For one PC with a nearly full backup drive, measure the files and versions you need to retain before choosing another drive: an external HDD suits a capacity-led local backup, while a portable SSD is worth considering when frequent transfers and carrying the drive matter more. A NAS makes more sense when several computers need a shared backup destination; pair local storage with an off-site copy if the PC and its backup could be lost together. For Windows recovery, keep personal-file backups separate from recovery media, which Microsoft says does not include personal files.
If a PC has failed or its USB backup drive is nearly full, the next destination needs room for the files you intend to keep and any retained versions. Extra working space alone does not establish that a backup will be restorable.
If you regularly move backups between locations, consider the drive’s capacity, connection and handling together. An SSD’s quoted transfer speed also depends on the computer and connection used.
A network-attached storage device, or NAS, can provide a shared backup destination, but it needs setup and its own backup to another location or device.
Start with the data and recovery method, then decide whether transfer speed, a shared network destination or an off-site copy changes the storage you need.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Backup capacity | Measure the files selected for backup; allow for future files and retained versions. Check the resulting requirement against each drive’s stated capacity. | My current backup drive is filling up, and I want the replacement to hold the versions I plan to keep. An HDD is the capacity-led route; Which? describes HDDs as suited to long-term file backup. |
| Recovery method | Check what your chosen backup software saves and how you would restore it after an internal-drive failure. For Windows, plan personal-file backup and recovery media separately. | I need to know whether I can recover files, restart a failed PC, or restore the full device. Microsoft says a Windows recovery drive does not contain personal files. |
| Transfer connection | Check the PC’s USB port and the cable required by the drive. Samsung says the T7 Shield’s stated maximum speeds require a USB 3.2 Gen 2 host, compatible cable and UASP. | When I copy large files frequently, transfer time matters. Which? describes SSDs as usually faster than HDDs, but a quoted speed is not a promise for every PC. |
| Shared backups | Check whether each computer’s backup method can use a network destination. Allow for NAS configuration, maintenance and a separate destination for NAS backups. | Several computers need a shared destination that I can manage. Microsoft supports a network location for File History; Synology describes additional destinations for backing up its NAS. |
| Off-site copy | Consider whether one event could affect both the PC and its local backup. For cloud backup, check upload and restore conditions, retention rules and which devices or attached drives the service covers. | I want a copy away from home if both local devices are lost. Backblaze’s 3-2-1 approach includes an off-site copy; a local drive can still serve a different recovery need. |
The PC and a drive kept beside it can be affected by the same loss. A Windows recovery USB is not a substitute for personal-file backup: Microsoft says it does not include those files.
Keep separate recovery media and consider an off-site copy if losing both local devices would leave you without the files you need.
Retained file versions use space beyond the current set of files, so a destination with little headroom may fill sooner than expected.
Measure the intended backup set and decide how much version history to retain before choosing capacity.
Samsung’s stated T7 Shield maximum speeds require a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2 host and cable, with UASP enabled.
Check the computer’s actual port and the cable before choosing an SSD primarily for transfer speed.
Samsung describes the T7 Shield’s IP65 and drop-resistance claims as based on controlled tests and excludes liquid, dust and drop damage from its warranty coverage.
Handle the drive carefully, eject it after use and keep another copy of important files rather than relying on its resistance rating.
A reference for portable HDD backup storage: the WD Elements SE 4 TB model offers USB 3.0 and Windows compatibility.
Its T7 Shield is a portable SSD reference for buyers considering regular large-file transfers and a drive they will carry.
A reference for households considering a NAS and managed, multi-version backups across devices.
These portable HDDs and SSDs are local-storage options for a PC backup. Choose a capacity that accommodates your files and retained versions, and check that your backup software supports the recovery you intend.
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A portable SSD to consider when you copy large backup files regularly. The product name states USB 3.2 Gen 2; check your PC connection, that 1 TB will hold the versions you need, and whether your backup software can perform the intended restore.
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A capacity-led local option when an existing backup drive is filling up. Its name states 4 TB and USB 3.0; compare that capacity with your files and retained versions, and check compatibility and your intended recovery method.
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A portable HDD option for a local file-backup destination. Check whether 2 TB accommodates the files and versions you want to retain, and confirm that your chosen software can create the kind of backup you need to restore.
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A portable SSD option for moving a backup between locations. Its name specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 and a claimed speed of up to 2,000 MB/s; check PC port compatibility, capacity for retained versions and the backup software’s restore method.
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A portable SSD to compare if you transfer backup files frequently. Its name specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 and a claimed speed of up to 2,060 MB/s; check the PC connection, space for retained versions and how you would restore the backup.
Measure the files you will back up, then allow room for future files and the older versions you intend to retain. Do not use the PC’s advertised internal-drive capacity as a substitute for measuring the selected data; Microsoft’s File History and NAS backup tools can retain versions.
That depends on what your backup software saved and how it restores it. Check the full-device recovery procedure separately from file backup: Microsoft says a Windows recovery drive is recovery media and does not include personal files.
A NAS can serve as a network backup destination if your computers and backup methods support it and you are prepared to maintain it. It is not automatically an off-site copy; Synology advises backing up its NAS to a different destination as well.
Consider an off-site cloud copy when the PC and its local backup could be lost in the same event. Before choosing a service, check upload and restore conditions, retention rules and whether it covers the files and attached drives you intend to protect.