I could use some help...no laughing please!

[GrnBay007]

OK, it appears my computer may be on it's last leg. It's doing some weird stuff n shit. It's about 7 yrs. old. Is that normal life for a computer? I have a lot of pics on the computer I don't want to lose if she's gone soon. How can I save the pics. The other stuff I don't really care about. I never claimed to know much about computers so any advise should be in the form of "computers for dummies" please.

[SkinBasket]

If you're concerned, turn off the computer until you get a USB drive, then move the files onto said USB drive. Later, back them up to several locations. DVDs, on-line storage, or whatever.

The USB drive shouldn't cost you more than $20-$25, unless you've got an assload of pics. I would recommend this one if you can wait the few days to get it, otherwise pick one up from your local walmart or whatever. http://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Xporte...dp/B000W1RV0Y/

[MJZiggy]

If you do have an assload of pics, you can pick up an inexpensive external hard drive. I bought one that had a terabyte of memory which is enough to hold every photo I've ever taken or ever will take for the rest of my life. You can also back your taxes and important docs to it.

[Patler]

That raises some questions. Other than capacity, are there differences in flash drives? If there are, what is better and what should be avoided?

What about long term file archiving? I have some stuff that is "keep forever" that I want to have permanent backups for. It's a mixture of pictures; original electronic created files from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.; scanned images and the like. What is the best memory format for long term archiving, flash drive, disc, peripheral hard drive, tape drives or what? I'm not as concerned about transfer speed as I am about permanency and quality. I'm willing to spend some money for quality.

Oh, and I'm not too excited about on-line storage. I want something I can control.

[SkinBasket]

I avoid on-line storage as well. It's good in theory, but I just don't like the idea.

From what I've heard, the physical media like DVD are best for long term storage, as long as you're not accessing the data regularly, and it is kept at regular temperatures. Apparently, the laser accessing the data is what causes degradation, but it would take a massive amount of accessing. If it's really important, I would probably make a couple copies onto disc and put one is a safety deposit box or at least a fireproof box and keep the other in hard cases where you keep the rest of your important crap. And then keep it on a flash drive for handy access as well. I chose the Patriot because it's coated in rubber, so I can drop it and spill stuff on it, and because it has a lifetime warranty. The one I ordered a couple years ago was from a bad batch. Support sent me a fixer file to try, then replaced it without any hassle.

I don't like backing up onto external HDD, since we had two hard drives fail, and all it is is a hard drive in a box. I use one, but it's more of a secondary back-up to DVD and flash drive.

Just found this, a couple years old, but covers the basics: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/storage/lo...ta-storage/376

[Patler]

Thanks Skin. The article was very informative. The big thing seems to be staying on top of format changes. I have dozens and dozens of VHS tapes that were recorded at family events, vacations, sporting events, etc. mostly involving my kids. A couple years ago I got a VHS to DVD recorder so I can transfer all of them, since VHS will be forgotten soon. I also got a device to transfer my thousands of 35mm slides to memory cards. I've done a few of each, but really need to set up a "project" for myself to get both tasks completed.

[SkinBasket]

I know. Those projects have a way of not getting done until it's too late because no matter what you buy to help, they're usually still a time consuming pain in the ass.

[Patler]

I'm setting up a new office, with a new computer that will have four monitors. I have a couple USB switches, so I hope to integrate the VHS deck with the setup so I can throw a tape in whenever I'm doing something else in the office.

The 35mm slide transfers will be a headache no matter what. Very labor intensive.

[Zool]

The bad thing about a USB stick is they have a finite amount of read/writes. The bad thing about DVD backup is burning a DVD is not the same as printing one. The burned ones have a shelf life between 5-7 years. The bad thing about external HD's is they are hard drives with moving parts that will fail eventually. Keeping things in multiple locations is the only way to go IMO.

I store everything I want saved on an external hard drive.
I burn a DVD 2-3 times a year with all of my pictures and documents and label them all with the date.

Thats my routine and its pretty inexpensive. I buy a spindle of 100 DVD's at Sams Club cheap and they last me a long time.

[MJZiggy]

Thanks Skin. The article was very informative. The big thing seems to be staying on top of format changes. I have dozens and dozens of VHS tapes that were recorded at family events, vacations, sporting events, etc. mostly involving my kids. A couple years ago I got a VHS to DVD recorder so I can transfer all of them, since VHS will be forgotten soon. I also got a device to transfer my thousands of 35mm slides to memory cards. I've done a few of each, but really need to set up a "project" for myself to get both tasks completed.

Funny, I was just thinking that you'd need to store a cd player along with the CDs in case they stop making CD drives...

[Patler]

The bad thing about DVD backup is burning a DVD is not the same as printing one. The burned ones have a shelf life between 5-7 years.

Really? Is that all the longer they can be expected to last??

[Freak Out]

I have my electronic data stored on a mini server raid array.....that is backed up to a magical cloud protected by purple unicorns.

[Patler]

Funny, I was just thinking that you'd need to store a cd player along with the CDs in case they stop making CD drives...

I DO have a new VHS player that is boxed up and put away just for that purpose. I will keep the VHS tapes even after I copy them.

[MJZiggy]

Here's a crazy idea! What if you printed the really important stuff and kept it in, like, you know, a file cabinet? Radical!

[Partial]

That raises some questions. Other than capacity, are there differences in flash drives? If there are, what is better and what should be avoided?

What about long term file archiving? I have some stuff that is "keep forever" that I want to have permanent backups for. It's a mixture of pictures; original electronic created files from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.; scanned images and the like. What is the best memory format for long term archiving, flash drive, disc, peripheral hard drive, tape drives or what? I'm not as concerned about transfer speed as I am about permanency and quality. I'm willing to spend some money for quality.

Oh, and I'm not too excited about on-line storage. I want something I can control.

Online back-up is going to be your best bet. Your second best bet is buying some sort of flash solution. My understanding is flash is pretty much indestructible.

Zool, while flash does have a theorhetical max read/write, the number is ridiculously high and often quoted at much lower than it is. The phDs on my Mac forum who are much smarter than I pretty much concluded that flash is by far and away the best back-up solution. I know one of the phDs keeps one SSD with his research in a safe deposit box at a bank, and keeps another in a firebox in his house. He's a super smart guy (phD in CS) so I trust his judgement on the matter.