I plan to use the drive exclusively for backup. I lost all my data because of a hard drive fail, and I do not want to make that mistake again. The size of my drive is 320GB (4BG was my memory). I guess then 500GB should be plenty, no?It really depends on your usage. My music library is about 50 GB, but will (hopefully) increase quite a bit soon when I get around to re-ripping everything as lossless!
Also, would you be using this as additional storage, as a time machine backup, or both? For a time machine backup, you want at least the size of the drive in your mac, and maybe more depending on how frequently you want to store backups and how quickly you generate new content.
I use a 2TB drive for storage of music / DVD rips (physical discs keep getting scratched - only way to be safe!), and a 500GB for time machine backup
If cost is your concern, consider getting an SATA 3.5" enclosure and buying the hard drive separately. Often ends up cheaper, and you can keep the enclosure and just upgrade the drive!
Hi. I guess my strategy is to do backups every once in a while (i.e. once a week). I plan to use Time Machine to do backup my data because it's built into the mbp system.
)Wow! Thanks for the advice. Sounds like once a week is not enough. Anyway, I don't get the point of partitioning (at least the way you described). Sounds like I'm using both partitions (smaller and larger ones) for backing up.Once a week?
//scoff
I mean I guess that's better than nothing but not by much.
It doesn't take alot to make a sound backup plan, the problem is just getting it setup.
My suggestion:
1. Buy the drive. 1 TB Would be nice, but you can't get by with 500 GB, assuming you don't fill up the drive.
2. Partition the drive. If 1 TB, partition it to 320 (the size of your internal) , with the remainder for time machine. If 500, partition about 150-200 for your internal, with the rest for time machine. This assumes you will not fill your primary to capacity.
3. Using CarbonCopyCloner(free) or SuperDuper($$), make incremental backups of your primary drive on the smaller of the two partitions. This allows you to have a bootable copy that can be handy incase you need to ship your computer off for repairs. It'll also allow you to restore very quickly if you need to replace your disk drive. Most importantly, it will allow you to boot your current installation and all it's files on any recent mac, straight from the disk.
4. Using time machine, backup to the larger partition as often as you want (time machine default is one (freaking) hour, but you can set it to something more reasonable i.e. every 6 hours or every night).
I know what you're thinking: Wow. What an epic waste of time. Why would I have to implement such a solution?
Think about each solution on its own. If you only have time machine backups, you'll be safe from accidental deletion. But what if your entire machine is hosed and won't start up? What if you cannot find the original system disks? An install disk is required to restore the time machine backup to a new install.
What about just a full backup? Well, what happens if you delete that video file of your child's first words at 11:59 PM and your backup is schduled for 12:00 AM? Congratulations. Your memories are gone on your master and backup.
Using both will allow you to quickly bring up your machine in the event of a catastrophic failure, decrease the lag time between your recent most backup and your current master, and give you days or weeks worth of copies to work with (depending on the size of your time machine backup).
( If you look in my sig you'll see my little ¬.¬ message. It's because i've dealt with an increasing number of users who are frustrated after data loss (much like yourself) after i've told them repeatedly to "back it up"
Once a week?
//scoff
I mean I guess that's better than nothing but not by much.
It doesn't take alot to make a sound backup plan, the problem is just getting it setup.
My suggestion:
1. Buy the drive. 1 TB Would be nice, but you can't get by with 500 GB, assuming you don't fill up the drive.
2. Partition the drive. If 1 TB, partition it to 320 (the size of your internal) , with the remainder for time machine. If 500, partition about 150-200 for your internal, with the rest for time machine. This assumes you will not fill your primary to capacity.
3. Using CarbonCopyCloner(free) or SuperDuper($$), make incremental backups of your primary drive on the smaller of the two partitions. This allows you to have a bootable copy that can be handy incase you need to ship your computer off for repairs. It'll also allow you to restore very quickly if you need to replace your disk drive. Most importantly, it will allow you to boot your current installation and all it's files on any recent mac, straight from the disk.
4. Using time machine, backup to the larger partition as often as you want (time machine default is one (freaking) hour, but you can set it to something more reasonable i.e. every 6 hours or every night).
I know what you're thinking: Wow. What an epic waste of time. Why would I have to implement such a solution?
Think about each solution on its own. If you only have time machine backups, you'll be safe from accidental deletion. But what if your entire machine is hosed and won't start up? What if you cannot find the original system disks? An install disk is required to restore the time machine backup to a new install.
What about just a full backup? Well, what happens if you delete that video file of your child's first words at 11:59 PM and your backup is schduled for 12:00 AM? Congratulations. Your memories are gone on your master and backup.
Using both will allow you to quickly bring up your machine in the event of a catastrophic failure, decrease the lag time between your recent most backup and your current master, and give you days or weeks worth of copies to work with (depending on the size of your time machine backup).
( If you look in my sig you'll see my little ¬.¬ message. It's because i've dealt with an increasing number of users who are frustrated after data loss (much like yourself) after i've told them repeatedly to "back it up"
I was planning to get the G-Tech G-Drive mini which I believe is 2.5". Honestly, I don't know the difference. They seem to be the same in terms of reliability and performance.
