Hard Disk Drive Enclosure Question?

Question

Can I use a HDD that I installed in an external enclosure as my "back-up" disk for my important information like "my documents" and "my pictures" by just doing a "copy and paste" of my important information (taking it from my computers hdd and putting it on my external hdd which is in the external enclosure?

I've already done this, but now I'm wondering if it will serve me if and when I need to install this "backup" data on another hard disk drive (if my computer hdd should crash and need to be replaced).

If this works, why do we need these fancy software programs that do it automatically like Acronis and Ghost? I don't mind doing the copy and paste routine every month....if it will allow me to access and transfer the information when the time comes?

Answer 1

Other programs like ghost and acronis can backup your ENTIRE drive, including the OS, software, etc etc giving you a drive you can simply just pop into the machine when the original fails.
You are only backing up your data, no programs, no OS, you'd have a lot of work to do to get back up and running if your main drive died.
Acronis has the added advantage of being able to sore and retrieve your drive image from a network drive by simply booting off the CD. This is a good option if you have a large server with lots of space to put the images of the other systems.
That way if a drive fails, replace it, stick in the CD, choose the image on the server, and let it do it's thing.
Once it's done, you have a fully functional system!
THIS is when you would use the most recent backup of documents etc from your external drive.
This is because chances are you have updated your documents since your last complete system backup.

Answer 2

I propose an outside HD, chiefly the Seagate Freeagent 500 GB or a million TB ($89 or $129) in view that they use a brand new layout to face upright, now not horizontally. I omit the science identify, it is on their internet site. They have the longest guarantee, five years. I possess a number of, they have got been crisis unfastened for over a million yr. There are a few little main points to be aware of, such as you have got to be definite you correctly eliminate it (dismount) from the procedure tray, and sometimes the force isn't readable, however no knowledge is misplaced. The worst I can say is I had a million fail. It had eighty gb on it, and it all was once misplaced. It was once cutting-edge. I do not know what occurred. Of direction, I took it international which it whilst it failed. It was once a Seagate Freeagent, however none others have failed. Sorry to proportion that tale, which would scare you, however I might instead be sincere. The Freeagents also are quieter than the Western Digital MyBook's and they will generate much less warmth.

Answer 3

I propose an outside HD, particularly the Seagate Freeagent 500 GB or 1 TB ($89 or $129) due to the fact that they use a brand new design to stand upright, now not horizontally. I overlook the technological know-how identify, it is on their website. They've the longest warranty, 5 years. I possess a few, they've been concern free for over 1 12 months. There are some little details to take into accout of, like you have got to be sure you safely dispose of it (dismount) from the approach tray, and infrequently the drive isn't readable, but no data is misplaced. The worst i will say is I had 1 fail. It had 80 gb on it, and all of it was misplaced. It was once manufacturer new. I don't know what happened. Of direction, I took it abroad which it when it failed. It was a Seagate Freeagent, but none others have failed. Sorry to share that story, which could scare you, but i would as an alternative be sincere. The Freeagents are additionally quieter than the Western Digital MyBook's and they are going to generate much less heat.

Answer 4

If copying and pasting of important data is not a burden to you then this is just fine and will save you a lot of $$$ when your main drive fails...

In network world, you are more or less doing an offsite backup of data which is a good practice so far. Never mind backing up your OS and application if your have the emergency disk. Data is the most important for us in this industry. When the main office is on fire or the data being comprimised, rest assured that your important data is always there.

Answer 5

Copy and paste works fine. The fancy software, if set up correctly, never forgets to copy or gets too busy doing other things, which people do.

If the disks are sized accordingly, the software could easily backup more files than you would care to do manually, in fact the whole disk if you have space.

Answer 6

This will work fine for saving photos and documents as long as you remember to move each one, every time. A program backs up your entire disk including the operating system so if your main disk crashes all can be recovered and running.

With the way you are doing it, if your system crashed you would have to reload all your programs and your windows OS and then recover your pics and stuff from the other disk

Answer 7

ghost does all the back up without manually copying and pasting all your files, it does all the work for you. you can install the backup data in a new hdd if you copied the full installer files (e.g. exe files)

Answer 8

Yes you can! Yep, it'll work. if you wanted to redo your PC say reformat and "Clean" install Windows XP you can and then run a program with in XP called file and settigns transfer ... kewl huh?

Smart Computing is a great Computer information Magazine/website or Tom's Hardware

Answer 9

no, copying and pasting to the drive is fine, the programs just do it automatically for you to save time and accuracy

Answer 10

Use Ghost. It is a total solution provider