Online Backups/Storage, What Are You Using?

[JB Lions]

Just curious what you guys are using for storage/backups. Want to backup files and folders I have on my desktop.

Right now, I use external drives, since historically I haven't trusted online sources, cloud etc.

I want to add an online backup source, that I can also access using my phone or other devices.

I did have Dropbox from way back in 2010 and haven't used it much. I think I just used to get Excel back in the day.

I see Google Drive and OneDrive.

But when I search for best online backup, those 3 don't show up, it's other programs.

Just curious what people are actually using, like, recommend.

I guess more storage than backup services, I guess it's a little different. Reading a Consumer Reports article on it now:

https://www.consumerreports.org/computer-backup-systems/cloud-backup-and-cloud-storage-guide/

 

[Eric Lyon]

Personally, still use: 1TB to 2TB USB keychain Flash Drives and then I put them in a safe...

They are actually pretty cost effective these days, as seen in the screenshot below from multiple retailers:

I still don't trust most online backups (Downtime, privacy, security, etc..) - Though, I do sometimes use my server at Godaddy to store a few things (In .zip folders) so I can just type in the address on any device to download them, if/when needed from an undisclosed server folder/location.

I'm sure someone else will chime in though that found something more trust-worthy online that could be an option.

 

[Bravo Mod Team]

Cryptomator + Google Drive is the best solution I've found, in terms of cost for massive amounts of storage, ease of use, and convenience.

 

[dna]

I use this:

Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Xbox, & PlayStation - 1-Year Rescue Service (SRD0NF1)

Amazon sold it to me for $129.99 plus tax

You get one USB cable with the hard drive. No power cable is needed for the hard drive.
The hard drive makes no noise.

A hard drive is more reliable than a USB drives. Copilot explained why that is, but I don't recall the reason.

Never use Windows OneDrive. It is dangerous to your computer If you have 2 computers on OneDrive,
A change you make on one computer will change your other computer. The cloud can undo changes
that you make to a file by restoring original file that is that is on the cloud to your computer and you will lose all the changes.

And only use Samsung USB drives. Cheap drives that you get from Temu and Walmart and others are junk.

 

[JB Lions]

I have a lot of drives, many were gifts

The Seagate 250 is from 2009

Crucial X9 Pro 2TB Portable SSD

HooToo iPhone External Storage

Kingston Digital 16GB Data Traveler Locker + G3

SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD

SanDisk 512GB Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive

SanDisk Extreme 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive

Seagate Backup Plus Slim 1TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD

Seagate Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive HDD

Seagate FreeAgent Go 250 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive

Toshiba Canvio Advance 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Blue

Toshiba Canvio Advance 4TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Red

Toshiba Canvio Advance 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black

 

[Nargil]

I use File History function in Windows which periodically backs up the most important data to a second M.2 (Samsung EVO Plus both) I have in PC. Then once or twice a week I manually backup the most important things to my Dropbox.

And maybe once every quarter I backup the crap into an external hard drive. And you don't want to cheap out on this.

But never ever anything automated that would backup my stuff into cloud.

And definitely do not use cheap USB sticks as those are very prone to just fall apart. Had a few die on me in a spectacular way that I was unable to recover absolutely anything out of them.

 

[dna]

I have a new backup. I bought 2 of these. Amazon sells them for $129 plus tax.
They are 2TB Windows 10 computers.

HP 8300 Elite Small Form Factor Desktop Computer (Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core, 8GB RAM, 2TB SATA,Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit) (Renewed)

$129.35