The Traders' Den  

  The Traders' Den > Where we go to learn ..... > Technobabble
 

Notices

Technobabble Post your general Need for Help questions here.
Lossy or Lossless?
Moderators

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 2012-01-27, 04:40 PM
ballsdeep's Avatar
ballsdeep ballsdeep is offline
pretty when I'm drunk
670.72 GB/635.78 GB/0.95
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: between my owners legs, and someone else's too, USA
*RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

any suggestions?

after 3 WD drives basically crapping out (or showing signs of doing so soon) in a 2 year period, is there ANY other brands out there that you folks would recommend...I believe they were the 2 TB models.

Last edited by ballsdeep; 2012-01-27 at 04:45 PM. Reason: didn't like how the title looked, and because I CAN!
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #2  
Old 2012-01-27, 04:50 PM
LeifH12345's Avatar
LeifH12345 LeifH12345 is offline
642.27 GB/2.72 TB/4.34
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Vancouver
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

I've found my Seagate 1.5 TB to be very reliable, its 3 years old and has no signs of crapping out, still going strong and fast with zero power or mechanical issues. Only thing I don't like is there's no power switch, but that's not really a big deal

The WD are good for cheap portability, but I've had the same problem with them. I'm trying out a Cavalry right now, seems really sturdy, but we'll see.
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #3  
Old 2012-01-27, 06:30 PM
lintoni
0.00 KB/0.00 KB/---
 
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

I have a few external hds connected to my home pc. If I remember correctly, the linux disc utility reports that the only one that is 100% is the Maxtor, which coincidentally is the oldest. I'll double check this when I get home. (the others are a mixture of WD and Seagate). The Maxtor is a 500GB, the others are a mixture of 1 and 2 TB drives. Dunno if the increased capacity makes them less reliable, if the linux disc utility is reporting bullshit, or if there are any other effects in play. Thinking about it, the Maxtor is probably used the least - it has my video files and a few other bits and bobs on it, but I listen to music on my PC much more than I watch videos. I have a 2TB WD Elements drive that is not used for reading files from, only for backing up (some of) the other drives and that one is not 100%. So...

I'll double-check this, and confirm in a day or two.

Btw, all of the discs are greater than 90% full.

Last edited by lintoni; 2012-01-27 at 06:40 PM.
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #4  
Old 2012-01-27, 06:54 PM
cicada's Avatar
cicada cicada is offline
Long Distance Runner
1.32 TB/2.12 TB/1.61
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: north of the medicine line
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

Having a replacement warranty on hd's is like eating in a restaurant and finding a cockroach in your food. I love it when they say, "here is a coupon - your next meal here is free"! By the way, if this happens you should reply that you have called the health department and they will arrive shortly to inspect the food... never let them take that plate away. I did this once and got the restaurant shut down! Next meal my @55. oops I kinda got sidetracked - sorry. I just lost a 500G WD drive last night (end of rant).

My solution - RAID
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #5  
Old 2012-01-27, 06:59 PM
lintoni
0.00 KB/0.00 KB/---
 
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

^^^
Always back up, no storage method is 100% safe. Btw, I thought I'd lost a drive completely, only to discover that is was the power supply that had died.
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #6  
Old 2012-01-27, 07:54 PM
LeifH12345's Avatar
LeifH12345 LeifH12345 is offline
642.27 GB/2.72 TB/4.34
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Vancouver
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

Data discs last longer than most external hard drives, imo
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #7  
Old 2012-01-27, 08:57 PM
ballsdeep's Avatar
ballsdeep ballsdeep is offline
pretty when I'm drunk
670.72 GB/635.78 GB/0.95
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: between my owners legs, and someone else's too, USA
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

bump...hoping for as many replies as possible.
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #8  
Old 2012-01-28, 07:56 AM
germain germain is offline
6.56 GB/31.69 GB/4.83
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

I would avoid using store bought externals unless it is strictly for back up. The biggest problems reported are with the power supply. Use to be most of the time you could pull the drive out of the defective case and put it in another and be good to go. Now manufactures are putting proprietary power connections in their cases. If & when it goes, the drive is useless.

I would recommend purchasing a bare internal and an external case with a fan. Really simple to install. The fan keeps the drive cool even with continuous usage. If something goes wrong with the case, just throw the drive in another one. This Rosewill is a good one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817173042

I like the Western Digtal blacks. I look for drives with the longest warranty. Not that the warranty matters a whole lot if the drive fails, but hopefully those with several years worth of warranty are better builds.

