Windows 10: Suggestions for external backup solution

I hope this is the right section. A bit unsure where this question would be best posed. I have (very shamefully) been manually backing up all my work files for pretty much ever. Many years ago, at home solutions just seemed to be.... bad. Haha. Not purposeless and I am sure better than nothing but I tried a few and they were a train wreck. Mismatched files in wrong locations everywhere. I would change or update files and they weren't being backed up, seemingly because I think that the software thought it already did. But, it has been a long time since the days of windows vista and I would be shocked if things are still that crazy. This also means I am out of practice.

I am hoping for some suggestions for an external backup hard drive that can meet a few needs of mine. I also am open to alternative software if you think that maybe a hard drive is good but there is better software to use. I want to be clear. I am not incapable of google searching this, but enough articles with bold text saying "BEST DRIVE TO BUY IN 2021!!!" with multiple authors from the same blog contradicting each other doesn't give me confidence. I am hoping for first hand accounts, ideas of why you do or don't like certain options, little quirky features that get you really excited, etc.

Basically I need it to:

• Be compatible with Windows
• Be at least 4tb,
• Be stable and independent of my machine so if something were to happen to my computer I can trust it didn't completely screw me over,
• Have some sort of automatic backup feature whether it is scheduled nightly or real time, or something so I can pretty much forget about it,
• Preferably the drive and software (if separate from what is included with the drive) will be under $150, but that is a soft number and I have a bit of wiggle room if the suggestion is just that great.
• Network features are certainly cool as I have multiple machines, but not really a NEED per se

I really appreciate all of your help!

:)

 

Suggestions for external backup solution

I hope this is the right section. A bit unsure where this question would be best posed. I have (very shamefully) been manually backing up all my work files for pretty much ever. Many years ago, at home solutions just seemed to be.... bad. Haha. Not purposeless and I am sure better than nothing but I tried a few and they were a train wreck. Mismatched files in wrong locations everywhere. I would change or update files and they weren't being backed up, seemingly because I think that the software thought it already did. But, it has been a long time since the days of windows vista and I would be shocked if things are still that crazy. This also means I am out of practice.

I am hoping for some suggestions for an external backup hard drive that can meet a few needs of mine. I also am open to alternative software if you think that maybe a hard drive is good but there is better software to use. I want to be clear. I am not incapable of google searching this, but enough articles with bold text saying "BEST DRIVE TO BUY IN 2021!!!" with multiple authors from the same blog contradicting each other doesn't give me confidence. I am hoping for first hand accounts, ideas of why you do or don't like certain options, little quirky features that get you really excited, etc.

Basically I need it to:

• Be compatible with Windows
• Be at least 4tb,
• Be stable and independent of my machine so if something were to happen to my computer I can trust it didn't completely screw me over,
• Have some sort of automatic backup feature whether it is scheduled nightly or real time, or something so I can pretty much forget about it,
• Preferably the drive and software (if separate from what is included with the drive) will be under $150, but that is a soft number and I have a bit of wiggle room if the suggestion is just that great.
• Network features are certainly cool as I have multiple machines, but not really a NEED per se

I really appreciate all of your help!

 

Need a Backup Solution

Automatic backup

newtekie1 helped alot with what he suggested. Been using it for almost 2 weeks now works awesome.

 

Suggestions for external backup solution

This is an awesome reply. Thank you for taking the time! Yeah, I work both at home and remote and frequently have to share source files for large portions of my work with colleagues and clients, so keeping an internet backup is good, and the manual backups are a great counter part, but what I mean by verbose is, I dont want to manually be backing up daily, so I do it every couple weeks at best to couple months at worst and I would like something that can just sorta double down on that. This is more of a backup backup system just in case my manual and web backups are A) fail or B) are too inconvenient. As we both mentioned, if I need to download 2tb of data thats a long download, and if I need to do it from another country, well, thats probably even longer. I will take a look at the software and hardware you suggested. I am open to more suggestions if anyone has any but that was a HUGE huge help.

As for some of your other questions. I have a couple hard drives that I use acronis (never failed me yet) to clone my C drive to in rotation so I always have 2 dates of backup. The oldest gets overwritten at some point. The exception is one other drive that I keep a clone of with my core applications and things already installed should I need to go back to a relatively "clean" state with my essentials. In terms of insurance, my renters insurance covers my workstation. Not a warranty. Built it myself so no singular warranty but it was easy enough to just adjust my coverage to handle power surges and compensate the value of my computer into the policy. Just need to use surge protectors but I have a power conditioner/surge protector that I think for sake of inconvenience has me a LITTLE more protected. You dont have to hear thunder here for the lights to flicker. I dont know why but the power in our area is super spotty. I have not had the power go out yet in the time I have lived here, but I have had all my devices turn off and turn back on. I am (knock on wood) shocked that literally nothing in my home has been damaged yet from it but I try not to count my chickens... The city hasn't done anything about the power issue in our area so anything could happen. Thats digressing a bit but in short, the data is what matters. Replacing my computer would be a HUGE inconvenience but what I do is not cheap and I would rather not be the one shelling out the dough because the city cant keep their power consistent.