like flash drives? I would like a copy paste type drive. I don't want to have to download a bunch apps to store stuff like a Seagate external hard drive.

I'm trying to get all of our digital pics/movies on one drive. Any suggestions?

SSDs are Flash drives, no matter the connection.
SSD/HDD/USB Flash can all either be 'just a copy/paste drive' or can have software that does backups for you.

The Seagate external drives can do what you want, they're just drives unless you use the software.

Copy paste is a REAL pain in the ass if you make any changes.
Something like Syncback free is a better method - it will look at files & only update the ones that have changed. After you setup what folders you want to backup, 2-3 clicks & the files are backed up or the backup is updated.
Syncback

An external USB drive, whether mechanical spinning disk, SSD, or a little flash drive, can function like you desire. It's just a matter of how it is set up from the factory, or, later configured by the user.

If you "need" an app to access an external Seagate USB drive, it's because that's how you configured it--either unintentionally by leaving the Seagate bloatware on there, or by accident by selecting the wrong options the first time you plugged it in.

Theoretically, absent some unusual technology in the external drive you have, you could reformat the drive and partition it to behave like any other USB drive when plugged in.

quote:

Originally posted by David W:
I'm trying to get all of our digital pics/movies on one drive. Any suggestions?

Separate post to deal with this statement. 2 is one, 1 is none.

I have a 2T Seagate drive for photos and videos. I just pick what I want on the drive and a 'send to' drop into the proper folder. It takes seconds.

Jim

You can connect an SSD to your computer inside of a USB enclosure.

The main problem is the lack of TRIM support over USB, so the life of the drive is diminished.

quote:

SSD/HDD/USB Flash can all either be 'just a copy/paste drive' or can have software that does backups for you.

The Seagate external drives can do what you want, they're just drives unless you use the software.

Copy paste is a REAL pain in the ass if you make any changes.

I just picked up a new SFF computer with a PCLe NVMe M.2 SSD as the system drive (C) and installed a Samsung SSD in the vacant 3.5" drive bay. I developed an executable batch file, which resides on the computer's desktop, to run whenever I close the computer for the day and it uses robocopy commands to backup data to my 2 NAS systems. I elected not to use the included/downloadable backup software from Samsung.

With the Samsung SSD, I installed it and in the process of assigning it a drive letter in Disk Management, it was formatted. It is simply a data storage disk for me.

Have some kind of backup; is use a local HD, and Backblaze cloud backup.

OK, you guys are WAY over my head=) But, you are saying I can reformat one of the Seagate's I have lying around and not use their firmware to just pick what I want to save?

quote:

Originally posted by David W:
OK, you guys are WAY over my head=) But, you are saying I can reformat one of the Seagate's I have lying around and not use their firmware to just pick what I want to save?

Yep, that's what I do. Like I said earlier, it takes seconds.

Jim

When you plug one of your Seagate drives into your computer, do you not see it pop up as a drive letter?

There are plenty of enclosures you can use or depending on how secure (physically) you need it you can use an adaptor like this: Sabent USB adaptor
I use these all the time but sometimes an enclosure around the drive is a better more permanent option.

As is normal on this forum, the information can exceed the original inquiry. But, the intent is to offer genuine solution to you, the OP.

If you have any external drive, and choose to move files to it, you risk losing the files forever. Most of us are now using "cloud" storage, from a few providers, at some monthly cost, to ensure that we can retain these files.

Some store files in the cloud as a backup. Backblaze is SF-approved. Some store files in the cloud as a primary location.

To use a drive that has a platter like a record as an external drive with a "homemade" arrangement like a plastic enclosure bought from Amazon is to invite failure.

To use a solid state drive as an external drive, there is much less risk. So, your question about using a Seagate drive as only a drive is rational. You can reformat any SSD to be usable as a drive. You can also leave it alone, and just not use the Seagate software they so helpfully included. You do not have to start up the backup software, and you also do not have to reformat it.

Most people who are concerned about the availability of videos and photos for the long time horizon choose to have a physical backup and a cloud backup. Often the physical backup drive is stored in the safe. Unless the safe is full of boating equipment.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
As is normal on this forum, the information can exceed the original inquiry. But, the intent is to offer genuine solution to you, the OP.

Yep, that is why I love this place, folks are more than willing to help/school people on subjects they know nothing about.

I have a 8TB seagate I use to back up the whole computer once in awhile. The Backblaze might be worth the price of admission to have another back up somewhere else.