Protect your files: How to backup to an external hard drive

Making regular backups is vitally important to ensure the security and integrity of our data. Failure to do so can lead to serious problems in the event of technical failures, malware attacks, or physical loss of the storage device. In this article, we will learn how to make a backup to an external hard drive , one of the best options to protect our files.

What is an external hard drive and why use it for backups

An external hard drive is a portable storage device that connects to a computer or device via a USB cable. Unlike a computer's internal hard drive , the external hard drive can be moved and used on different devices, making it an excellent option for backup .

There are several advantages to using an external hard drive for backups:

• Portability: An external hard drive can be easily taken anywhere, allowing backup files to be accessed on different devices.
• Storage capacity: External hard drives usually have a large storage capacity, allowing you to back up large amounts of data.
• Transfer Speed: External hard drives offer fast data transfer speed, speeding up the backup process.
• Connectivity: These devices are compatible with most operating systems and can be easily connected via a USB port.

Step 1: Select the right external hard drive

The first step to making a backup to an external hard drive is to select the right device for our needs.

There are different types of external hard drives available in the market such as portable hard drives, desktop hard drives, and solid state drives (SSD) . It is important to evaluate our specific needs and choose an external hard drive that fits them.

When selecting an external hard drive, we must consider storage capacity, transfer speed, and connectivity. It is advisable to choose a hard drive with a storage capacity greater than what we need at that moment, to be able to save more files in the future without having to change hard drives.

Tip: Before purchasing an external hard drive , do your research and read user reviews to ensure you get a good quality and reliable device.

Step 2: Prepare the external hard drive for backup

Once we have selected the appropriate external hard drive, we must prepare it for backup.

The first step is to format the external hard drive correctly. This action will delete all existing data on the disk and prepare the device to receive the new backup files.

There are different file systems that can be used to format an external hard drive, such as FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS . It is important to choose the appropriate format according to our needs and the operating system we use.

Recommendation: If the external hard drive will be used mainly on computers with Windows operating systems, it is advisable to use the NTFS format. On the other hand, if it will be used on different operating systems, such as Windows and Mac, the exFAT format is more suitable.

Step 3: Select and organize the files to backup

Once the external hard drive is prepared, we must carefully select the files we want to backup. It is not necessary to back up all the files on our device, as this can take up unnecessary space on the external hard drive.

It is advisable to organize files into categories or folders before backing up. This will make it easier to identify the files and recover them if necessary.

The most common types of files that are usually backed up include important documents, photos, videos, music, and any other personal files that are valuable to the user.

Tip: If you have very large or low-value files, you may consider excluding them from the backup to save space on your external hard drive.

Step 4: Back up to external hard drive

Once we have selected and organized the files to backup, it is time to make the backup to the external hard drive.

There are different ways to perform the backup: manually or using specialized software.

To perform a manual backup:

1. Connect the external hard drive to your device.
2. Copy the selected files and paste them to the corresponding location on the external hard drive.

Performing a manual backup may be more laborious and time-consuming, but it offers a greater level of control over the backed up files.

To make a backup using specialized software:

1. Download and install reliable backup software on your device.
2. Follow the instructions provided by the software to set up backup to the external hard drive.
3. Launch the software and allow it to automatically backup selected files to the external hard drive.

Using specialized software can speed up the backup process and offers additional features such as automatic backup scheduling.

Recommendation: When backing up, it is important to ensure that all files are being backed up correctly and that no errors have occurred.

Step 5: Verify backup integrity

Once the backup has been completed, it is important to verify the integrity of the backed up files . This will ensure that the files were copied correctly and are not corrupted or incomplete.

There are different methods to verify the integrity of backed up files. Some backup software has built-in integrity checking features that can be used for this purpose.

There are also specific integrity check software, which scans the backed up files and generates detailed reports on their status.

Tip: It is advisable to perform regular checks of the integrity of the backup to detect possible problems in time and correct them.

Step 6: Keep your backup up to date

Backing up files should not be considered a one-time task , but rather an ongoing process. It is important to keep your backup up to date to avoid losing recent data.

Establishing a backup routine regularly is a good practice to ensure that all relevant files are backed up.

Some backup software offers the option to automatically schedule backups at specific intervals, such as daily, weekly, or monthly. This feature is useful to ensure that the backup is always up to date without having to do it manually.

Tip: It is recommended that you make additional backups before making major changes to files or the operating system. This will ensure that in case of problems you can always go back to a previous version of the files.

Step 7: Properly Protect and Store the External Hard Drive

Proper external hard drive protection and storage is crucial to ensure the durability and security of the backed up data .

Some tips to protect external hard drive include:

• Use protective covers or cases that cushion shocks and protect the device from scratches.
• Do not expose the external hard drive to extreme temperatures or humidity.
• Avoid spilling liquids on the device.
• Do not unplug or disconnect the external hard drive while it is in use.

Additionally, it is important to protect the external hard drive against physical and cyber threats . To do this, the following measures can be taken:

• Use passwords and encryption to protect files backed up on the external hard drive.
• Use security software, such as antivirus and anti-malware programs, to protect your device against cyber threats.
• Perform periodic scans of the external hard drive in search of possible threats or malicious files.

Finally, it is important to store the external hard drive in a safe place and away from possible risks , such as fire, floods or theft. Saving it in a separate location from your computer or backup location is also a good practice to prevent data loss in case of damage or theft.

Conclusions and final recommendations

In short, making regular backups to an external hard drive is essential to protect our important files and data . Using an external hard drive offers portability, storage capacity, transfer speed, and ease of connectivity.

We emphasize the importance of taking backups regularly and keeping the backup up to date . This will ensure that our data is protected and that we can recover it in case of any mishap.

Remember to select the right external hard drive , prepare it correctly, select and organize the files to be backed up, perform the backup using specialized software or manually, verify the integrity of the backup, and properly protect and store the external hard drive.

With these steps and recommendations, you will be able to backup your files efficiently and keep your data safe.

FAQs and resolutions

Below we answer some frequently asked questions about creating external hard drive backups: