Windows 10: Backing up to a external hard drive

After reading about ransomware etc. it got me wondering about backing up my information to an external hard drive. It would serve double duty in the event of a drive failure or the unlikely event of ransom ware.

I've never used an external drive for backup so I have a few questions.
I imagine I would need to connect the external drive, and start the backup process manually then disconnect the external drive. Sounds like a pain: connecting and disconnecting each day, but if I leave it connected won't the external drive get corrupted along with my regular drive?

Is there an easy way especially to leave the external drive connected ?

:)

 

Backing up windows 10 to external hard drive via usb

My windows 10 uses File History in backup process. I have an external hard drive connected by USB. It fails to back up with message re Shadow copy.

What is the exact procedure both for effective backup by schedule and immediate command?

 

Backing up windows 10 to external hard drive via usb

As File History and Backups have been deprecated in Windows, I suggest you to switch to a 3rd party Software like Macrium reflect:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/61026-backu...

If that fails too please let us know.

 

I've got one of these installed:
Kingwin KF-255-BK 2.5"/3.5" Internal Tray-Less Hot Swap Rack

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...=Y&sku=1083175





You can just leave a hard drive plugged into it and turn off the power with the button when not in use.

 

I have the same question as OP?

For me connecting external drive means I can use scheduling in tools like File History / Macrium to make back up / system image without me having to remember to connect / turn on my external drive.

Look forward to some replies on this.

 

Schedule a Reflect backup for your desired period and ensure you tick the box "If missed then run at next startup" (see screenshot). You can then leave your external drive disconnected and the backup should run when you connect the drive and a scheduled backup has been missed when you start your PC. Else you can just right click the backup definition file and select Run Now.

 

Your question is a good one. Whilst it is unlikely the external drive will be affected, risk is not zero. Disconnecting is safest way.

A pragmatic solution is to have two external drives, and keep one online, and connect other weekly, and copy backup files to second drive. Thus only in unlikely event online drive gets 'ransomed', you only lose at most one weeks data.

 

There are lots of options available when it comes to external drives. I my self have an 6Tb WD My Cloud MIrror and have installed Uranium-backup which automatically makes a backup at a time and frequency I choose.

Since you have a 250Gb drive, you won't need that much of storage. So here are some ideas:

• WD 2TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive - USB 3.0 - WDBWLG0020HBK-EESN: Amazon.co.uk: Computers Accessories

• WD 1TB Blue-Black My Passport Ultra Metal Edition Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0 - WDBTYH0010BBA-EESN: Amazon.co.uk: Computers Accessories

• Toshiba Canvio Connect II 1TB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5 Inch USB 3.0 - Blue - HDTC810EL3AA: Amazon.co.uk: Computers Accessories

• WD My Passport 1 TB Portable Hard Drive and Auto Backup Software for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 - Red: Amazon.co.uk: Computers Accessories

 

Op was not asking what to buy but whether it is a good idea to leave it online all the time.

 

I would think mounting the volume, running the back-up task, then dismounting the drive would be the way to go ... some scripting ideas here: windows - Mount and dismount hard drive through a script/software - Super User

 

Is that 100% guaranteed e.g. could a nasty virus re-mount volumes - it seems to me if a person can do it, so can a virus ?

Of course no virus can infect a totally disconnected device.

 

Do you change data so much that you would need daily backups? I do mine about once per week. Plug it in, run a robocopy job which only copies the changes, and disconnect.

Also, suggest keeping 2 external hard drives. This way if you do accidentally copy to one of them, and later discover a problem you still have the other one.

And if possible, keep 1 of those external drives offsite. This way if your house burns down, you don't lose your original and your backup at the same time.

 

I do daily imaging. I use a USB3 docking station similar to this one.

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Exter...rive+enclosure

Takes only a few minutes with a standard SATA3 (2.5 or 3.5) drive in the dock.

Simply power on, do backup imaging, gracefully eject, and power down.

 

Getting back to the OP's initial question, I believe I read somewhere that the latest Ransom ware will search and encrypt files on all drives that are attached to a given system when it infects a system. I really would not want any recovery/backup drives attached. I always turn off my backup drives when not in use.

 

Reading more and more it has me thinking do I want to save everything or just specific files. I see where some software allows you to view and restore specific files rather than everything, but at the same time rather than reloading Win 10 from disc, and all the time consuming updates a complete restore from a backup sure would save time.

Some things I have ruled out are :
I don't want a subscription based service.
I don't want to save to the cloud.

Things I am thinking about are:
Do I really need to backup each day ?

I did like the poste by Steve C. with the option to back up "if missed then run at next start up"

Steve what is that option event under Frequency ?