Whether your primary use of the computer is for work or just internet browsing, we all have tons of invaluable data stored on our personal computers and laptops. This data is subject to loss from power surges, computer crashes, and older hard drives that become corrupted. Photos, programs, software, important files, settings, contacts, and favorite websites can all be lost in the blink of an eye. Some things may be irreplaceable. Others will still take countless hours of work to put back onto a new hard drive. For this reason, it is always a good idea to backup important files or even your entire hard drive.
Many users save important files on CD or DVD discs. This is a good solution for keeping backups of software, work files, and photos, but it will not save your settings, history, and set up in the case of a complete hard drive failure. Other options include external hard drives and hard drive duplicators. External hard drives are not subject to damage from most computer crashes, although they can get corrupted and stop operating properly after long use, in the same way internal drives do.
Another option is the hard drive duplicator. This is a stand-alone device that can quickly copy the entire contents of your hard drive onto a new one. Some models can also simply store the data in an internal archive. The higher end models also allow mapping and renaming of the various sections of your hard drive in order to avoid copying corrupted sections and files.
Hard drive duplicators can come in large tower models that copy multiple drives at once, or in small hand held sizes. Some require your hard drive to be removed from the computer and inserted into the device. Others connect directly to the computer via USB port, personal memory computer cards, or IDE cables. These are perfect for both technicians and everyday users. When corrupted and failing hard drives present problems, a fresh new copy can be made and then switched with the old one.
There are both pros and cons to any backup method used. Saving individual files and software to discs is a cheap way of creating backups, but it does not save the entire contents of your system in case of a complete hard drive failure. External hard drives offer a more comprehensive solution for a higher price, but are still subject to corruption and failure as they get older. Hard drive duplicators are an excellent solution, but do tend to be more expensive than an external drive. The biggest benefit with this type of device is that they allow for multiple backups to be made. The one device can also be used for multiple computers.
When purchasing a hard drive duplicator, there are many options. Models start as low as $100.00 and can reach into the thousands. Look for name brand models that only have the options and features you need. For personal use, a base model should do just fine.
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