Using an external hard drive as a backup for your computer is a great way to protect your files and data. An external hard drive provides an easy, convenient way to create backups that you can store separately from your computer.
In this article, we’ll look at the requirements for using an external hard drive as a backup, the benefits of doing so, what types of external hard drives work best, and how to properly set up the backup process. By the end, you’ll know everything you need about using an external drive to backup your system.
Requirements for Using an External Hard Drive as a Backup
There are a few key requirements you’ll want to keep in mind when selecting and using an external hard drive for backups:
- Storage capacity – Select an external drive that has enough storage space for the backups you plan to create. For full system backups, you’ll likely need at least 1 TB of space.
- Compatibility – Make sure the external drive you choose is compatible with your computer’s operating system (Windows, Mac, etc.) and connection ports.
- Connectivity – Common connections for external drives include USB, Firewire, eSATA, and wireless. USB 3.0 offers fast transfer speeds.
- Power source – Some external drives are powered over the cable connection, while others require an AC power adapter.
- Backup software – To automate backups, you’ll need backup software designed for your computer’s OS.
As long as your external drive meets these requirements, you can use it as a backup for your system.
Benefits of Using an External Hard Drive for Backups
There are a number of great benefits to using an external drive to backup your computer:
- Protection against system failure – Backups provide a way to restore your data in case of system failure, damage, or loss. This gives you peace of mind knowing your files are safe.
- Ability to restore deleted files – External drive backups make it easy to recover deleted files that you may still need. You can find and restore deleted files from your backup.
- Regular backup reminders – Backup software reminds you to conduct regular backups, helping prevent data loss.
- Portability – You can store an external drive backup offsite for maximum security. Portable drives also let you take your files anywhere.
- Convenience – After the initial setup, backups happen automatically in the background for worry-free data protection.
- File versioning – Backup software saves multiple versions of files, allowing you to restore from earlier snapshots.
Relying solely on your main internal drive puts your data at risk. Adding an external drive as a backup provides massive peace of mind.
Types of External Hard Drives for Backup
You can use different types of external hard drives to backup your computer depending on your needs:
Desktop External Hard Drives
- Require a power adapter to operate
- Designed to stay in one place rather than be portable
- Offer huge storage capacities – often 4 TB or more
- Ideal for full backups of large internal drives
Portable External Hard Drives
- Powered through the connectivity cable – no adapter needed
- Compact, lightweight, and highly portable
- Typically max out at 2 TB capacity
- Great for backups while traveling
Wireless External Hard Drives
- Create their own WiFi hotspot to connect to
- Allow connection and file transfer from mobile devices
- Battery powered so can be used anywhere
- Capacity maxes around 4 TB
- Provide access to backups without wired connection
Any of these external hard drive types can effectively serve as a backup as long as you choose one with sufficient storage space for your needs.
How to Set Up an External Hard Drive Backup
Setting up backup on an external drive involves a few simple steps:
- Choose your drive – Select an external drive with enough capacity and compatible connections.
- Connect the drive – Use the provided cable to connect the drive to your computer.
- Install backup software – Install and open the backup software you want to use.
- Designate backup source and destination – Select the folders, drives, or files you want to backup and choose the external drive as the destination.
- Automate the backup schedule – Set the backup frequency and timing within the software.
- Run initial manual backup – Manually begin a first backup to ensure the process works properly.
Once up and running, the backup software takes care of everything in the background automatically based on the schedule you set.
Backup Software Options
Popular backup software options include:
| Software | Compatible OS |
|---|---|
| Carbonite | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| IDrive | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Acronis True Image | Windows, Mac |
| Genie Timeline | Windows |
| Time Machine | Mac |
Look for backup software that is simple to configure and automate for smooth hands-off backups.
What Files to Include in Your External Hard Drive Backup
When creating backups, you’ll want to be strategic about which files to include. Here are some recommendations:
- Operating system files – Back up Windows, Mac, or Linux system files.
