How do i backup an external hard drive​？

Backing up an external hard drive is an important process to safeguard your data.

I. Basics

Why Backup?

Data loss can occur due to various reasons such as hard drive failure, accidental deletion, virus attacks, or physical damage. Backing up your external hard drive ensures that your valuable files, including documents, photos, videos, and music, are protected.

For example, if your external hard drive is dropped and the disk inside gets damaged, without a backup, you could lose all the data stored on it.

Types of Backups

Full Backup: This involves copying all the data from the external hard drive to another storage device. It’s the most comprehensive option but can be time – consuming and requires a large amount of storage space.

Incremental Backup: After the first full backup, only the changes or new data added since the last backup are copied. This saves time and storage space but requires a full backup to be restored first in case of data loss.

Differential Backup: It copies all the data that has changed since the first full backup. It’s quicker to restore than an incremental backup but takes more storage space than an incremental backup as the backup size grows with each change.

II. Pre – Backup Preparation

Select a Backup Destination

Another External Hard Drive: This is a popular choice as it provides a similar storage medium. Make sure the backup drive has enough capacity to hold the data from the original external hard drive. For example, if your original external hard drive is 1TB in size and is 70% full, you’ll need at least a 700GB backup drive.

Network – Attached Storage (NAS): A NAS device allows you to store and access data over a network. It’s a good option if you want to access the backup from multiple devices or share it with other users. Some NAS systems support advanced features like RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), which provides data redundancy and protection against drive failure.

Cloud Storage: Services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive offer cloud – based storage. However, the free storage space is usually limited, and uploading a large external hard drive’s worth of data may require a paid subscription. For instance, Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage, but if your external hard drive has 500GB of data, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Check the Health of the External Hard Drive

Use the built – in disk utility tools on your operating system. On Windows, you can use the Error – Checking tool. Right – click on the external hard drive in File Explorer, select Properties, and then go to the Tools tab. Click on “Check” under the Error – checking section.

On a Mac, you can use Disk Utility. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder, select the external hard drive, and click on the “First Aid” button. These tools can detect and fix some common disk errors before you start the backup process.

III. Backup Methods

A. Using Built – in Operating System Tools

Windows Backup (File History)

File History is a feature in Windows that allows you to back up your files. To set it up, connect your external hard drive.

Open the Control Panel and search for “File History.” Click on it to open the File History settings.

Click on “Turn on” to start the backup process. By default, File History will back up your libraries (Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos) and other user – selected folders. You can customize the folders to be backed up by clicking on “Add folders.”

File History creates versions of your files, so you can restore an earlier version if needed. For example, if you accidentally overwrite a document, you can go back to a previous version stored in the File History backup.

Mac Time Machine

Time Machine is a built – in backup utility for Mac. Connect your external hard drive to your Mac.

Open System Preferences and click on Time Machine. Click on “Select Disk” and choose the external hard drive you want to use for backup.

Once you’ve selected the disk, click on “Use Disk” to enable Time Machine. Time Machine will then start backing up your Mac’s hard drive, including any external drives that are connected and selected for backup. It backs up your files hourly and keeps a history of changes, so you can restore your Mac to a specific point in time.

B. Third – Party Backup Software

One of the standout features of Panda Assistant is its ability to handle complex data loss scenarios. Whether your files are in the Recycle Bin, on a formatted drive, or even from corrupted partitions, Panda Assistant can assist in retrieving them with minimal hassle. The software’s efficiency is complemented by its speed, enabling users to recover large amounts of data in a fraction of the time compared to other recovery tools.

Panda Assistant also allows users to preview recoverable files before initiating the recovery process, ensuring that you only restore the files you need. Additionally, it offers secure recovery options, ensuring that files are retrieved without causing further damage to the device or data.

IV. Verifying and Maintaining the Backup

Verify the Backup

After the backup is complete, it’s important to verify that the data has been backed up correctly. You can do this by randomly selecting a few files from the original external hard drive and checking if they are present and accessible in the backup.

Some backup software, like Acronis True Image and EaseUS Todo Backup, have built – in verification tools. These tools can check the integrity of the backup and report any errors or missing files.

Schedule Regular Backups

To ensure that your data is always up – date, it’s essential to schedule regular backups. If you’re using the built – in operating system tools, you can set up a schedule in File History (Windows) or Time Machine (Mac).

For third – party backup software, the scheduling process varies depending on the software. For example, with Acronis True Image, you can set up a backup schedule in the software’s settings. You can choose the frequency (daily, weekly, monthly), the time of day, and other parameters.

Update the Backup Strategy

As your data changes and grows, you may need to update your backup strategy. For example, if you start using new software that creates a lot of data files, you may need to increase the frequency of backups or the size of the backup destination.

Also, if you upgrade your external hard drive to a larger capacity, you should adjust your backup settings accordingly to ensure that all the data is backed up. Additionally, consider adding more backup destinations or using more advanced backup methods, such as RAID – enabled NAS systems for enhanced data protection.