The Tool Desk
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What an Ubuntu backup should include
Most personal files are in your Home folder, usually /home/your_name. Common locations include Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos. Ubuntu recommends considering a backup of the whole Home folder when the destination has enough room. See Ubuntu’s backup guidance.
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Before copying, identify files that would be difficult to recreate: documents, photos, videos, project files, and user data stored by applications. You can omit data already backed up elsewhere, easily regenerated build outputs, and Trash contents.
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In the Files app, press Ctrl+H to show hidden files and folders. Names beginning with a dot are hidden; application preferences commonly live in ~/.config and ~/.local. Copying these folders may preserve preferences, but it does not guarantee every application will behave identically after reinstalling.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Know what a Home backup leaves out
Home is not the whole operating system. System-wide settings are outside it and are often under /etc. Ubuntu says home users generally do not need to back those files up; administrators running servers should preserve configuration for their services. A personal-file backup should not be treated as a way to reinstall Ubuntu or all installed applications. See Ubuntu’s guide to locating files and settings.
Choose a backup destination
Keep the backup on a device separate from the computer being protected, and make sure it has room for the selected files. Ubuntu lists external hard disks, USB keys, network drives, file servers, optical media, and online backup services as options. Its guidance characterizes USB memory keys as low capacity; internal disks, external hard disks, network-connected drives, and file or backup servers as high capacity; writable CD/DVD as low to medium capacity; and online capacity as dependent on price. See Ubuntu’s storage options.
Rank #2
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
| Destination | Capacity guidance from Ubuntu | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| External hard drive | High | Physically separate it from the computer when not backing up. |
| USB memory key | Low | May not have room for a large Home folder. |
| Network drive or file/backup server | High | Requires access to the network destination. |
| Writable CD or DVD | Low to medium | Capacity may limit what you can include. |
| Online backup service | Depends on price | Can provide separation from the computer’s location; capacity and cost vary by service. |
A second copy kept elsewhere can help if theft or a building-level event affects both the computer and nearby backup media. Ubuntu also suggests considering encryption. For options and trade-offs, see its advice on keeping backup copies safe.
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Back up before reinstalling Ubuntu
- Choose what to preserve. Select your important personal files and application data. If you have enough destination capacity, consider the entire Home folder, including hidden files if you want the settings stored there.
- Choose the backup method. Use an application such as Déjà Dup if you want a managed backup and guided restore. For a simple manual copy, copy the selected files to a separate drive or network location.
- Keep the backup separate from installation media. Ubuntu’s installation guidance says to back up data to another storage device before installing on a previously used computer. Creating installation media erases the USB stick, so do not use the only copy of important data as the installer. See Ubuntu’s desktop installation tutorial.
Ubuntu’s backup documentation also notes that application help provides the specific steps for using a backup program; the exact screens can vary by release. See How to back up.
Rank #3
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
Restore files after reinstalling or deleting them
Restore a manual copy
- Connect or mount the external drive, USB drive, or network location containing the copied files.
- Open the backup and copy the folders or files you need to the appropriate locations in your Home folder.
- Before replacing an existing file, compare its date and location with the backup version so you do not overwrite a newer copy unintentionally.
Ubuntu describes copying files back from an external drive, USB drive, or another network computer as a way to restore a manual copy. See Ubuntu’s restore guidance.
Restore a Déjà Dup backup
Use Déjà Dup to locate and restore a backup it created. On a fresh installation, GNOME’s help describes opening Backups, choosing Restore From a Previous Backup…, supplying the backup location, and searching. The restore browser differs by backup format: Restic backups first created with Déjà Dup 49.0 or later and Duplicity backups first created with 48.2 or earlier have different instructions. Consult the current Déjà Dup restore help if your labels or screens differ.
Rank #4
- 【Plug-and-Play Expandability】 With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use in Windows（For Mac，first format the drive and select the ExFat format.
- 【Fast Data Transfers 】The external hard drives with the USB 3.0 cable to provide super fast transfer speed. The theoretical read speed is as high as 110MB/s-133MB/s, and the write speed is as high as 103MB/s.
- 【High capacity in a small enclosure 】The small, lightweight design offers up to 500GB capacity, offering ample space for storing large files, multimedia content, and backups with ease. Weighing only 0.35 Lbs, it's easy to carry "
- 【Wide Compatibility】Supports PS4 5/xbox one/Windows/Linux/Mac and other operating systems, ensuring seamless integration with game consoles,various laptops and desktops .
- Important Notes for PS/Xbox Gaming Devices: You can play last-gen games (PS4 / Xbox One) directly from an external hard drive. However, to play current-gen games (PS5 / Xbox Series X|S), you must copy them to the console's internal SSD first. The external drive is great for keeping your library on hand, but it can't run the new games.
Ubuntu recommends restoring an application-managed backup with the same application that created it. The Ubuntu Jammy manual page for Déjà Dup is available at the Déjà Dup manpage.
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Déjà Dup’s documented role here is backing up and restoring personal files and settings. That is different from a complete system image intended to recreate the operating system and installed software. Ubuntu’s storage guide notes that some storage approaches can hold a complete system backup, but that does not mean a standard Home-folder copy or Déjà Dup file backup is a restorable image. The Ubuntu desktop pages cited here do not specify a particular full-system imaging application.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
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