Best way to back up

I am sure that this subject has been discussed many times, but I couldn't find anything suitable to my situation.

I only use my internal HD for my apps, and downloading. I mostly used Ext HD. At the moment I have about 120 GB of dig images etc., and growing. I have 1-350 GB and 1-500 GB Ext. I also have a couple of old int HD that I'm put them into a case to use them as an Ext. HD. I have made extra copies to these old DR.

So here is my question. What is the best way to set up the primary Ext. HD. and how should I set up any other subsequent Ext HD as back up.

I am ambivalent relying too much on the couple old int HD, that now I'm using as Ext HD they have about 150 GB.

I am no interested in setting up a RAID system. I was also thinking getting a 1TB Ext Firewire HD, and using it as the primary Ext HD, and using the 500/350 as secondary back up. But I'm also looking for other options without the need to spend more $$ to buy another Ext HD.
:o

Another external hard drive.

It's good that you're not interested in RAID, because RAID is not a backup method. It's a redundancy method.

Thank you for correcting me, so since you know the difference do you have a suggestion????

I agree with jonnythan

External drives,. but do make it plural.

Yes.

Another external hard drive

External harddrive, USB connection for max portability and independence from the harddrive controller used for direct-wired harddrives, which change standard completely every few years! USB has been a bit more enduring than harddrive controller protocols.

I have decided to get a 1TB Ext Western Digital. I have read some reviews and they have been mixed.

I am wondering if anybody here has one and if so, what has been your experience.

I am wondering if you installed the software the came with it, or you are using a third party program to do the back up like SuperDuper (for Macs).

I am debating if I should format the Drive as FAT since I'd like to have access to the data in case of an emergency with my XP laptop. Altho, my primary computer is a Mac.

I'm aware of the limitations formatting as FAT drive you can only send files up to 4 GB. Are there any other limitations. I am also thinking of Partition this drive.

Any thoughts on this?

FAT32 should be fine.

I probably wouldn't use the software that comes with it. Microsoft's free Synctoy is all the backup tool I need.

on one is using online backups?

I use Apple's Sync program to backup to my external and it works just fine.

If you are only backing up picture files the 4GB per file limitation shouldn't really hinder you. Unless for whatever reason you have a Windows OS older than XP then you wouldn't be able to see more than 32GB of the drive.

I have my external formatted in OS X extended, but I couldn't tell you if it works on my PC I've never tried.

Using internal drives setup in RAID level 1 would also protect you from a mechanical hard drive failure. But in the event that software, for whatever reason, messes up the data then you will have 2 sets of messed up stuff.

I use Apple's Sync program to backup to my external and it works just fine.

If you are only backing up picture files the 4GB per file limitation shouldn't really hinder you. Unless for whatever reason you have a Windows OS older than XP then you wouldn't be able to see more than 32GB of the drive.

I am not familiar with Apply Synch, buy I used Super Duper a third party software.

I have my external formatted in OS X extended, but I couldn't tell you if it works on my PC I've never tried.

Using internal drives setup in RAID level 1 would also protect you from a mechanical hard drive failure. But in the event that software, for whatever reason, messes up the data then you will have 2 sets of messed up stuff.
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Yes, I'm only backing up pictures. I have formatted my Ext as Journal and my XP laptop didn't recognize the drives at all period.

Yes, RAID set up sounds intriguing but I think it's way off my league for me though.

I'm hoping to hear from others here that are using the same Ext HD and if possible if they are sharing the same drive with Mac OS and Windows.

If your primary system is an Apple, my recommendation is to use the 1TB drive partitioned into 3 logical disks as your backups for the 500GB, 300GB and the internal system drive. Use SuperDuper! or similar backup program to make clone copies of your work drives. With a Firewire attached external harddrive, you'll be able to boot off of the backup system drive should you lose your internal system drive and you'll be able to recover the internal system drive just as easily by doing a reverse backup (going from the backup to the internal drive). My Mac desktop computer is set up this way.

BTW, if you want to plug the external drives directly to the XP laptop, you'll need to format them as FAT32 as you suggested. But if it's fine to just connect the drives attached to the Mac via your internal network, then you can format the drives for the Mac file system.

yes, my primary computer is my Mac but as I said I just hand an experience when I had to send my Mac to replace the HD, I couldn't get access to the data using my XP laptop because I had all my Ext HD formatted as Journal for the Mac vs FAT 32.

BTW, if you want to plug the external drives directly to the XP laptop, you'll need to format them as FAT32 as you suggested. But if it's fine to just connect the drives attached to the Mac via your internal network, then you can format the drives for the Mac file system

Leo, I am bit confuse what you are saying here. So if I connect the drive to my Mac via my network I can format the drive for the file system. I had the understanding that I need to format the drive once, and I usually do it going into the Utility portion, so I need to make a decision to format it as FAT 32 or Journal before start using the Ext Dr.

Somebody suggested to use crossover cable with hub, is that doable too?

As far as Partition, so it sounds like you are in agreement with me to divided into 3 parts 500/300/?

I also learned that by using a back up program is the safest way. I used it before and then was able to use all the data as though I never had replaced the HD.

ione wrote in post #5760001
yes, my primary computer is my Mac but as I said I just hand an experience when I had to send my Mac to replace the HD, I couldn't get access to the data using my XP laptop because I had all my Ext HD formatted as Journal for the Mac vs FAT 32.

BTW, if you want to plug the external drives directly to the XP laptop, you'll need to format them as FAT32 as you suggested. But if it's fine to just connect the drives attached to the Mac via your internal network, then you can format the drives for the Mac file system

Leo, I am bit confuse what you are saying here. So if I connect the drive to my Mac via my network I can format the drive for the file system. I had the understanding that I need to format the drive once, and I usually do it going into the Utility portion, so I need to make a decision to format it as FAT 32 or Journal before start using the Ext Dr.

Somebody suggested to use crossover cable with hub, is that doable too?

As far as Partition, so it sounds like you are in agreement with me to divided into 3 parts 500/300/?

I also learned that by using a back up program is the safest way. I used it before and then was able to use all the data as though I never had replaced the HD.

What I meant by accessing the drive via the network is to have the external drives attached to the Mac. If both the XP laptop and the Mac desktop are attached to the same network, you can access the files on the external hard drive via the Mac. If the Mac is not turned on, though, you won't be able to access the external drives since it's the Mac that fetches the data from the external drive and passes it on to the laptop.

An external hard drive can only be attached and accessed to one system so you won't be able to use a hub to attach two systems to it.

You could use a NAS system that has RAID, or USB/firewire drives that has RAID. I find that RAID is essential if you really need security on what you have on the drive. I usually put important stuffs on a RAID 1+0 HDD on my server/desktop. Important but rarely accessed stuff on my NAS with RAID 1 and non-important stuffs on a regular USB drive.