Best external hard drive backup

Any thoughts or feedback on best 1.5TB-4TB external backup drives that are true Mac Compatible?

Most drives will be compatible - you will need to make sure it is formatted for Mac (since quite a few are formatted for Windows by default) - you can do that easily with Disk Utility. You simply power it on, plug it into the Mac and then open Disk Utility - choose the drive and choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and, under Partition > Options, you want GUID Partition scheme. That process will delete any included software on the drive which you do not need. If you want to use it for a bootable clone, also make sure that the drive will allow booting (quite a few WD drives do not); if you're only using Time Machine or drag 'n drop copying, that is not important. And, repeating that both OWC and LaCie are good choices.

Similar Messages

  • What is the best external hard drive to backup my MacBook Pro?

    What is the best external hard drive to backup my MacBook Pro?

    The best is a Hitachi.   This is basically the ONLY thing the "HD gurus" agree on.
    Toshiba is nearly neck and neck in 2.5" USB external HD to Hitachi.
    Here are "best for the money"....at bottom is BEST external USB HD
    best options for the price, and high quality HD:
    Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or  $65 per TB on 2.5"
    Perfect 1TB for $68
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba
    Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim and perfect
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb
    2 Terabytes, 2.5" and only $129
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Basics-Portable-HDTB120XK3CA/dp/B00ARJD56K
    updated "design" casing cousin $119
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379182740&sr=1-4&keywords=2tb+toshiba
    *This one is the BEST  external HD available that money can buy:
    $75
    HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
    http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Touro-Mobile-External-HTOLMX3NA10001ABB/dp/B0062FZ2WS /ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379185002&sr=1-1&keywords=hitachi+extern a l+hard+drive
    Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5"

  • What's the best External Hard drive to backup stuff from a Macbook??

    I'm starting to run out of room on my macbook + I want to back up my projects in case something happens to my laptop. I have over 300+ projects in Logic Pro thats like 2-3 years of hard work that i'd HATE to loose lol so whats the best external hard drive for me to back up my stuff on? Any advice/suggestions is greatly appreciated

    Firewire is generally recommended for Macs although the newer Intel Macs will boot to USB so it isn't as critical. One handy thing is to clone your current drive to an external so if you should have problems you can actually boot from the external drive.
    You don't have to get a laptop size drive just because you have a laptop. That's more a matter of size convenience. It is often recommended you avoid bus powered models and go with one that has its own power source, especially if USB.
    If you are tempted to get a huge drive (e.g., 1 TB) because of extra storage space remember that an external drive is just as prone to failure as an internal drive. Go ahead and get one, but not one but two.

  • Best external hard drive

    Hello everyone,
    Please could people advise on the best external hard drive to use with my MacBook Pro? I want to plug it into a router so that I can back up wirelessly through Time Machine. On that, would people suggest getting a router with a USB connection - is that the best way to connect a HDD to a router?
    Thank you!
    Nick

    Ian,
    I use an iomega 120GB firewire 400 desktop hard drive. It has been very good and low noise. However now that prices have dropped i think I would now go to 160GB+.
    http://www.iomega-europe.com/eu/en/products/hdd/hddfamilyen.aspx
    iomega new portable drives are now up to 120GB USB 2, a little expensive but interesting.
    One product that is worth looking at is the 100GB AMACOM Flip 2 disk. I think this would be ideal for your Powerbook as it is portable. A little small and expensive but has a lot of features.
    http://www.amacom-tech.com/flip2disk.html
    Lacie also do a good range at a price. Whatever you get stick to firewire and second USB2 and only go for a known brand name. Inside the are probably from the same source Hitachi etc !
    I use Switch Back to auto backup folders "only". This is safe to use, but think before using "Synchronize in Reverse". I do not like the idea of pressing one button to back up the entire drive and getting it wrong.
    https://order.kagi.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?storeID=UMK&&
    Hope this is of help.

  • What is the best external hard drive vs price to buy?

    What is the best external hard drive vs price to buy? My MacBook Pro has a 500GB HD and I own 100GB of data that I wan't to backup using TimeMachine. What is the best thing to get for a good price, but something that doesn't break within a month of use. . . .

