external drives

In just looking at external drives- I am seeing a lot of usb 3.0.

I think I remember that a 2.0 device will run in a 3.0 port at the slower speed - is that correct?

But , what about a 3.0 device -will it run in a 2.0 port (at the slower speed)?

Thank
Fay

Apparently so, and with no loss of speed. See www.pcworld.com/article/186566

Repa,

Thanks a lot.

Fay

Repa,

I have some more questions.

I think you told me you use a "network" drive?
Does it attach to the router?
Are they as durable as the portable drives. Not sure ,but seems like the portable drives my be a little more resistant to damage by "shock" than some others. How are the net work drives.

I chose my backup program because it has an option to get rid of files that have been deleted on the original - I really like that option. But, it does not have some functions that others have. It does not have a schedule option. I have not done that in the past , but after finding myself without a more recent backup -I may have to rethink that.
When we were talking backups before, I think you were going to look into some. Did you find anything that will clear off deleted files and allow scheduling?

Thanks
Fay

Fay, I have a Seagate GoFlex 2TB network storage device that connects to my network ethernet hub, and a 2 TB Seagate GoFlex Home external hard drive. Both have their own backup software and scheduling option. Whether they get rid of files on the external HD that are no longer on the couputer, I don't know as I don't use them. I'm thinking about trying the Seagate GoFlex Home external HD backup software to see what it does, but I won't use the one for the network storage device. It seem to want to do whatever it wanted to do without me selecting what I wanted it to do. You have to be careful with the network drive as it is accessible from anywhere on the internet unless you block that option, and still you can access it with username and password by going to the Seagate login webpage for the Seagate network device. You have to use their setup routine to get things going, and it sets itself up to communicate with Seagate in a Cloud, I think. Not what I wanted - I just wanted it to be known only to my network, not Seagate too. I think I have their access blocked now and change the password periodically to make sure, but I still have to go to their login webpage to do that. There were times when the thing was spinning like crazy making a racket like it does when a lot of data transfer is going on, and I wasn't doing anything with it. Turned it off, back on, went to the login page at Seagate and changed my password and it quit doing that. So I change the password periodically, and use very strong passwords. With the other Seagate external HD connected to one of my computers, this is not an issue, and I have my network setup so that I can access either from any computer. I did not use their setup software to connect it to my computer, just connected it and started using it. Windows loaded the drivers needed. I do back up all my computers on the network drive using Back4Sure, but will use the other for storing the backup Images for each computer. You can't access the network storage device with the Macrium Reflect rescue disk with the Linux OS, but with the external HD, all you have to do is connect it to the computer you want to restore the image to.

Guess I got kind of wordy. Hope this helps!

Repa,

I had been wondering about some of the issues you mentioned. I am going to forget the network drive - I do not really need it.

I did not mind that back4sure did not have a scheduler since I kind of prefer to decide for myself when it runs. But, My most recent data backup is over 2 months old. except for my check data which I backup when I reconcile and is maybe a month old. I did not realize it, but looks like I got so distracted with the issues over my thumb, that I quit doing the backups. I knew I was not doing them as often, but did not realize I had just quit.

So, I may need to start scheduling to prevent that from happening again, but I do not know of any that will both delete the old files and allow scheduling.
Also guess I would have to just keep a drive attached to a USB on the back of the computer. Really do not like that. Do not have that much room on the desk - kind of afraid it will get knocked off and crash it. urghhhhhh
Also do not know when to schedule, I do not always leave the computer on at night and do not like it running when I am working. I am not sure what to do.

I was doing ok, running the backup almost every day- till I got so distracted with retirement ,surgery etc. Just do not trust myself now.

Thanks for the information.
Fay