Best way to archive files ?

[nick heppinstall]

Currently my pictures folder is just about to reach 10GB and I wondered how everyone else archives their digi pics ?

I currently have them :

1) On the main PC
2) On a second disk on the main pc
3) On an external USB2 HD attached to the main PC
4) On the laptop
5) Periodically backuped to DVD and put in the gararge !

This may seem a bit OTT but I have pictures that I could not replace. It is a bit of a pain copying the files to all the different drives.

Anyone got a better solution ?

[dinkel]

I just wait for the crash to start all over again . . . As it never happened I still got stuck with 10 year old files ;(

On the iMac only . . . and some cds from my previous databank.

[V6GTO]

1 & 3 only for me.

[406tm]

V6GTO said:

1 & 3 only for me.

And me

[GetCarter]

1,3 & 5 for me

[ehasler]

You can never have too many backups

External HDD is good, CD/DVD is good, and storing a 2nd or 3rd copy elsewhere is good too (in case of fire or theft).

You can also look at tape drives if you want that extra bit of security

160 - 320 GB SATA drive

72GB DAT USB

I've started to use a backup app which makes it easier to manage regular backups, plus it will verify them and handle incremental backups too. XP has one as standard (free), but I found EMC Retrospect to be better for my needs.

[_dobbo_]

I think what could be as important as the quantity of backups is the location.

Let's say you do 1+3 like I do, and dodgy person breaks into your house and robs your PC. Because the USB drive is attached to the PC, it walks at the same time.

Similarly if you do all those things, but your house burns down, you can kiss the lot goodbye.

Offsite backup seems to be the key to avoiding this.

[M-G]

For me files on the home PC and a copy on my work laptop. IT department had a fit when they discovered they were backing up 5GB of my personal photos so now they are in a separate folder where they don't get backed up.

An additional precaution is a CD/DVD back up stored in my office at work.

If both home and work burn down I'll have more things to worry about than the loss of my photos

Mark

[HankScorpio]

1 & Multiple 5's, refreshed every so often.

[Tuna]

Beware CD adn DVD backup - tests on places like Toms Hardware have shown that some brand name optical discs have a suprisingly short shelf life (around a year I think) before they start deteriorating.

1 & 3 for me. The USB disc lives in a different building and gets brought out for periodic backups.

[Captain Beaky]

1) and 5) plus backup to a spare PC elsewhere in the house (via wireless network).

I use Syncback which has a very good free version or a very cheap full version which will synchronise folder contents between PCs.

[cy88]

Whilst doing some paperwork for the private club that I frequent, we found some fantastic old photos (circa 1908). The find prompted us to ask whether all the hundreds (no, thousands) of snaps that people pack into hard-drives these days will really provoke quite the same reaction as we felt, when "discovered" in 100 years time? The patina and fading was all part of the charm.

then....


and now....



So, in addition to some of those options above (hard drive + second hard drive + upload to rented unlimited webspace), I have decided to print out at least some of my favorite shots in the future, and put them in a cardboard box in the attic!

>> Edited by cy88 on Wednesday 1st March 16:31