disadvantage as well.)

--
_____
/ ' / T
,-/-, __ __. ____ /_
(_/ / (_(_/|_/ / _/ _

In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt "JAD" wrote:


"Frank McCoy" wrote in message
.. .
In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt "JAD" wrote:


"Crackles McFarly" wrote in message
...
I want to be able to backup less than 80GB of data including basically
a mirror image so as to avoid re-installing the OS and other things.

Should I go with a cheap internal 80-ish GB hard drive OR an external
drive that is NEAR 80gb????

I know the Internal ones are cheaper but sometimes cheaper isn't the
best as we all know.

thanks


'External' is the only way to go for backing up. otherwise your NOT backing up, your
just
copying the drive for later potential failure. I really don't like to use hard drives
for
backups, but since the advent of GIGS of data, it becomes a necessity.


Um ... An internal drive will do just as well for backup as an external
one; and it's cheaper.


Um...no its not....and cheaper when backing up your data,,,is sick reasoning..cheaper yet,
get a used harddrive from the second hand store.....

I'm talking cheaper for the same security; and that means a NEW drive.
Stop putting up straw-men.

Whether you're backing-up or copying mainly depends on your personal
definition of what each is, and how often you do it. If often and
automatic, it has the advantage of your latest stuff being saved. OTOH,
it also means that often you might be saving the mistakes and crap that
happened before you noticed.

*Proper* backup would require at least one external drive and one to two
*other* drives (or partitions) which could be either internal or
external. For complete safety, you need at least *two* external drives,
and preferably two other drives (or partitions) which could be internal.

flip-flop

Nope.
Just saying that if you want *proper* backup, it has to be done
*OFF-SITE* every once in a while, with exchanges done between the
off-site backup and the local one, if not write-once media. You need
either removable media or removable drives for that.

However, a person backing up and keeping the drive locally, might as
well use an internal drive; since it's there anyway and subject to the
same hazards. Possibly even *more* hazards for the external drive, as
it isn't protected inside the computer case. Hazards like being knocked
over, knocked off a shelf, kicked, spillage, being accidentally
unplugged, etc.


Back up changes to one of the second sets as often as possible.
Back up all changes in another at a periodic rate (say every day or at
least every week).
Back up *everything* in one of the external drives at least once a week
(If you have room, you can do it in one or more partitions on that
drive.) Take that drive *off location* to someplace safe, and rotate it
with another drive that you keep there; bringing back the old backup
drive for the next time.
If you have the drives (or partitions) to spare, also make local backups
of everything at the same periodic rate ... Then you don't have to go
off-site to get the last backup.

That, of course, is for the really paranoid.
*I* just backup things changed to another internal drive which is used
for nothing else ... Pretty much just as secure as an external drive and
faster. However, the external drive does have the advantage of being
much easier to get stuff off of when using another system if things go
wrong with your main one. Just plug it in; no cabling and opening
cases. It also has the (minor) safety feature of having its own
power-supply (but sometimes that's a disadvantage as well.)


--
_____
/ ' / â„¢
,-/-, __ __. ____ /_
(_/ / (_(_/|_/ / _/ _

In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt Crackles McFarly
wrote:

On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:39:25 -0800, "Timothy Daniels"
sayd the following:

I still don't know what your exact situation is,


I have less than 80 gb of info on my master drive.
I want to clone an exact copy of all the data to another drive in case
this drive fails.
In other words, clone it so that I can hook up that drive and boot as
though nothing ever happened.

And for real, about 80gb is all I need now.

You'll actually pay MORE for a new 80gig drive right now than one over
twice or three times that size. Yes, really!

So buy the bigger drive and use it for three different backups.
Then rotate.

--
_____
/ ' / â„¢
,-/-, __ __. ____ /_
(_/ / (_(_/|_/ / _/ _

On Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:27:53 -0600, Frank McCoy
sayd the following:

In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt Crackles McFarly
wrote:

On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:39:25 -0800, "Timothy Daniels"
sayd the following:

I still don't know what your exact situation is,


I have less than 80 gb of info on my master drive.
I want to clone an exact copy of all the data to another drive in case
this drive fails.
In other words, clone it so that I can hook up that drive and boot as
though nothing ever happened.

And for real, about 80gb is all I need now.

You'll actually pay MORE for a new 80gig drive right now than one over
twice or three times that size. Yes, really!

So buy the bigger drive and use it for three different backups.
Then rotate.

So buy a 160GB+ internal and clone the drive I have now?