Mac OS Extended (Journaled) uses Mac formatting to protect data integrity.A Format pop-up window will give you the opportunity to choose one of the following:.Click 'Erase' from the Disk Utility options.Find your external hard drive in the list of drives.Open Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.Since most external hard drives are formatted for PCs, before the backup of your Mac begins you need to format the hard drive for macOS. Additionally, although they are expected to have longer lifespans than HDDs, they are relatively new which means projections of their lifespan potential remains conjecture.Ĭopying the files from your Mac to an external drive allows you to save data on your own terms. While this technology makes them less likely to suffer physical damage, it also makes storing large amounts of data expensive. SSDs use flash memory which writes data to memory chips rather than spinning disks.

If you're looking to store 2 TB of data or less, an SSD offers tremendous value, boasting high speed, small size, and long lifespan. Pros: Speed, size, malfunction rates, lifespan Second, if you choose to fragment the information to protect your data recovery, the backup takes time. First, the spinning disks are more likely to break down if dropped or handled roughly. HDDs use spinning disks to write data, however, which creates two different problems. If you're looking to store a lot of data, then a traditional HDD might be the best option because larger capacities drives are more reasonably priced. Hard Disk DrivesĬons: Physical damage, physical size, speed

Choosing between an SSD or HDD means taking a look at the pros and cons of each. The first step in creating a backup for your Mac is choosing an external drive that enables the best data recovery option. Choosing an External Drive: Solid-State Drive (SSD) or Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

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