With all that said, every drive will eventually fail. Back up everything.
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #9  
Old 2012-01-28, 08:06 AM
direwolf-pgh's Avatar
direwolf-pgh direwolf-pgh is offline
On the Beach
666.18 GB/1.29 TB/1.99
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: down in the basement
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

its more your backup strategy than which hard drive
if you have a big pipe consider iDrive Unlimited ($49/yr)
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #10  
Old 2012-01-28, 11:55 AM
lintoni
0.00 KB/0.00 KB/---
 
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

Quote:
Originally Posted by lintoni View Post
I have a few external hds connected to my home pc. If I remember correctly, the linux disc utility reports that the only one that is 100% is the Maxtor, which coincidentally is the oldest. I'll double check this when I get home. (the others are a mixture of WD and Seagate). The Maxtor is a 500GB, the others are a mixture of 1 and 2 TB drives. Dunno if the increased capacity makes them less reliable, if the linux disc utility is reporting bullshit, or if there are any other effects in play. Thinking about it, the Maxtor is probably used the least - it has my video files and a few other bits and bobs on it, but I listen to music on my PC much more than I watch videos. I have a 2TB WD Elements drive that is not used for reading files from, only for backing up (some of) the other drives and that one is not 100%. So...

I'll double-check this, and confirm in a day or two.

Btw, all of the discs are greater than 90% full.
I was wrong, the only one reported as being 100% is a WD 1TB. I have a WD 2TB that reportedly has a few dodgy sectors, the Maxtor has a few dodgy sectors and so does the Seagate, so...

re germain's answer above - btw - I found a suitable power supply in the UK at Maplins - it has adjustable output voltage and a range of interchangeable plugs that match to any of the drives I have. Obviously, you have to set the correct voltage and choose the correct adaptor plug to suit, otherwise you do risk causing further damage (if it was only a p/s failure that rendered the hard drive u/s). Try an electronics store for suitable replacement wall warts, is Radio Shack/Tandy still going?
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #11  
Old 2012-01-28, 05:05 PM
Homebrew101's Avatar
Homebrew101 Homebrew101 is offline
1.99 TB/1.77 TB/0.89
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: City of Festivals
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

I've good luck (so far) with WD black and external cases like the Rosewill (thanks donohuer )
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcbullet View Post
I'm also willing state I have a very average sized penis.
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #12  
Old 2012-01-29, 04:40 AM
rherron's Avatar
rherron rherron is offline
Columbia, SC
108.77 GB/109.04 GB/1.00
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

I've had a lot of lucky with Western Digital so I cannot recommend another brand from first-hand experience (I have 2, 1 TB drives and 1, 2 TB drive). But I can recommend to you first-hand that if you don't have a USB 3.0 card you ought to get one for your computer, and whatever external drive you get, get one that connects via USB 3.0. It's so much faster than USB 2.0 Well worth the money. Pop the case open. Pop the card in. Easy, easy, easy. And very, very fast. I got a Buffalo Technology DriveStation SuperSpeed USB 3.0 PCI Express 2-Port Interface Card IFC-PCIE2U3 (link below) from Amazon for $32. My 2 TB WD drive is hooked up to it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i00_details
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #13  
Old 2012-01-29, 01:40 PM
Limulus Limulus is offline
TTD VIP
462.92 GB/322.15 GB/0.70
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

i've had lots of trouble with external harddiscs, however the newer WD portable ones do a good job for me since about 1 year now.

for important files (like shows, family,...) just do "multiple" back-ups on harddiscs, data discs, internet etc.
yes, it can get some ugly time consuming, but in the end you dont really wanna ever loose original data when there is no copy from.
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #14  
Old 2012-01-29, 01:43 PM
daddyray's Avatar
daddyray daddyray is offline
wanna buy me a drink????
1.87 TB/2.30 TB/1.23
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Nine Spokes Ranch
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

I have maxtor ones which have been fine...I have also double backed up everything (I hope) and use some drives while the others are never fired up. and I rely on some of the stuff just remaining to float around out here on the inter webs
__________________
"We're here to have a ball." Art Blakey
"Reality is a hallucination brought on by lack of alcohol." Graham Chapman
"I'll drink to your health til it ruins mine" Art Blakey
"Trust a pro" Keith Richards
"here is my offer: nothing" Mike C
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
  #15  
Old 2012-01-29, 02:00 PM
jamroom's Avatar
jamroom jamroom is offline
81.11 GB/305.06 GB/3.76
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Re: *RELIABLE* external hard drives NEEDED

I have a bunch of different 500GB and 1TB HDs, including WD. (touch wood) I have never had a problem with any of them. I guess all brands have their failures, but you seem to be having a worse time of it than usual.

However, I have just bought a couple of Toshiba 2.5" drives and was surprised how small they were. How reliable is another question. Everything I put on a HD is mirrored on another, so at least I get a chance to back up again, if one fails.
Reply With Quote Reply with Nested Quotes
Reply

The Traders' Den > Where we go to learn ..... > Technobabble

Similar Threads
Thread Forum Replies Last Post
Transfer Time Between Internal Hard Drives - jamroom Technobabble 4 2008-11-18 02:23 PM
Hard Drives - scangle Technobabble 19 2008-09-06 06:47 PM
Moving torrents to alternate hard drives (Utorrent and XP)? - bocajoes Technobabble 4 2007-07-16 09:03 AM


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forums


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:41 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - , TheTradersDen.org - All Rights Reserved - Hosted at QuickPacket