Long-term Storage?

[Kov-Ice]

Hi all. So I have 75 GB plus of digital pictures going back nearly ten years. They're all triple-backed up on three different HDDs in two systems. I also have the earlier portion on DVD discs.

The question is: What do you use for long-term off-site storage? Have flash-based devices improved enough that they're a better option the optical discs? Would it be better to copy everything to a mechanical drive and just store it?

What say you?

Thx,

[Force Flow]

CDs/DVDs are probably the best method. They aren't susceptible to a lot of poor conditions that flash drives and HDDs are (dampness and magnets come to mind).

I have a pile of old backup CDs I burned back in 2001 and 2002, and they're still in good shape. They've been kept at room temperature (which has ranged from 55'F to 95'F every year).

So, I can personally verify that a mixed array of brands of burnable CDs can survive 10 years--and probably more--without any special storage considerations, such as temperature or humidity control. I can personally verify that single-layer TDK and Verbatim DVDs can survive at least 5 years (so far) under the same conditions.

Now, if this is just a yearly backup (rather than a "forever" backup) for storage in a safe deposit box or another secured and temperature controlled location, flash drives or HDDs are fine.

However, with HDDs, 5 years is pushing it. 10 years is iffy. I have a pile of 10-year old WD drives, but I wouldn't trust them for anything critical because of their age, even though they all pass WD diagnostic tests.

[David M]

I think the key to preserving data is to make multiple copies and not try to find one thing that would work best as the most reliable backup you can think of. It is much much harder to say for example wipe out five copies of something in multiple places than to wipe out two copies of something.

I backup with hard drives in two different places away from my home. I have too much data to back up to DVD's or to the internet. It would take about 107 DVD's to back up all my data, therefore that is not an option. I would not expect any medium to last forever, which is why once in a great while I will make a clone of my existing C drive onto a new drive and store that one offsite. It would take a nuclear bomb going off in the SF Bay Area to lose all my data. If that is ever the case then I have more important things to worry about.

[mjkovis]

I would suggest continuing to back everything up the way you are doing and keeping each drive sync'd. If you lose one, replace it and sync it with the others. The chances of all 3 drives failing at the same time are pretty slim.

You could do dual-layer DVD's with hold about 8.5GB each. Then if you can burn a DVD for each calendar year for the pics...

The only other possible option out there would be to invest in a blu-ray burner and use either single-layer discs (25GB) or dual-layer discs (50GB) to back up the pics. It would cut down significantly on the amount of media used.

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by mjkovis The only other possible option out there would be to invest in a blu-ray burner and use either single-layer discs (25GB) or dual-layer discs (50GB) to back up the pics. It would cut down significantly on the amount of media used.

I'm not sure blu-ray has proven itself yet as a long-term storage solution. It hasn't been around that long yet. Although, prices have been falling. Burners are now hovering around the $80 mark.

If dual-layer DVDs are too small, then yes, HDDs are probably the route to go.

[Kov-Ice]

David, how do you store the drives you use for off-site backups? Just back in original packaging?

[Hufigyed]

Be careful with CDs, I have several from about 5-7 years ago that are no longer readable. There are blotches where it went back to the original color (like what the unused/unburned part looks like).

[Tin]

USB flash drives are pretty reliable. I have a 256MB thats been in relatively constant use for the past 8 years. I have a few more 4GB through 16GB, and theyve all been through the washer and dryer at one point or another. Sometimes I forget its in my pocket until after the laundry is done .

[David M]

Originally Posted by Kov-Ice David, how do you store the drives you use for off-site backups? Just back in original packaging?

Just in the anti-static bag that came with the drive inside a zip-lock bag to keep out the moisture. It's not perfect, nothing is, but I have more than one. My philosophy is safety in numbers not in attempting to find a bullet proof storage media....there is no such thing. One drive I keep at work and the other is at my brothers house.

[edfair]

I go with CDs. Singles for most of the year but multiples for tax or other important stuff. It allows me to keep a history of some things back for years, just in case I need to resurrect from an earlier time.
I have DVD burning capability but prefer the CD so that I can get stuff off on any machine in the house. Also burn in the clear so I don't get involved with having to transfer and restore on whatever machine I'm using to look.

[SMI]

Burning multiple copies is best. You could store them in a safety deposit box or have family or a friend hold onto a second set. I have found bd-r's to resist scratching more than dvd-r's.

[Kov-Ice]

Just found some old backup discs of my first digital pics (circa 2002). I have several CD-RW discs with stuff on them... ouch!

[edfair]

With the shuttering of MegaDownload there a whole bunch of people who no longer have their backups available to them on the cloud.

I have been preaching local storage for backup since before cloud storage became available. Perhaps, for once, I was right.