Windows 10: Please recommend an external HDD

Hello. I am interested in an external hard drive primarily for storing disk images and thats about it pretty much. I hardly use the space on my main OS drive. Im looking for something reliable. Any idea? Thanks!


if it helps, my PC is windows 10 64bit with 3 or 4 USB 3.0 connections etc..

:)

 

Windows10 unable to recognise external (USB) HDD (WD My Book 4TB)

Windows10 unable to recognise external (USB) HDD (WD My Book 4TB) - however, I'm able to see all files from a Linux machine i have on same HDD... I dont want to lose my content on the external HDD by reformatting etc. Please help.

 

Cloning an external HDD

Hello Sumit, Thanks for your reply.

Right now I have my HDD only as external connected as USB

Can I clone it directly on other PC and still be able to recover

Some software I installed? Also if you say not to clone the C partiría you mean the OS part?

Thanks.

 

I have 3 Hard drive docks like this one Amazon.com: Thermaltake BlacX Duet eSATA USB Dual Hard Drives Docking Station ST0014U: Electronics

I use an internal hard drive in it. You can use any internal hard drive and swap them out very easily.

 

I use an external USB 3.0 1TB Toshiba. Ive used it for over the last year and its been rock solid.

 

thank you, essenbe. however i do not own those drives and do not need a docking station.

 

thanks. can you tell me the model or link to it? i prefer amazon usually

 

I use this tower/case, VANTEC NexStar HX4R NST-640S3R-BK Aluminum / Plastic 3.5" Black SATA I/II/III USB 3.0 & eSATA Quad Bay RAID HDD Enclosure-Newegg.com With these drives, WD Blue 6TB Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD60EZRZ-Newegg.com

Been using this setup for a couple of years now. I change drives every 18 months to 2 years or so, staggering the replacement time. I then connect the tower via USB3 on the rear of the board. I get fast transfer rates, and haven't had a single issue once connected and setup.

The drives are hot swappable and it can accommodate up to 4 drives as your needs change. I don't know what the max drive size is, but I have 2 6TB drives in there now in JBOD as I use them for different things.

 

If you have a Wireless Router and don't want to tie the Notebook/Laptop down you could use a NAS/Network Attached Storage device plugged into the Router via an Ethernet cable. I use 2 WDC MyCloud 2TB drives, can access files on them from Windows, macOS Sierra and Linux Mint by just Mapping the Public Folder on them from within files Explorer.

 

holy cow man, not something that massive. but ty

 

ill prob spend $50 on amazon and get a WD HDD

 

You can put whatever size drives you want in it. I'd rather have the expansion available when I need it than have to buy again later. However depending on how you use your PC, my setup may indeed be Overkill.

Good luck with your search.

 

It takes all sorts, and some on this forum are really serious about their backups. *Smile

For more modest ambitions, a USB HDD from a major maker will do fine. I (now) have 3 Toshibas and a WD My Passport. All have been reliable (well, until I dropped one of the Toshibas while it was running, and apart from some bad blocks that chkdsk found and marked that's still running too).

That will probably do nicely. For added security, consider getting two, then either copy your images to the second one as a backup, or alternate which disk you make the images on.

 

Toshiba Canvio is my store bought USB drive.

 

I just use the basic Seagate Expansion portable drives (USB 3.0) and they have been fine.