If a disk survives "stress test" it tells you nothing about possibility of failure in near future.

Solid state memory devices (SSD, flash disks) are failing on random basis. It could be dead in second without showing any symptoms.

Magnetic disks (HDD) have usually S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic which could be read by some programs. Read How to See If Your Hard Drive Is Dying with S.M.A.R.T. (on HowToGeek.com). But SMART is only log of events over time. Some of this events could be symptoms of oncoming failure = impulse to immediately copy your data.

These portable HDDs are of two kinds.

1. Standard SATA disk in a case with SATA<->USB converter
2. Custom made disk without SATA

The first kind is better, because if the convertor dies or USB port is damaged, you can extract the disk from the case and use it in PC/with new convertor/case.

This is almost not possible for the second kind (WD My Passport is unfortunately this case).

The conclusion: Always have more than 1 copy of your data. Disks are dying and only thing what you can do about it is to have another copy of your data somewhere else!

If a disk survives "stress test" it tells you nothing about possibility of failure in near future.

Solid state memory devices (SSD, flash disks) are failing on random basis. It could be dead in second without showing any symptoms.

Magnetic disks (HDD) have usually S.M.A.R.T (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) diagnostic which could be read by some programs. Read How to See If Your Hard Drive Is Dying with S.M.A.R.T. (on HowToGeek.com). But SMART is only log of events over time. Some of this events could be symptoms of oncoming failure = impulse to immediately copy your data.

These portable HDDs are of two kinds.

1. Standard SATA disk in a case with SATA<->USB converter
2. Custom made disk without SATA

The first kind is better, because if the convertor dies or USB port is damaged, you can extract the disk from the case and use it in PC/with new convertor/case.

This is almost not possible for the second kind (WD My Passport is unfortunately this case).

The conclusion: Always have more than 1 copy of your data. Disks are dying and only thing what you can do about it is to have another copy of your data somewhere else!

If disk survives "stress test" it tells you nothing about possibility of failure in near future.

Solid state memory devices (SSD, flash disks) are failing on random basis. It could be dead in second without showing any symptoms.

Magnetic disks (HDD) have usually S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic which could be read by some programs. Read How to See If Your Hard Drive Is Dying with S.M.A.R.T. (on HowToGeek.com). But SMART is only log of events over time. Some of this events could be symptoms of oncoming failure = impulse to immediately copy your data.

These portable HDDs are of two kinds.

1. Standard SATA disk in a case with SATA<->USB converter
2. Custom made disk without SATA

The first kind is better, because if the convertor dies or USB port is damaged, you can extract the disk from the case and use it in PC/with new convertor/case.

This is almost not possible for the second kind (WD My Passport is unfortunately this case).

The conclusion: Always have more than 1 copy of your data. Disks are dying and only thing what you can do about it is to have another copy of your data somewhere else!

If a disk survives "stress test" it tells you nothing about possibility of failure in near future.

Solid state memory devices (SSD, flash disks) are failing on random basis. It could be dead in second without showing any symptoms.

Magnetic disks (HDD) have usually S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic which could be read by some programs. Read How to See If Your Hard Drive Is Dying with S.M.A.R.T. (on HowToGeek.com). But SMART is only log of events over time. Some of this events could be symptoms of oncoming failure = impulse to immediately copy your data.

These portable HDDs are of two kinds.

1. Standard SATA disk in a case with SATA<->USB converter
2. Custom made disk without SATA

The first kind is better, because if the convertor dies or USB port is damaged, you can extract the disk from the case and use it in PC/with new convertor/case.

This is almost not possible for the second kind (WD My Passport is unfortunately this case).

The conclusion: Always have more than 1 copy of your data. Disks are dying and only thing what you can do about it is to have another copy of your data somewhere else!