okay to leave connected all the time? I was planning to leave it connected so it could automatically back up my new and changed files as I create them... does anyone have an opinion about that?
1092119
All hard disk drives have spinning platters, bearings, and other moving parts, all subject to mechanical wear. Your external drive will last longer if you un-plug it while not in use. Windows 7 will eventually shut down ALL HDD's attached to the computer that are not being used; both internal and external, however, this could take about 20 minutes or so. It is best to unplug your external HDD. Steve (Electrical Engineer)
17350
No on off switch, but goes to sleep 15 minutes after its used. Mine is connected to a Synology server via USB 3.0. It backs up every night at 1 am, so have not see it actually "on" in quite a while. Back ups run just fine and the log shows they are all there daily with no errors. Now the reason it is asleep is due to a setting in the Synology software. I could have it on all the time, but why? If I manually access the drive thru the Synology server it comes right up with no issue, AND is fast! Thats the best part. I would buy another if I needed one, no problem.
1124425
Before I moved, I cleaned out my files and used mine for 4 hours. I would have to stop and empty it, but used it pretty continuously.It still works. I just wish it were larger.
1800854
The golden rules for any backup are the data relocation (save the data to another device). That means that backing up to an additional internal HD of your same device (e.g. a RAID storage technology) it's not the best choose for me though it's automatic. If you need a quick, simple and portable backup an external HD is the good choose. Otherwise if you want spend a little more time in configurations, you can try to buy a NAS device where you can remotely save ever you want, maybe configuring also some automatic jobs for synchronization.
241472
I have the newer model...doesn't overheat it seems but since I use Mozy backup and with their handy Android app, I have access to my files away from home anyway, so may dump this product. It works well, just reduntant for me.
420121
If you are asking if you can leave this connected to your computer then connect another drive via another usb port on your computer the answer is yes
832067
Yes, that's pretty much how I was seeing it... the only problem is that one day the SmartWare backup software screwed up when I logged in, and everything I had been backing up had vanished. I reformatted the drive, deleted SmartWare from my computer, and am now manually backing up at the end of the day, as I was before. I loved the instant backup function of the software, but I can't trust it now.
704650
Yes, you can leave it connected all of the time. It'll automatically stop charging when the battery is full. But why would you want to? The charger is always converting 110v AC house current to 12v DC battery charging current. That produces heat and wastes electricity (aka $$$). I unplug mine when the light goes green meaning the battery is charged.
956887
It's been a while since I started using it, but I think I just plugged it in, and it was automatic, as I recall. I know for sure that it was easy, and hasn't required any time to keep the backups going. I think it asks you about the desired frequency of backing up, and also whether incremental or total.
498912
i reread your question and here's a clarification. it automatically overrides data. old data gets deleted to constantly keeps about 3 weeks worth on hard drive at all times
1386249
make sure all your programs that pertain to your workings of the hard drive are closed and nothing is running. sometimes it takes a little while but it works for me. i've unplugged the hard drive without waiting at times and never lost anything. don't recommend it though.
316241
I have always been skeptical of syncing data files and would suggest backing up and restoring your data file as you work from laptop to desktop and vice versa - or having your desktop be also the server and then access it from your laptop.
973627
So far, for me, when the computer sleeps, it disconnects the drive. When it wakes, it mounts it again. Sometimes, it just disconnects and reconnects for me while I am working. :(
1591843
To be honest I am not sure. I always uploaded it to a computer before the memory filled up. Once it is not synced to a PC for a while, it starts taking longer to lock on a satillite. I do it every 2-3 weeks and the memory is always less then 10% full.
492897
It will spin down and standby automatically after about 5 minutes whether you want it to or not. For me it is a problem because it takes several seconds to come back online when you try to read or write to it. There is no way to change this behavior.
57957
Nah it only comes on intermittently, when it does it comes up garbage, i eventually got it to work and managed to recover some files off with recovery software but lost most of the stuff that was on it. Tried formatting etc and regardless of which computer its plugged into, it only connects intermittently and corrupts the data.
354991
I don't use my that often and I don't leave it connected, just when I want to copy or move items. I haven't had any problems with my.