Building a Low Cost Portable Back-Up Solution

<h1>Building a Low Cost Portable Back-Up Solution</h1>Author: <a title="Phil Battison" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/phil-battison/169289.htm">Phil Battison</a> Whilst the price of USB Memory Sticks continues to fall, the larger 16GB and 32GB versions are still pretty expensive. Whilst the more affordable 8GB memory sticks offer a reasonable amount of storage for many its not enough to act as a true back up solution. Lets face it today many people are downloading or copying music file, movies, photo’s, games and the occasional work file. All of this should be backed up and stored safely and USB Memory sticks just aren’t man enough for the job. For some people backing up files is not enough because they need the data to be portable, so large back up hard drive solutions from companies like Maxtor, Lacie and Freecom that require a mains power unit are not really suitable. These products are excellent if they can positioned next to the PC you are backing the data up from but they’re really designed to stay in one place. Their size, weight and need for external power makes them unsuitable as a portable backup solution. A more affordable and truly portable solution that does not compromise on quality or storage capacity is to use a 2.5” hard drive enclosure and a 2.5” (laptop sized) Hard Disk. A new 320GB 2.5” hard disk won’t costs a fortune and when combined with a laptop hard drive enclosure will give you a high capacity portable storage solution. But, the real cost saving opportunity is using an enclosure with a hard disk recovered from an old, discarded laptop – even if the hard disk you recover is only 80GB you’ll still end up with a back-up solution for the cost of an 8GB Memory stick! Taking the hard drive out of the laptop is relatively easy providing you’re handy with a screwdriver and inserting it into a<a href="http://www.usbnow.co.uk/Hard_Drive_Enclosures/c10/index.html" target="_self" title="hard drive enclosure"> hard drive enclosure</a> is equally easy – the connectors on the end of the hard drive just push into the interface inside the enclosure and typically a couple of screws hold it all in place. If you’re using a new hard disk drive then it will need formatting before it can be used to store data on. Recovered hard disks typically just plug and play but make sure if the drive has jumper settings that its set to “master”. Good quality enclosures for 2.5” disks will be manufactured from aluminium (to aid heat dissipation), they’ll come with leather carrying case (to protect the case and contents) and all the necessary cables you need. The beauty of these smaller cases is that they don’t need a power “brick” to run. They draw all the power they need from the USB lead that connects them to the PC. There are branded bundles available to buy off the shelf but building your own is easy, it’s not intimidating, it’ll save you money and you have the chance to recycle an old hard disk.  About the Author: "USBNow is a specialist supplier of USB Products including USB Cables, USB Adapters, USB Memory Sticks, <A href="href">Hard Drive Enclosure </A>, USB Cases, <a href="href">express
card adapters </a> and lots more besides. - check out our site for the latest products, news and for support - <A href="href">USBNow </A>"Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/building-a-low-cost-portable-backup-solution-1011516.html" title="Building a Low Cost Portable Back-Up Solution">Building a Low Cost Portable Back-Up Solution</a>

Whilst the price of USB Memory Sticks continues to fall, the larger 16GB and 32GB versions are still pretty expensive. Whilst the more affordable 8GB memory sticks offer a reasonable amount of storage for many its not enough to act as a true back up solution. Lets face it today many people are downloading or copying music file, movies, photo’s, games and the occasional work file. All of this should be backed up and stored safely and USB Memory sticks just aren’t man enough for the job.

For some people backing up files is not enough because they need the data to be portable, so large back up hard drive solutions from companies like Maxtor, Lacie and Freecom that require a mains power unit are not really suitable. These products are excellent if they can positioned next to the PC you are backing the data up from but they’re really designed to stay in one place. Their size, weight and need for external power makes them unsuitable as a portable backup solution.

A more affordable and truly portable solution that does not compromise on quality or storage capacity is to use a 2.5” hard drive enclosure and a 2.5” (laptop sized) Hard Disk.

A new 320GB 2.5” hard disk won’t costs a fortune and when combined with a laptop hard drive enclosure will give you a high capacity portable storage solution. But, the real cost saving opportunity is using an enclosure with a hard disk recovered from an old, discarded laptop – even if the hard disk you recover is only 80GB you’ll still end up with a back-up solution for the cost of an 8GB Memory stick!

Taking the hard drive out of the laptop is relatively easy providing you’re handy with a screwdriver and inserting it into a hard drive enclosure is equally easy – the connectors on the end of the hard drive just push into the interface inside the enclosure and typically a couple of screws hold it all in place.

If you’re using a new hard disk drive then it will need formatting before it can be used to store data on. Recovered hard disks typically just plug and play but make sure if the drive has jumper settings that its set to “master”.

Good quality enclosures for 2.5” disks will be manufactured from aluminium (to aid heat dissipation), they’ll come with leather carrying case (to protect the case and contents) and all the necessary cables you need. The beauty of these smaller cases is that they don’t need a power “brick” to run. They draw all the power they need from the USB lead that connects them to the PC.

There are branded bundles available to buy off the shelf but building your own is easy, it’s not intimidating, it’ll save you money and you have the chance to recycle an old hard disk.

