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I am looking for a USB hard disk drive for backup of family photos to keep in the safe deposit box. I do not want fancy software as I will backup on my own by direct copy. I currently have a WD Passport for transportation of movies and such. I remember having to low level this passport to remove the backup software that was on a hidden partition. I really just want a 1TB blank drive that is portable and reliable.

What would you recommend?

It isn't like it is hard to wipe any drive you get really. Most these days tend to come with some sort of crap on it. If you want nothing on it, just grab an internal drive and an external enclosure for it.

Usually the software that comes on a drive is not on a hidden partition, and you can just delete it.

Anyway, since you want to put it in a safe deposit box I assume you'd prefer a 2.5" portable drive? I have found the 2.5" drives to be MUCH more reliable than the 3.5" drives. Probably because notebook drives are designed to have poor ventilation, while desktop drives are not.

I have had very good luck with Toshiba Convio drives:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822149223

I have dozens of business clients running the 500Gb and 1Tb versions for backups (in pairs as weekly swappable drives). I also own 3 myself and I have yet to see one fail.

If you prefer a 3.5" drive I honestly can't recommend any of them - I would instead build your own by buying an external enclosure and a drive. The Western Digital Green drives seem to work well in external enclosures:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822236070

And I have had very good luck with Vantec enclosures:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817392039

The irony is you'll pay less for the 2.5" Toshiba than you would for a do-it-yourself 3.5" drive & enclosure.

I have a NAS with redundant RAID in the house. I have been using a 3.5" to backup and just place it in an enclosure when I backup. I just thought a 2.5" would be easier. I will look into the convio

Thanks,

Another plus 1 for a Toshiba Canvio. Those things are bullet proof. We used one in the shop for about two years, with constant abuse and a good few spills, and it finally succumbed. I was impressed with the little thing.

I would just get one of them SATA HD dock things that lets you drop a SATA HD in it like a cartridge and then just sharpie on the bare HD what it is and put that in the box. Not an elegant answer, but it doesn't get much simpler.

i own /bought a Verbatim Store'n'Go 1Tb SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Black been very happy with it. small and compact ~watch Officemax for a sale - there $160 right now I payed under $90.

B&H Photo Video has 1TB Hitachi Touro Mobile MX3 USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive for $63.99. Shipping is free:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/846319-REG/Hitachi_0S03454_1_TB_Touro_Mobile.html

I'll second the Toshiba drive. I have a 1TB 5400 RPM in my laptop that outperforms the 7200RPM one it replaced.

To note, till the 14th with the link FP provided and the Promo code, it is 10% off!

I wouldn't go with anything that is 7200RPM for data storage, you just don't need it, and the excess heat isn't worth it. You aren't going to find 3.5" drives too much cheaper, and the excess size and need for a power outlet really make them unbeneficial. I'd only consider them for 3TB+ storage. Samsung and Hitachi drives have lost their luster and being bought up by Seagate and Western Digital.

Ordered a Toshiba Convio 1TB. Thanks guys.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?InvtId=NU-554-201-0002&utm_source=geekmail&utm_medium=daily_html&utm_content=Main&utm_campaign=CANVIO_MINI_18Jan13

Canvio on sale here for $72.99 + 3.30 discount shipping

DaMaN wrote:http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?InvtId=NU-554-201-0002&utm_source=geekmail&utm_medium=daily_html&utm_content=Main&utm_campaign=CANVIO_MINI_18Jan13

Canvio on sale here for $72.99 + 3.30 discount shipping

Would almost be worth it just to scavenge the drive to put in my laptops second drive bay for storage.. lol

Actually the convio USB 3.0 drives aren't SATA. They have integrated USB controllers I think.

FlyingPenguin wrote:Actually the convio USB 3.0 drives aren't SATA. They have integrated USB controllers I think.

Well that just sucks.. lol

FlyingPenguin wrote:Actually the convio USB 3.0 drives aren't SATA. They have integrated USB controllers I think.

I'd doubt it until I actually saw otherwise. It would take more effort as they would have to reprogram an assembly line for this specific purpose.