Buying An External Hard Drive On Which To Store Photographs

[Ninnynanny]

I have 1000s of photographs on my PC, not a laptop. I would like to copy them to external hard drive in case of problems with my PC.

Please could someone suggest a model, simple and easy to use, my PC is using Windows 10. I would only be using it as a photo storage facility.

I am not good with technology terms so please use simple terms. Thank you very much.

[jackthehat]

To be perfectly honest they are all as simple to use as each other.
They vary wildly in price...this has to do, mainly, with the amount of storage space they have.....

Argos have a good range.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/ID72/33025533/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CTechnology%7C33006169/c_2/2%7C33006169%7CLaptops+and+PCs%7C33007795/c_3/3%7Ccat_33007795%7CHard+drives,+USBs+and+data+storage%7C33017116/c_4/4%7Ccat_33017116%7CHard+drives%7C33025533.htm

[murraymints]

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

I have this for photos

[EverClean]

Using cloud storage would probably be easier. You can get a free amount of storage from many providers, such as Google Drive and then save the photos there. You can then access the photos from wherever you have access to the internet.

[jno]

I've got a Toshiba DTC 810. It fits in the palm of your hand. You just plug it into a USB port on your PC, click on "computer" on your PC so it brings both up (one will be probably be called C drive, the other will be assigned some other letter) then you just drag and drop photos from one to the other - it won't move them, just copy them.

It can take quite a while to copy thousands of photos.

[jomifl]

You might consider USB stick memories, they come in very large capacities now and don't take up much space.

[murraymints]

if sorted into folders is quicker to copy out

[jno]

oh yes, as jth says, storage space: find out how much space your pictures already take up (right click on My Photos or whatever your photos folder is called, then Properties and it should tell you how many gigabytes you're already using), figure out how long it's taken to fill up that many and how many mroe you're likely to need in the future, and buy accordingly. r

[Ninnynanny]

Thank you for your replies so far, very grateful. I have moved to the next step via jno's suggestion. Photos are using 16.3 GB on my PC. that has been since the year 2006. So maybe up to 30 GB, will give me enough space for the next 10 years of taking photographs. My hands are shaky a bit now, in fact I am thinking of changing my camera for one with a better shake control! if there is such a thing. I only use a compact camera but I am going to change it soon for one with a better zoom.
But I do like taking and keeping photographs using a camera, not other appliancies. Will wait to read your next comments, thank you.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Decide how much you wish to spend and then try ebuyer.co.uk - you`ll get a 1 terabyte (TB) for about £60.

[Ninnynanny]

how does a terabyte relate to a GB, I have not heard that word before.

[Hymie]

Why not burn them to DVD, each which could store 4.7GB of data.
I would argue such a strategy would be more secure than a second mechanical/magnetic storage medium – which by their nature are prone to failure.

If the photos are really important to you, you could burn 2 sets of disks and store them securely at separate locations.

[TTG]

Get 2 drives. Store them all on one and another say 500gb for the most precious ones. Store that offsite at a friend or relatives home.

[hc4361]

A TB is 1000GB.

[bhg481]

Nowhere have you mentioned how much space your photos occupy on your computer. The number of photos is irrelevant; it's bytes that count. Assuming your photos are all in one folder (maybe with other folders within it), right-click on the folder and choose "properties" from the options - that will tell you how many GBytes your photos occupy and you need to buy an external disc at least that size.

[Ninnynanny]

To bhg481, yes I found out that information by following instructions from jno, see below.
My photographs are using up 16.3 GB on my PC. I have read all the advice now, and as I only want something to store my photographs on safely, in case of a failure on my PC, I am looking to buy an external hard drive. So really need to know what size to buy. Thanks

[murraymints]

1TB will be hold 85% more than you have now..hope that helps

[murraymints]

no that's wrong it will hold 10 x 85% ..so will deffo do you at 1000 GB

[Old_Geezer]

If you want them safe back them up to more than one place.
If they presently take 16.3 Gb then make sure that you buy a disk larger than than. Perhaps treble or more.

[bhg481]

Even a 500GB drive will hold your photos 60 times over. Remember though, if you change your camera your photos will, almost certainly, be bigger than your current ones so get a good large disc.
Any medium can fail, as OG has said, so I'd recommend you get 2 discs and keep copies of your photos (and all your other documents) on both of them.
Some discs come supplied with backup software on them - that might be a good option for you.

[Ninnynanny]

Thank you all for your advice and help, it is much appreciated. I now know what I need and will be buying as soon as the Olympics have finished. More time to shop around then!