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Question

Seagate or Western Digital External Desktop Hard Drive?

Apr 18, 2011 10:48AM PDT

Hello All
I'm looking to purchase a 500 GB external hard drive to do backups. My computer is Win XP SP3 with USB 2.0 ports. I have Norton Ghost v 15.
I've researched and have seen both good and bad for both Seagate and WD drives. Realizing individuals wants/needs/opinions are specific to an individual, I would like some feedback on what people think of the above manufacturers and the various drives they produce.
I'm leaning towards a Desktop external rather than a portable, just for the sake of the Desktop having a connection to a power supply that's not the computer.
This drive would be used once a week, explicitly for backing up the internal drive. However, I am not adverse to purchasing 2 drives and doing a 'double' backup every week.
Any comments are appreciated.
Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Saegate or Western Digital
May 14, 2011 9:23AM PDT

I have a WD Elements which I was suppose to use as a backup but got lazy and used it twice when visiting my brother in another state who would put movies etc on it. Found on a the second trip I could not drag or copy anything off it. Had I/O error had it checked and told it was not going to work.
My brother is advising me to get a 1t seagate passport as he thinks WD's are rubbish but I see the consensus is divided. I have been looking at the WD My Book Elite 1t but I am so confused what to get. I am not tech savvy just want to back pics and family history records.

thanks appreciate any advise

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Which ever you choose, where's the backup copy?
May 14, 2011 9:27AM PDT

Maybe it's time to have one of each make?

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Answer
Re: Seagate or Western Digital
Apr 18, 2011 11:20PM PDT

Given the choice of either Seagate or WD, I would choose WD every time without hesitation.

All three Seagate external drives I had failed within 9 months & started behaving erratically well before that.
By contrast, my WD replacements have given me no trouble at all.