external hard drive for back up?

[Berengaria]

My iPhoto library is too big now to fit on a CD for back up. I think it must be time for me to get something external for backups. What do you wonderful and experienced people suggest?

All suggestions will be considered.
Thanks.
Berengaria

[mbrant]

Hi Berengaria,

I'm a Windows User. I've used Seagate, Maxtor, and am currently using Western Digital's MyBook for my backups. The Maxtor was Network connected, the others are USB.

I imagine any USB connected external drive would work, as long as it is configured as a hard drive in My Computer.

I outgrew the Seagate and was VERY unhappy with the support from Maxtor. My drive failed to initialize 2 months after the warranty expired. Maxtor would not offer me any support other than referring me to a data recovery service. I don't know for sure that WD will be any better, but not being a Maxtor was a plus to me.

My catalog has about 25,000 photos in it. The WD MyBook is 500GB and has done well for me so far (month 3). I paid about $220 for it at Costco and there was a modest rebate ($10 I think) from WD as well.

I hope this helps.

-MIke

-Mike

[bnk1953]

As a fellow mac user - I'd recommend an external hard drive that has both USB and Firewire connection. The reason I am a fan of this is that you can make an exact duplicate of your internal hard drive - and the external can be a start updrive (boot drive) in case you ever have the internal crash on you. I know this is more then you probably were looking for - but if you want just your iphotos backed up - you could also partition the external and do both - just your iphotos and also your entire disk.
For me - knowing that the insurance of a complete back up - helps me sleep better at night:D Maybe overkill - but not if but when the internal actually dies - I can start right up, install a new internal and duplicate the external onto the new internal drive - if that makes sense.
~bruce.

[Wendy]

Hi Berengaria ...

I'm with Bruce on this one ... :)

All mine are LaCie drives and I really like them ...

Wendy

[mom to 4]

I use a maxtor. I really like it. I have two 300 gig externals. One I keep my photos on and the other is just for backups. II use the firewire, but I think it also came with a USB...not sure though...

[CarolLHB]

LaCie here-so far so good;)

[Berengaria]

Thanks Mike, Bruce, Wendy, Colleen, and Carol, for giving me your advice. I value it highly because of the source.
I feel certain now that external hard drive is the way for me to go. Although I do not have thousands of pictures to back up, it seems best to go for the 500GB that I can use to back up my system and other important files. Better get too much than not enough and get it over with.
Thanks again. I don't know what I would do without this forum. I never found a forum with such a nice bunch of people.

Berengaria

[Berengaria]

Wendy- one quick question. After you put a file on the LaCie, can it be removed (trashed) or is it on there permanently?

Berengaria

[Wendy]

Hi ...

The external drive acts just like your internal hard drive does ... so you can move things around on it, delete them, drag & drop etc ...

I have 2 LaCie external drives on my main computer ... one has all my images on it and the other is my backup drive. Backing up is just so easy I just (for example) go to one of my iPhoto libraries then drag and drop it onto the backup drive and it copies it over.

If you have any queries or question just ask ... :)

Wendy

[Berengaria]

Thanks Wendy. I think I'll get the LaCie mini 500 GB. It will "match" my Mini Mac.

You've been a big help, as always.

Berengaria

[Wendy]

Hi ...

The only thing about the 500GB (I have the Big Disk Extreme) is that because it has two drives in it then it does take a little longer to wake up than the single drive ones. Once its awake its just fine .. :)

Wendy :)

[Berengaria]

Wendy:

I got my LaCie Mini and was amazed at how easy it was to set up on the Mac. I didn't even have to format anything. Just plugged it in and
installed the "1 Click". And "1 Click" installed iPhoto Library with only 1 click! Apparently it is made for the Mac because the instructions for Windows looked intimidating.

Thanks for your wonderful advice, as usual.

Berengaria

[Red Sky]

Wendy- A related question or two if you please. I'm leaning towards a Firewire LaCie for my IMac. I'm currently doing some scanning of old slides that is dramatically increasing what once seemed to be a huge (160 GB) hard drive.(1) Do you leave everything on your internal hard drive and use the external as a backup only? I have in the past made backups onto DVD's but I'm getting too many of those. I do like the idea though of keeping copies of the layered files away from the house, should a fire or theft strike.(2) Do you keep a copy of your work "off sight?"

[Wags374]

(2) Do you keep a copy of your work "off sight?"

I back-up to a external hard drive and I burn DVD's that are then kept off site. The DVD's are just of the psd files of the scrap book pages I've made. They are currently stored in a safe deposit box, but I may move them to the fire safe at my folks house. I currently store back-ups of my mom's stuff in my fire safe along with my external hardrive.

[Wendy]

Hi Steven ...

I have two LaCie external hard drives ... one is where all my images are and the other is my backup drive :)

I have though about storing them somewhere away from my home but never have done ..

Wendy

[Red Sky]

Thanks Jane and Wendy for the response. I think the two hard drives, one for images and one for backup, is a good idea.Throw my movies onto it and that should free up a lot of space. I will continue to do the layer file DVD backup to store off-site.
Now, with my extensive music archive on a seperate hard drive; is three external hard drives too much?:D

[Wendy]

Steven ...

Ummm :o ... our third LaCie is attached to my Husband's iMac and that one has the iTunes library on it :D :D

Our conputers use a wireless network and as the iTumes library was getting large we decided to move that to an external hard drive too

Wendy