Need to replace my external drives

[kimmer]

Over the past year-plus, I’ve had several probs with my external drives. Thanks to help from folks here, I’ve always been able to recover the drive—but not always the data.

Now I’m having more issues. Research shows that one drive probably has a failing SATA drive. The other drive is simply failing. I believe part of the problem is because my power backup/surge protector unit is no longer functioning as it should, so I’m going to replace that as well. I’m also going to replace the lamp I use. Why? Well, the lamp and the power backup unit are both plugged into the same wall socket (the lamp is NOT plugged into the power backup as there isn’t a socket available), and every time the bulb in the lamp has gone out, it causes the power backup unit to take a hit and it beeps and everything has a momentary blink. My theory (I’m not an electrician and this may be a weird theory), but I think the lamp has helped to damage the power backup unit and in turn my external drives have been hit with surges.

So it’s time to replace the power backup unit and the two external drives. I searched through here and every recommended drive is “no longer available”, so I’m looking for suggestions on what you know to be reliable external drives.

I’ll need cases and drives. If it’s really cheaper, I can figure out how to put drive in case; but if it’s not really cheaper then I’ll buy the unit. Whatever I buy has to be mail-order unless Staples carries it (they will order it order for me if need be).

Thanks in advance.

[Xairbusdriver]

You get what you pay for, especially in drives. When you buy a pre-assembled unit, you usually don't get to know what brand of drive is in it, even if you know the brand, you may not know any other details. Buyer Beware.

What type/brand of "backup/surge" protection do you have? All are not equal. Buyer Beware.

Gotta go, Sun is already closed form the day, early departure for me in the morning (check your PM's).

[jwboyd]

Call the folks at Other World Computing (OWC). They speak English, will answer your questions, and will give you excellent guidance. I use their MiniStack pre-assembled external drives and have no problems with them.

Joe

[Paddy]

Kimmer, I use Vantec enclosures (the Superspeed one with USB 3.0) and Western Digital Caviar Black drives with the 5 year warranties. I've also had good luck with Macally enclosures.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16817392039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822236625 (1 TB WD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817347038

What capacity drives are you looking at?

If you want physically smaller drives, I also use Seagate Backup Plus portable (2.5") portable drives (2TB) and the Hitachi Touro 2.5" portable drives (1TB) - both are USB 3.0 and great little drives. The Seagate has a 3 year warranty. In both cases, one knows that the drives inside are from the respective drive manufacturers.

[kimmer]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Aug 5 2014, 02:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Kimmer, I use Vantec enclosures (the Superspeed one with USB 3.0) and Western Digital Caviar Black drives with the 5 year warranties. I've also had good luck with Macally enclosures.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?...N82E16817392039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822236625 (1 TB WD)

Thanks, Paddy. I ordered the above. I had fun trying to figure out why I had two shopping carts until I realized the Vantec link was to newegg in Canada.