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External Hard Drive recommendations?

QuiltyMom

QuiltyMom

I'll never run out of things to do!
Joined
Feb 3, 2012
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I'm needing to purchase another EHD. I currently have a portable WD My Passport ultra, and I've been fine with it. I've had two desktop ones that have died on me, so...
  1. I'm wondering if I should stick with the portables (although it never leaves my desktop area), or try another desktop.
  2. If you have one that you absolutely love and would like to share which one you have.
Just in case you're wondering, I don't use an online backup system, and never plan on it. I keep everything on my desktop and use two EHD's for backups. It's just the way I like to do it.

Thanks!
 
Following. I store everything on my external but it is almost full.
 
My computer guy recommends WD and says to get the desktop model not the smaller portable one for durability. I have both of those though b/c, like you, I keep my digi stuff stored on two drives, so am not so worried about failing drives as the chances of both of them failing is unlikely. I just buy whatever 1T or larger WD is on sale.
 
I have a WD desktop and Seagate portable. I use the Seagate as computer storage for Digi stuff, and the WD as a file cabinet.
I do have online backup for peace of mind.

Honestly, I've had the desktop longer than the portables, and you can get bigger desktop ones so I would go with that. Every hard drive will eventually fail, so I don't know if there's a big brand difference.
 
I have a Seagate desktop 3TB, a WD portable 1TB, and a Seagate portable 500GB (it's full). Personally, the only one I've ever had fail was a WD and have never had any problems with any of the Seagates we've had (DH has 2 portable ones). But I know there are people who have the opposite issue. I don't like keeping everything on one big drive. I'd rather have multiple copies so that if one fails, I don't lose everything all at once.
 
I've had good luck recently with LaCie EHD's. I have 2. They're small and portable, compared to the dinosaurs they replaced.
 
bestcee said:
Honestly, I've had the desktop longer than the portables, and you can get bigger desktop ones so I would go with that. Every hard drive will eventually fail, so I don't know if there's a big brand difference.
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I've had the portable one for about 2-3 years now, but I haven't had it plugged in for a majority of that time. So, I'm hoping it'll be good for a while longer, knowing it will die sometime soon. That's why I'm looking now!

IntenseMagic said:
I have a Seagate desktop 3TB, a WD portable 1TB, and a Seagate portable 500GB (it's full). Personally, the only one I've ever had fail was a WD and have never had any problems with any of the Seagates we've had (DH has 2 portable ones). But I know there are people who have the opposite issue. I don't like keeping everything on one big drive. I'd rather have multiple copies so that if one fails, I don't lose everything all at once.
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I've had 2 WD drives fail, that's why I'm considering looking elsewhere for a new one. I'll be sure to look into the Seagates.
 
I have Samsungs, Toshibas and a Free Agent (my WD's both died) - lost both Lacies too but i think knocking something off a desk is not their fault... (lost a lot less EHDs since the kids grew out of climbing on chairs and grabbing at the desk)
 
I have had had about 5 WD passports (portable) over the years and none of them have failed. I carry them around in my purse quite often so it's not like they just sit on my desk. I am always very careful with them in my purse, but they still move around quite a lot. I usually replace them after a 1-2 years just so I get a new one BEFORE they decide to die on me. About a year ago I wanted to get a new drive for that reason (not because it was full) and this time I purchased a Seagate because it was a little cheaper and got good reviews. I've been happy with it so far. :)
 
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