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Computer Help and Support

Alex4Martinez

(3,060 posts)

4. Make sure your external drive is large enough

Reply to Iggo (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2020, 07:48 PM

Apr 2020

In my experience buy one with twice the storage as the harddrive you're backing up.

Large, 2 TB (terrabyte) drives are much cheaper than they were, but you might get by with 500GB, depends on your desktop storage size.

Also, be sure that your external drive is compatible with windows and that you have the right cable to connect to your box.

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18 replies

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My home desktop Windows 7 PC is telling me the disk is about to fail and I need to do a backup. [View all] Iggo Apr 2020 OP

Best bet: Buy an external hard drive. Drunken Irishman Apr 2020 #1

Probably the best bet, particularly if dealing with files that require some level of security. TexasTowelie Apr 2020 #5

Yes. Though, I'm a tin foil wearer when it comes to the cloud lol Drunken Irishman Apr 2020 #6

I don't blame you. TexasTowelie Apr 2020 #9

suggest several things... msongs Apr 2020 #2

That's what I'm going to do. Thanks for your suggestions! Iggo Apr 2020 #13

Best bet: Buy an external hard drive. LunaSea Apr 2020 #3

I'm shopping online right now for curbside pickup at the Best Buy up the road. Iggo Apr 2020 #14

Make sure your external drive is large enough Alex4Martinez Apr 2020 #4

There's a 2 TB on sale right now, I'm picking it up tomorrow. AND the cable...lol. Iggo Apr 2020 #15

Perfect! Alex4Martinez Apr 2020 #16

I'd probably do a cloud backup right now, then get some kind of external drive. Hoyt Apr 2020 #7

I put a bunch of stuff on some on the space I had left on a couple of sticks. Iggo Apr 2020 #17

Depending on how much dada you have SheltieLover Apr 2020 #8

I do that every few months with my photos. Iggo Apr 2020 #10

Good SheltieLover Apr 2020 #11

That's pretty much what I'm looking at. Iggo Apr 2020 #12

you can transfer your current pc WhiteTara Apr 2020 #18