Troubleshoot What is the best External Hard Drive to buy

[ItsReallyMe]

I'm looking to buy a External hard drive since my laptop's internel 1 TB hard drive getting full! what is the best brand,model etc?

 

[AlanOstaszewski]

Uh you've been asking a lot of questions lately No offense, but these are banal questions Google can answer. I bought an external hard drive from Transcend a long time ago. Still running today, but I don't use it much anymore. Today I use M-Discs, usb drives and especially internal WD gold hard drives.

Just buy any external hard drive, which is in the offer. Below I have linked you to my external hard drive and some others:
My hard drive (a newer model, but it doesn't make that much difference): StoreJet® 25M3

Recommendation of other:
My Passport - Portable Hard Drive | Western Digital (WD)

 

[LASER_oneXM]

hi

i'm currently using external toshiba drives to backup my three laptops. Here in germany toshiba has a quite good reputation on popular computer boards therefore 1-2 years ago i decided to use/buy drives from toshiba only.

Currently i'm using this extrnal drives to backup all my laptops (2,5 inches):
*) Toshiba Canvio Alu 1TB
*) Toshiba Canvio Basics 2 TB
*) Toshiba Canvio Basics 1 TB

.. also running a 'big' external drive with 3,5 inches: Toshiba Canvio 2TB

Another very reliable manufacturer of harddrives is: HGST.

 

[ItsReallyMe]

External hard drive or portable hard drive is better? Is seagate hard drives good?

 

[vtqhtr413]

Make sure it's USB 3.0

 

[AlanOstaszewski]

External hard drive or portable hard drive is better?

That's the same.

And yes. Seagate hard drives are very good.

 

[LASER_oneXM]

... a discussion about best drives (on bleepingcomputer.com, date: september 2017)
Best hard drive manufacturer? - Internal Hardware


...and a link from POST #11:
2017 Hard Drive Reliability By Manufacturer and Model

 

[AtlBo]

If you want to go USB look into the Western Digital My Book USB backup drives. If you get one of the dual drive setups they can be set up to mirror so you will have 2 copies of your data. One goes bad, replace it, and the data will be auto restored to the new replacement drive. How cool is that?

 

[BigWrench]

I use WD my passport ultras. I believe all are 2TB. Only 1 of 4 is set up to 3.0 USB, sadly. (MUCH faster) Have had Acronis backing up to them for years. No problems or issues whatsoever.

 

[DavidLMO]

I have used Western Digital drives for several decades. While to some it is personal preference Check the Reliability link above.

FWIW, my first was a $3,000 40 MB installed on an IBM AT.

I currently use an older 1 TB external. If your machine has USB 3 port - be sure to get a 3.0 USB HD. If not, you can get a card real cheap to add 3.0 ports. Much faster than 2.0.

 

[CMLew]

I usually wait for Amazon deals where I could get external HD or SSD.
Just look out for USB 3.0 version.

 

[zzz00m]

External hard drive or portable hard drive is better? Is seagate hard drives good?

External or portable? In my experience portable means a slimmer design, usually based on a laptop 2.5" design without a power supply. It is USB powered.

I have both kinds, but I now prefer the portables, in the USB3 flavor.

Examples:

Western Digital MyBook = external 3.5" drive with power adapter. My Book - External Hard Drive | Western Digital (WD)
Western Digital Elements = portable 2.5" drive USB powered. WD Elements Portable – Hard Drive | Western Digital (WD)

 

[Faybert]

I've always had the Samsung and Seagate, over the years never gave me problems.