- Applications and software – Back up installed software applications.
- Personal files – Documents, photos, videos, music, and other media.
- System settings – Be sure to back up system settings for programs and the OS.
- Drivers – Backup hardware drivers for printers, video cards, and other devices.
Files you don’t necessarily need to backup include:
- Temporary system files
- Cache files from web browsers and other software
- Application download files (.exe installers etc)
- Virtual memory paging files
Prioritizing personal data and installed software applications ensures critical files are retained in your backup.
How Often to Backup to the External Drive
For maximum protection, you should backup your system to the external drive on a regular basis. Here are some guidelines on backup frequency:
- Daily backups – Daily automated backups provide strong protection against data loss.
- Weekly backups – Weekly backups work if you don’t create new files very frequently.
- Monthly backups – Only rely on monthly backups if you rarely save new files or make system changes.
- Before major system changes – Be sure to manually backup right before making significant software or operating system modifications.
Ideally, you want multiple versions of your backup available on the external drive. More frequent backups give you more restore points to choose from if needed.
How to Restore Files from an External Hard Drive Backup
If you ever need to retrieve files from your external drive backup, the restore process is straightforward:
- Connect the external drive – Connect your backup drive to your computer via the provided cable.
- Open backup software – Launch the backup application used to create the backups.
- Select backup to restore – Browse the external drive backups and choose the version you want to pull files from.
- Pick files to restore – Navigate the backup browser and tick the boxes next to files you want to restore to your main system.
- Choose restore destination – Select where you want to save the restored files on your computer.
- Restore files – Click restore and the files will be copied to the designated restore location.
Take advantage of external drive backups by restoring lost or deleted files whenever needed.
External Hard Drive Backup Best Practices
Follow these best practices to get the most out of backing up your system to an external drive:
- Set reminders – Use backup software reminders to conduct regular manual backups.
- Store drive safely – Keep the drive in a secure location away from your computer.
- Encrypt drive – Use software encryption on the drive for added data security.
- Disconnect when not in use – Disengage the drive when no backups are taking place.
- Consider cloud backup too – Combine local and cloud backup services for comprehensive data protection.
Leveraging these tips in addition to a regular automated backup schedule will help you avoid data loss while making the most of your external storage drive. Be sure to backup often!
External Hard Drive Backup FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about using an external hard drive for computer backups:
How much storage space do I need for backups?
At minimum, your external backup drive should be the same capacity as the drive you are backing up. Larger is better to allow for multiple versions of backups over time.
How long do external hard drives last?
Most last 3-5 years with regular use. Disk failures are the most common cause of external drive death.
Do I need special software to backup to an external drive?
Yes, you need backup software designed for your specific operating system to automate and schedule backups.
How fast should my external backup drive connection be?
Ideally, use a drive with a high-speed connection like USB 3.0 or USB-C for faster backup.
Can I backup multiple computers to a single external drive?
Yes, a single drive can be used to backup multiple computers by partitioning or manually separating the backup files.
Are wireless external hard drives as reliable as wired drives?
Wired backup drives tend to be more reliable. Wireless connectivity introduces potential interference issues.
Should I keep my external backups at home or in another location?
For protection against local disasters like fires or floods, keep a backup remotely like at work or in a bank safe deposit box.
Conclusion
Backing up your computer to an external hard drive offers a convenient way to protect your system against data loss. When selected properly and used routinely, an external drive serves as a comprehensive, set-it-and-forget-it backup solution.
Just make sure to follow backup best practices – choose a drive with ample capacity, use specialized backup software, automate frequent backups, securely store drives, and routinely restore files to test the process. Taking these steps will provide peace of mind knowing all your data is safeguarded on a separate device.
So don’t wait – setup an external hard drive backup right away to start protecting your files and protecting against disaster. Having a recently updated duplicate copy of your entire system is the ultimate insurance policy for your precious data.
