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Auto Backup Software for External Hard Drive

External hard drive backup software, like Handy Backup, is essential for comprehensive data protection. It creates robust backups to defend against various losses and incidents.

Backup to external hard drive not only minimizes the risk of system failures but also leverages cost-effective data storage for backup purposes. Additionally, it enables the physical transfer of data between computers, mitigating potential risks associated with network attacks. Explore the full features and benefits of our reliable backup software with a 30-day trial version. Download now to safeguard your data with confidence.

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Version 8.5.8 , built on October 31, 2024. 118 MB
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Best External Hard Drive for PC Backup

Currently, all methods of backing up to an external hard drive showcase consistent reliability, irrespective of the manufacturer or the use of HDD or SSD for data storage. Whether you choose products from Western Digital, Toshiba, or any alternative supplier, Handy Backup remains a trustworthy external backup software solution for your external backup needs. The software seamlessly employs standard Windows drivers, ensuring a trouble-free backup to USB.

Automatic Backup on USB Drive Upon Connection

Configure backup tasks to initiate automatically when you plug the specified device into any USB slot on your PC, regardless of the specific slot used.

Preserving Backups in Native Data Formats

Utilize backup information without restoration, as the program stores data on external storage in native formats, enabling direct use of this data from backups.

Backup Compression and Encryption

Benefit from options for compressing backup data to optimize storage space and encryption for the highest level of data security, featuring military-grade protection.

Backup Scheduling

Schedule your external drive backups to occur regularly, based on time or system event schedules. Additionally, establish a "silent" work mode by initiating the task as a Windows service.

External Hard Drive Backup Software Reviews

Review About Hard Drive Backup by Handy Backup

"I like Handy Backup because I can see what has been backed up immediately and know it’s there on my external storage. It is a perfect external hard drive software solution, and you can trust it fully!"

Russell, President of NGO

Review About Hard Drive Software by Handy Backup 2

"I’ve used this for years. I particularly like the fact that I can restore files by just going to the backup location and retrieving them without having to use a restore function. This is very important to me. Also, I glad to utilize its external hard drive backup software functions, such as making auto backups by plugging USB storage to a machine."

Jane, a Handy Backup business user

Initiating Automatic Backup Tasks upon USB Drive Connection

Handy Backup exemplifies the best external hard drive for PC backup. It boasts a highly beneficial feature that automatically starts a backup task when a user plugs the designated USB backup drive into a PC.

Automatic Backup Task by Plugging the USB Drive

Whenever you connect your external hard disk to a USB port, the task associated with this device will commence as per the scheduled action. The program can remember the USB backup device you use for a task, identifying it regardless of the specific drive letter or USB port.

How to Back up Files to an External Hard Drive

When it comes to backing up files to external hard drives, Handy Backup prioritizes user convenience. If you are backing up common data types such as documents, images, or videos, there are pre-configured backup presets that streamline the process with just a few clicks.

Launch Handy Backup and initiate a new task by using the "Create" option or pressing Ctrl+N. Choose a backup task;
Enable the "Use Advanced mode" option;
Select the data you intend to back up with this task;
During Step 3, designate the external hard drive as the backup destination;
Proceed to configure your backup task as usual. These steps are not exclusive to USB backup tasks;
In Step 6, check the box that permits initiating the task when the USB backup device is connected;

Complete the task creation process by assigning a name to your task.

External Hard Drive Backup Software for Entire Disks

In addition to simply copying any data to an external drive, you can perform a system backup or clone drive images to a USB disk. If you need to create a comprehensive Windows backup to external hard drive, you can accomplish this seamlessly, either by saving an image file or by cloning a disk to an external USB unit.

You can execute a Windows backup to an external drive with all system functions, including making the external disk bootable. However, to use it as a boot device, you must configure your BIOS settings to permit loading from USB, whether for Legacy or UEFI.

Note: Windows backup to external drive, as well as making a copy of a well-used data drive, can require a lot of storage space from a USB disk. For example, the best external hard drive for Windows 10 backup must have at least 250 GB of free space.

Why External Hard Drive Backup Alone Isn't Enough

Often, external hard drives and computers are kept in close proximity. This proximity can make both devices susceptible to theft, fire, or other emergencies. In the event of a disaster, having your backup stored in a separate location is crucial to ensuring data recovery.
External hard drive backup typically requires manual intervention. If new data is added, there's a risk of forgetting to connect the drive and perform the backup. This dependence on manual processes introduces the potential for gaps in your backup strategy, leaving your most recent data unprotected.
When your external drive is not physically nearby, accessing your backed-up files can become challenging. This limitation is especially problematic if you need urgent access to crucial data and don't have the external drive on hand. Utilizing backup software to an external hard drive can address this issue efficiently.

External Hard Drive Backup Storage: What to Do and What to Avoid

Here are the pros and cons of using an external hard drive for backup. We present some of its advantages and challenges in the form of a comparison table.

Features	Advantages	Problems
Storage cost	Relatively low	No
Theft counter-measures	Allows physical protection	Susceptible to loss and theft
Reliability	Good to excellent	Mechanically unstable (HDD) Degrading while rewrite (SSD)
Backup and recovery speed	Very high (with USB 3.0)	No

FAQ: External Hard Drive Backup Best Practices

1. What is the typical lifespan of a backup on an external hard drive?

The lifespan of an external hard drive backup varies based on several factors such as the drive's quality, usage, and environmental conditions. On average, external hard drives can last between three to five years. Regularly updating and replacing older drives can help maintain a reliable backup solution.

2. Is it better to use disk cloning or disk imaging for hard drive backups?

The choice between disk cloning and disk imaging depends on your specific needs. Disk cloning creates an exact copy of the entire drive, suitable for quick recovery, while disk imaging creates a compressed file of the drive's contents. Cloning is preferable for rapid restoration, while imaging provides more flexibility in managing storage space.

3. Can I create backups of unlimited data volume?

Yes, whether it's a few gigabytes or several terabytes, Handy Backup has got you covered!

Automatic Backup to External Hard Drive: Video Example

This instructional video will walk you through the process of setting up auto backup to external hard drive. It covers selecting versioned backups with timestamps for organized version sorting, compressing backup files into a single ZIP file to optimize storage space, and demonstrating various additional techniques. These include triggering a task upon USB insertion, providing you with a comprehensive guide to efficient external hard drive backup practices.