Hard drive failure is the most common computer fault according to our computer reliability surveys, and if you haven’t backed up your data you could lose everything.
As CDs, DVDs and USB flash drives don't have the storage capacity to backup a full system, an external hard drive is ideal for the job. Some external hard drives can hold more than 2000GB (2TB) of data.
There are several types of external hard drive:
- Portable drives hold 250GB to 1TB and are usually small enough to be transported easily. Prices range from around $120 for a 250GB model up to $200 for a 500GB model or even $1000 for a 1TB model.
- Desktop drives hold 250GB to 2TB of data and are normally too large for easy transport (most are over 1kg). Lower capacity drives cost around $100-150 while drives of 2TB are typically over $300.
For more information, see our test report on external hard drives.
Backup software
Operating systems like Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Mac OS X have backup features included. Many external hard drives come with backup software and some internet security suites include a backup component.
You can also download many free backup software programs from the internet.
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