    Most drives will work for your system just make sure you buy one double the size of your hard drive (1TB).  Take a look at this link this is one I have been using with my iMac for about a year with not problems.  http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-FreeAgent-GoFlex-External-STAC2000100/dp/B003ELOSJ G/ref=sr_1_54?ie=UTF8&qid=1315204714&sr=8-54  Do more reseach (Cnet.com)

  • What is the best external hard drive for the MAC Book Pro with Retina?

    What is the best external hard drive for the MAC Book Pro with Retina?
    I was looking at WD MY PASSPORT FOR MAC and Toshiba. I want something that will work best with time capsule! Suggestions on the best external hard drive would be greatly appreciated!!!

    A Time Machine backup drive should be substantially larger than the system drive.  If you have a 128 or 256 GB SSD then a 1 TB drive will suffice.  If you have a 512 GB SSD then a 2 TB drive will suffice.  As leroydouglas indicated any brand other than WD will do.
    For 1 TB drives PlotinusVeritas gives some great suggestions here:
    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5602141?tstart=0
    A 2 TB drive sold by Apple:
    http://store.apple.com/us/product/H9378ZM/A/lacie-2tb-usb-30-porsche-design-p923 3-desktop-hard-drive
    $130
    A 2 TB drive just as good for only $92.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toshiba-Canvio-Basics-3-0-USB-2-TB-Portable-Hard-Drive-M odel-HDTB220XK3CA-/231162655273

  • Hello! Help please! Best external hard drive preferably 1TB for macbook pro 2011. thank you!!!

    Hello! Help please! Best external hard drive preferably 1TB for macbook pro 2011. thank you!!!

    You can pickup any 1TB USB powered drive for about $100 at just about any local office supply store.
    It comes formatted FAT32 (MSDOS) for reading by OS X and Windows PC's.
    However if your files sizes are going to be larger than 4GB in size (like video tends to be) then your going to need to select the drive in OS X's Disk utility (in the Applicaitons > Utilities folder) and format the drive exFAT instead.
    exFAT is a drive format that 10.6.5 and later Mac's, Windows Vista and 7 machines can read just fine. XP machines need a free exFAT drive install from Microsoft.
    Do backup the 1TB to another 1TB drive using Carbon Copy Cloner or another backkup utility because 1TB is a lot of data to lose on a $100 drive.
    I don't advise the "port powered" USB drive as these tend to have power issues and with 1TB of data on it, very risky. Use a powered drive if you can all help it.

  • Restore from external hard drive backup

    How do I restore from an external hard drive backup of my old system. How do you import into iTunes 8?

    Hello,
    Sorry to tap into this thread but it was the only one that made sense.
    I have been trying to restore my kid's libraries from an external HD. I assumed I needed to be logged into their Windows profile to launch each of their own itunes applications. As I tried to launch with the Shift key held down, I got the appropriate request about choosing a library. But when I navigated to the HD and found their .itl file, it said it was locked or I had inadequate permissions and would not proceed.
    I then logged in as myself (admin) & then dragged & dropped the files into their respective folders. When I went back to open itunes, the songlist was where it should be but nothing played when I tried them.
    Is this where "consolodating" comes in and what is it and how do you do it?
    Thanks for your patience.

  • I have a 2007 macbook and I am wondering what is the best external hard drive for my Mac?

    What is the best external hard drive for a 2007 Macbook?

    The Apple USB superdrive would be a great choice for you, ( http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive?fnode=5f ) I am not certain but I am pretty sure that it has the same form factor as the MacMini (Not thickness but all the other dimenetions) so it fits just under and looks like an extension of your mac. 

  • What is the best External Hard Drive for a Macbook Leopard 10.5.8?  I need more memory for documents, pictures, videos, and music.  Thanks!

    What is the best External Hard Drive for a Macbook Leopard 10.5.8?  I need more memory for documents, pictures, videos, and music.  Thanks!

