If you have your external hard drive connected to your computer at all times, it is a good idea to automate the backup process and have the drive back up your data as it changes, or every hour or so.
External drives are simple: You plug them in, they appear on your computer, and you can drag files over. But what happens when your drive doesn't appear when you plug it into your computer?
Incidentally, the term "external hard drive" generally refers to portable storage devices. They're as fast as the best SSDs, but you can connect them to your computer using a USB cable.
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio ...