Back up external hard drives

November 07, 2024 19:26

Overview

You can use the CrashPlan app to back up storage connected to your device, such as an external hard drive directly attached via USB, Thunderbolt, or Firewire. By adding the contents of an external drive to your backup file selection, the CrashPlan app backs it up just like other files on your device.

Considerations

Steps

Attach your external drive to your device.
Open the CrashPlan app.
Click on Manage Files.
Above the file list, click your device name in the breadcrumb.
To back up the entire drive, select the box to the left of your external hard drive. To select only specific files or folders for backup, click the drive, then browse the contents and select the items you want to back up.
Click Save.
The CrashPlan app begins backing up the files on your external drive.

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What happens if I disconnect my drive?

Your backed up files are safe when the drive is disconnected as long as you don't connect another drive under the same name or path. When you reconnect the drive, the CrashPlan app resumes backup from where it left off.

If you connect a drive to your computer with the same name or drive letter as your existing drive, the CrashPlan app scans the drive for your backed up files and doesn't find them. As a result, the CrashPlan app assumes they have been deleted and marks the files as deleted.

If you intend to change or replace drives, see Download files after replacing a drive.
If the change was accidental, see the troubleshooting tips below to reconnect to your existing drive under the proper name or drive letter.

Backup completion status

If your external drive isn't connected to your device when the CrashPlan app runs the file verification scan, it's possible your backup status will report 100%, even if there are additional files on the drive that need to be backed up. The next time the drive is connected, the CrashPlan app will detect the changes and adjust your backup status.

Replace a drive

To add a new drive to replace a drive that you no longer use, add the new drive to the file selection.

Once the new drive is selected, the data on the new drive is de-duplicated against what is stored in the archive. This process is entirely automatic and no action is required on your part. The old path may display as "Missing" while the CrashPlan app performs a synchronization (file verification scan). Once the CrashPlan app displays that synchronization is complete in the progress bar, you can deselect the old drive's file path.

Best practices (Windows)

Troubleshooting tips

CrashPlan app reports drive as "missing"

This issue occurs when the external drive is disconnected from the device or the letter or name assigned to the drive by your operating system changes. The CrashPlan app uses absolute paths when backing up. If the CrashPlan app cannot detect a drive at the specified location, such as when it is disconnected or when the name of a drive changes, it lists the drive as "Missing". You can correct the issue by reconnecting the drive or renaming the drive to match the original drive letter or name.

External drive stops backing up (Mac)

If an external drive stops backing up on a Mac, it is likely because the drive didn't unmount cleanly (for example, after a power outage, or disconnection without ejection). When this happens, the drive can leave behind a "ghost" folder in /Volumes, even though the drive is no longer mounted. When the external drive re-mounts to your device, the "ghost" folder name is already taken, so your device adds a “1” to the external drive's name. However, the CrashPlan app looks for a folder with the original name, and that folder belongs to a drive that appears to be no longer connected. Use our troubleshooting guide to diagnose and correct this issue.