    Hi, does your MacBook have Firewire, or just USB?
    FW is far faster if you have that.
    Avoid Bus powered ones.
    http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB
    USB only...
    http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/usb/eliteclassic

  • What is the best external hard drive with MacBook Pro

    What is the best external hard drive with MacBook Pro?

    I agree with Allan, and that link is also called OWC, their hard drives are great.  Have three of their Mercury Pro Elite 2 TB quad interface drives.  They will connect eSATA, Firewire 800 & 400, USB2, so broad reange of options.  Drives seem to come Mac HFS formatted, but I always reformat and partition the drives.  Service and quarantees are top notch.
    They offer a wide range of drives/drive systems so like Allan said, spend some time seeing what the have.

  • What are the best External Hard Drives In your opinions?

    Hi, I have quite a few Mac's G5 Quad, Power Book, down to I-macs. I would like to ask all you apples users what you think are the best External Hard Drives? I have quite a few Lacie's but am dissapointed at their reliability. have had to send at least 3 back and lost all date! (had a back-up of the back-up) ..... I have thousands of high res pictures that I would like to back-up and my entire music library of 2000 CD's. Could you please tell me what the most reliable and compatible Hard Drives are? I was thinking of getting G Drive Q's. As I saw them in the apple store. What do you guys think? Thanks.....

    I assume you are thinking in terms of FireWire still? In which case I'll 2nd the OWC Oxford cases. Though I buy FW800. I have not bought any which are 'built in RAID enabled' or dual. I do have one $68 dual bay SATA drive case though connected to Sonnet Tempo SATA controller ($79). Not bootable but great.
    Best: SATA
    2nd: FW800/400 - and you might want to put a FW800 PCIe controller if you use them heavily or a lot.
    You want to isolate consumer firewire electronics and hard drives as far away from each other - and not share or daisy chain - too much noise on the cable interferes with drives.

  • How do I put aperture in the "vault" on my WD Smartware external hard drive backup?

    How do I put aperture in the "vault" on my WD Smartware external hard drive backup?

    How do I put aperture in the "vault" on my WD Smartware external hard drive backup?

  • What's the best External Hard drive to save my Logic Pro Projects on??

    I'm starting to run out of room on my macbook + I want to back up my projects in case something happens to my laptop. I have over 300+ projects in Logic Pro thats like 2-3 years of hard work that i'd HATE to loose lol so whats the best external hard drive for me to back up my stuff on? Any advice/suggestions is greatly appreciated

    The best is a Hitachi.   This is basically the ONLY thing the "HD gurus" agree on.
    Toshiba is nearly neck and neck in 2.5" USB external HD to Hitachi.
    Here are "best for the money"....at bottom is BEST external USB HD
    best options for the price, and high quality HD:
    Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or  $65 per TB on 2.5"
    Perfect 1TB for $68
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba
    Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim and perfect
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb
    2 Terabytes, 2.5" and only $129
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Basics-Portable-HDTB120XK3CA/dp/B00ARJD56K
    updated "design" casing cousin $119
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379182740&sr=1-4&keywords=2tb+toshiba
    *This one is the BEST  external HD available that money can buy:
    $75
    HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
    http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Touro-Mobile-External-HTOLMX3NA10001ABB/dp/B0062FZ2WS /ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379185002&sr=1-1&keywords=hitachi+extern a l+hard+drive
    Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5"

  • I recently purchased a Mac Book Air and wanted to know what would be the best external hard drive to buy as far as the brand and GB or TB are concerned? I will basically just be storing music, papers, and a lot of pictures.

    I recently purchased a Mac Book Air and wanted to know what would be the best external hard drive to buy as far as the brand and GB or TB are concerned? I will basically just be storing music, papers, and a lot of pictures. Also, how should I go about charging my computer? Should I wait until it is close to dying and then charge it?

    I have had good success with HGST and Seagate HDDs.  I suggest a HDD that is powered by the MBA eliminating the need for an AC cord.  They now come up to 1.5 TB in capacity.  In my opinion, one cannot have too much storage.  If necessary, let your bank account be your guide.
    Ciao.

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