"USBNow is a specialist supplier of USB Products including USB Cables, USB Adapters, USB Memory Sticks, Hard Drive Enclosure , USB Cases, express card adapters and lots more besides. - check out our site for the latest products, news and for support - USBNow "

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/building-a-low-cost-portable-backup-solution-1011516.html

Related Videos
Related Articles
Ask / Related Q&A

Play

Eagle Tech Consus 3.5" SATA Hard Drive Enclosure Review

Play

How to Initialize a New Hard Drive

Play

How to Recover Hard Drive Data

Play

Tech Review - Vantec NexStar External Hard Drive Enclosures

Play

Tech Review - SilentDrive Hard Drive Enclosure

Latest Information Technology Articles
More from Phil Battison

Examsoon COG-400 exam materials

By: Adela1987 | 22/12/2009
Our most popular Examsoon COG-400 exam training product is the COG-400 questions and answers with a downloadable testing engine. Use the Examsoon COG-400 exam simulator to prepare for your upcoming exam and pass it with confidence!

Examsoon 000-081 exam questions and answers

By: Adela1987 | 22/12/2009
The IBM 000-081 practice test that we can provide are based on the extensive research and real-world experiences from our online trainers, with over 10 years of IT and certification experience. Custom written content for on-the-go professionals such as yourself. 000-081 exam, including 000-081 questions and answers feed into our larger product base. You can also enjoy 000-081 study guide, and the new and improved 000-081 demo to pass the exam.

Examsoon 642-533 Training Tests

By: Adela1987 | 22/12/2009
Examsoon offers online Training Resources for Cisco 642-533 Exam. Our 642-533 Training Tests consist of free Study Guide, 642-533 Practice Questions and Answers. All of our 642-533 Certification Training Exams are dynamically updated, most accurate and economical.

Examsoon 70-680 study materials

By: Adela1987 | 22/12/2009
Microsoft 70-680 exam is very important in your future work. Examsoon Microsoft 70-680 Training Tools help you pass your 70-680 Exam in your first attempt. Just download the Examsoon Microsoft 70-680 Practice Questions & Answers, Microsoft 70-680 Practice Testing Software.

Examsoon 1Z0-051 practice exam questions

By: Adela1987 | 22/12/2009
Examsoon 1Z0-051 Exam Resources include Questions and Answers, Practice Testing Software, Stud Guides, Audio Learning and Preparation Labs. These Oracle 1Z0-051 Exam Preparation Materials will make you provide the accurate answers of real 1Z0-051 exam questions. With our Exam Resources you can test your knowledge and readiness for exam, assess your performance in a given time, get scores and highlicghted weaknesses with suggestions to improve the weak areas.

Examsoon 1Z0-051 practice exam questions

PR Agencies and Customised USB Memory Sticks

By: Phil Battison | 20/11/2009 | Advertising
Have you considered using Customised USB Memory sticks to help your clients get their messages out? Perhaps its time to take a look at the advantages they can offer

Branded Memory Sticks – Buyer Beware

By: Phil Battison | 29/10/2009 | Branding
Buying branded memory sticks should be easy, painless andyou should of course get what you have paid for. Unfortunately this is now always the case and there are some basics things you need to consider.

Pantone Matched Branded Memory Sticks

By: Phil Battison | 29/10/2009 | Branding
If you're considering getting some printed USB memory sticks for an event or campaign then you might want to consider getting the memory stick body pantone matched to one of your logos primary colours. The results looks stunning and the costs increase is marginal

Custom USB Memory Sticks - Why

By: Phil Battison | 29/10/2009 | Branding
Brnaded memory sticks are great, very popular, relatively cheap and they get your brand "out there" but in terms of "wow" factor they don't come close to a well thought out and manufactured custom memory stick.

Top 10 Tips For Buying USB Memory Sticks Printed with your Logo On

By: Phil Battison | 29/10/2009 | Branding
Memory Sticks printed with your logo on are very popular but like most things there are some golden rules you are advised to follow when looking to buy them

Promotional USB Sticks – Is Preloaded Data A Good Idea

By: Phil Battison | 06/10/2009 | Branding
Increasingly customers are loading data onto branded and promotional USB memory sticks. It’s a trend that’s been developing for a couple of years now as more and more people realise the real benefit if preloading data onto the sticks. The simple act of printing your logo or brand on a USB memory stick will create a fantastic promotional tool that will well received by anyone its given to. It will help develop and promote your brand and because USB memory sticks are used your brand will stay

Top 10 Tips for Buying Custom USB Memory Sticks

By: Phil Battison | 06/10/2009 | Branding
There is a real growth in the demand for custom USB Memory sticks but for many the world of promotional memory sticks, branded memory sticks, printed memory sticks and custom USB memory sticks is all a bit of a mystery. To help you understand what they are and how to go about ordering them here’s our top 10 tips:

Custom USB Memory Sticks Help You To Make An Impression

By: Phil Battison | 21/09/2009 | Branding
If you’ve got an important announcement, product launch or brand launch and you want to tell people about it then, one way is to commission a custom USB memory stick. Whilst the USB Memory stick won’t do the job for you on its own it will, when used as part of a co-ordinated campaign, increase significantly the amount of “buzz and excitement” around any such announcement.