Should I use the backup software that comes with an external hard drive?

In this excerpt from
Answercast #28, I look at the kinds of software that may come with a backup
drive and stick to my usual recommendation.

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Backup drive software

That’s a hard one for me to answer because I don’t know what software comes with your external hard drive.

• In some cases, it’s actually not bad software.
• In other cases, it’s not something you want: it’s a cut-rate version of a program that the backup software manufacturer gave to the hard disk manufacturer, along with some of kind an agreement (hoping you might pay for their software eventually later.)

So the short answer is, “Maybe.”

Backup software

For example, if the backup software that came on that external hard drive happens to be Macrium Reflect, then go for it! You’re done; you’ve got good backup software.

If it’s something you’ve never heard of, then I have a hard time saying that I would recommend you use it.

Backing up needs to be effective

Backing up is so important! It is such a silver bullet for solving almost any problem that you might encounter on your PC… that I personally think the best thing to do is to invest a few dollars in a known, good, and recommended backup software package. And ignore what’s on the hard disk.

That’s what I would do.

Backup the backup drive…

Now I will say that I do archive what’s on the hard disk; I basically back it up. I’ll copy it off somewhere on my Zipit, just to save some space, and include it with my other backup archives.

In reality, I’ll pretty much delete anything that’s on the external hard drive and then immediately start using the backup program that I use.

• I of course recommend Macrium Reflect to do all of my backups.

So ultimately, I have to recommend that you choose a good backup program and don’t rely on what boils down to a game of roulette; you have no idea what backup software you’re getting on external hard drives. Get a good package.