External Hard drive back up for my IMAC

[MARTINSR]

I am sure it's been discussed here a million times but doing a search didn't answer my question. I guess I am as bad a searching as I am at knowing what to do with my IMAC.

Sooooo, I have no back up, and I don't want to loose everything I have so I finally broke down and bought a back up, a Seagate "Backup plus" 2TB

Amazon.com: Seagate Backup Plus 2 TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive for Mac (STCB2000900): Computers & Accessories


And while I was out getting this, my wife bought one as well, a "My Passport" 1TB.

Amazon.com: WD My Passport for Mac 1TB Portable External Hard Drive Storage USB 3.0 (WDBLUZ0010BSL-NESN): Computers & Accessories

Outside of the larger size of the Seagate ( I will NEVER need that much) is there anything better about either one?

I will be returning one of them so I would like to keep the best one being I have them both sitting here.

Thanks alot!

Brian

 

[harryb2448]

Well one question is the iMac actually a USB23 model? If so for thirty bucks I would suggest keeping the 2TB model.

WD v Seagate is a matter of personal opinion. Have used both and found them to be reasonably reliable considering all platter drives will fail some time or other..

 

[MARTINSR]

Ok, here is my ignorance showing, what it eh USB23 you refer to? Do you mean USB3.....I just did some some google searching and no, it is not, crap. Ok, so the dude at the "McComputer" store didn't help me much at all did he? Ok, so is the Passport would be ok then?

Brian

 

[RadDave]

Ok, here is my ignorance showing, what it eh USB23 you refer to? Do you mean USB3.....I just did some some google searching and no, it is not, crap. Ok, so the dude at the "McComputer" store didn't help me much at all did he? Ok, so is the Passport would be ok then?

Hi Brian - the question is whether the USB ports on your iMac are 2 vs. 3 standards, but not to worry, if you iMac has only USB 2 ports, the external HDs are back compatible and will work fine just at the slower speed of the earlier standard; plus, if you upgrade your computer the new one will certainly have USB 3 ports (or a later version).

For myself, I have 1TB USB 3.0 external HDs running Time Machine on my iMac & MBPro. As to your choice, probably does not make much difference - if the extra capacity is not a concern and you want to save a few bucks, then that may be the determining factor. Dave

 

[chscag]

There is something you need to be aware of though... If your machine is USB 2.0 and you purchase an external hard drive that is USB 3.0, make sure that a USB 3.0 cable is included in the box. USB 3.0 cables and USB 2.0 cables are not backward compatible even though the ports themselves are. The drive connector end on a USB 3.0 cable is different than the drive connector end on a USB 2.0 cable.

 

[RadDave]

There is something you need to be aware of though... If your machine is USB 2.0 and you purchase an external hard drive that is USB 3.0, make sure that a USB 3.0 cable is included in the box. USB 3.0 cables and USB 2.0 cables are not backward compatible even though the ports themselves are. The drive connector end on a USB 3.0 cable is different than the drive connector end on a USB 2.0 cable.

Hi Chscag - I should have mentioned that there is a different USB 3.0 plug (w/ an indentation like the pic below) - but just took a look at my 2 external HDs which are USB 3.0 and both have hybrid cables, i.e. one end that plugs into the drives have the indented appearance below, however the other end has the standard looking USB 2.0 ends - on my MBPro the USB ports have to older appearing connections - SO, I'm assuming that our OP likely has these hybrid cables and should work fine - just some additional observations. Dave

 

[chscag]

The forward facing end of that adapter is what the connector looks like that plugs into the female connector on a USB 3 hard drive while the other end is compatible with the USB 2 or 3 ports on your Mac. Most new hard drives that are USB 3.0 should include a cable in the box. If not, they can be expensive when buying one separately.

 

[MARTINSR]

Thanks guys, this forum has been soooooooo great!

Brian

 

[harryb2448]

If you do not have USB3, consider FW800. Much much faster.

 

[MARTINSR]

Thanks, I am using the Passport, now I need to figure out just how to use it.

Brian

 

[RadDave]

Thanks, I am using the Passport, now I need to figure out just how to use it.

Hi again Brian - the quote below is from your Amazon link, i.e. the HD is already formatted for your iMac and Time Machine is what you need to use (at least for your initial backup - most of us here have 'redundant' backups, especially of important personal files). Good luck - Dave

The Passport for Mac is HFS+ journaled so it works right out of the box with your Mac computer, but it can be reformatted for Windows. It is also compatible with Apple Time Machine backup software.

 

[MARTINSR]

Thanks! I know it's doing it's job, I am talking about retrieving things and that sort of thing.

Brian

 

[Slydude]

Thanks! I know it's doing it's job, I am talking about retrieving things and that sort of thing.

Brian

If you are using Time Machine the restoration process is pretty straightforward. Here's a quick overview of how it's done. The article mentions entering TiMe Machine from the icon in the menu bar but you can also enter it from the icon in the Dock.