Topic: New HDD

[DJ Doena]

My old external HDD was getting full. I had only 30 GB left from that 1TB.

So I want to the store yesterday and bought me a new 2TB HDD for 89€.

It should last for a while (not forever though ).

[Achim]

Looks nice.

But... you bought only one?

[DJ Doena]

But... you bought only one?

If I need a new HDD the next time, I probably get 8 or 16TB for the same money...

[goodguy]

It should last for a while (not forever though ).

Especially if you read the comments on the product page you linked to. 

[RossRoy]

It should last for a while (not forever though ).

Especially if you read the comments on the product page you linked to. 

I can reassure you a little. We've had 2 of those (1TB variety) for almost a year now, and they are both chugging along nicely. Granted I don't leave them plugged in all the time, only during backups they are online, but still, they're working great so far!

[DJ Doena]

It should last for a while (not forever though ).

Especially if you read the comments on the product page you linked to. 

*gulp*

So far I've always bought WD "My Book"s and had never any trouble. Unfortunately the 2TB My Book was sold out.

We'll see... *fingers crossed*

[Achim]

But... you bought only one?

If I need a new HDD the next time, I probably get 8 or 16TB for the same money...

I was referring to backup... I usually buy them in pairs for backup.

Then again nowadays we have to upgrade faster than the time the existing device usually heeds to break down.

[Halo2]

I have 2 of the 1TB ones as well. I use one at work and it is on 24/5, off over the weekend. The one I use at home is on 24/7. I've been using them for about 6 months now and have not had any issues. I use them for file storage. In the case of the one at work, I have a lot of drivers and maintenance manuals on it and it is shared out with other techs. It is read from daily and I add data to it about once or twice a week. The one at home is used for video/audio/picture storage and streaming as well as one place I keep backups. Having almost lost 10 years worth of pictures once, I now have backups on at least four separate drives/locations. Yes, I'm paranoid. But, working as a tech, I know all equipment fails eventually. It is just a matter of where your equipment is on the bell curve.

[DJ Doena]

I was referring to backup...

What I store on these discs is backed up on the internet anyway. 

[Achim]

What I store on these discs is backed up on the internet anyway. 

[Blair]

I've never used (as in owning for myself) an external drive. I've always burned everything not needing to be edited to CDs and DVDs with extra copies of the really important stuff (all of my photos and videos) stored in a safety deposit box.

I've always been a sticker for copies of that fashion.

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I've never used (as in owning for myself) an external drive. I've always burned everything not needing to be edited to CDs and DVDs with extra copies of the really important stuff (all of my photos and videos) stored in a safety deposit box.

I've always been a sticker for copies of that fashion.

Normal CD- and DVD-blanks are next to 3.5" diskettes about the worst thinkable media for backups. The data foil here normally lies unprotected over the carrier (yes, the silver foil you write the content-description on is the data foil), and therefore is unprotected against mechanical damages and/or corrosion. Depending on the mechanical stress data is secure from 0 seconds to about 1.5 years.

Higher priced backup-blanks have the data-foil covered air-tight inside the carrier. Depending on the specification the manufacturers here guarantee up to 10 years of data-security.

[kahless]

I can confirm that CD and DVD is the worst possible solution to make backups. I had to throw away many CD's (about 5-8 years old) and some DVD's (about 3 years old) because those discs where unreadable. I could see that the dye was partially released from the surface of the discs. Since then I have an external HD (1TB) and a system with 2 different HD's. Not perfect but more reliable!

[Najemikon]

I'm seriously thinking about cloud backups. The Windows Messenger Sky Drive(?) is about 25gb and lots of others have at least a couple of gig free. But then I heard about Carbonite and apparently for about £40, they're unlimited...

[Blair]

What can I say. I've never had a problem with them... even the 10-year-old ones that have been trampled to death. I used one as a coaster (on top of a coaster since alone it isn't exactly helpful in keeping water off of a desk with that huge hole in the middle ) for 3 years as a test because of receiving comments like that and had no problems reading any of the data during any test.

Maybe I just have really good luck.