[SOLVED] Looking to buy a backup drive. Spec questions.

kenmtb

Honorable
Jun 1, 2017
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10,530
Hi
I am looking to get a backup drive for my Dell Inspiration 3650 1TB /149GB used. It is a home PC with mostly personal files, data files and not a lot of photos. I am still confused about how much space you really need.

  1. If I backed up an image, would I need a 1TB backup drive or is there some kind of compression?
  2. If I backed up individual files along with the image, would they be compressed also?
  3. Should I just get a 4TB unit like a WD easystore?

Thanks
 
Solution
I just got an 8TB Seagate external drive for $140.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CQJBSQL
Hard to justify a smaller drive at that price.

And whatever you get, don't use their built in "backup" thing.
Use something like Macrium Reflect. You have much more control, and it doesn't care about what drive you use.

A cut down version of this procedure will work well with a single external drive:

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
I just got an 8TB Seagate external drive for $140.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CQJBSQL
Hard to justify a smaller drive at that price.

And whatever you get, don't use their built in "backup" thing.
Use something like Macrium Reflect. You have much more control, and it doesn't care about what drive you use.

A cut down version of this procedure will work well with a single external drive:
 
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Solution

kenmtb

Honorable
Jun 1, 2017
30
0
10,530
Makes sense. Is 8TB for people who store a lot of photos or music?
I wouldn't mind getting one that big if the drive would be around until I need that much storage.
Chances are, I would just do simple scheduled image backups and backups of important items between image backups.
 
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