Digital Photo Storage

Our external back-up drive went bad recently and I searched for someone to extract my files from it. I had an IT person apply software applications and said that it was the worst he had ever seen. As a last effort, I drove it down to a computer recovery business and was willing to empty the bank to get my 5 years of photos back. They called me and told me that it was a physical error, simple to fix on this type of external drive but the cost would be high. I told him, with a huge smile on my face, I don't care the price as long as I get my photos back. He called me back a half hour later to tell me the magnetic thing (not the technical term) was shattered by the heads and all my information was gone. All gone, with no way to ever get all my precious photos/videos of the children back. Well after my pleading he did say it would take 50 years and a billion dollars to get my photos back.

As I am learning from this, three copies of information is not enough if it is truely valuable to you. I had a copy on the computer, which was failing and was erased, another on the external drive which shattered and I am now going through the few CD's I made when Ashton was tiny but am learning that most of them are already deteriorated. Some of them I can pull information off but others are blank or have lost the information in the files.

What you need to do to protect your files so you don't lose everything: Make multiple copies, 3 or 4 different types, of everything you think you would miss if it was gone.

According to my personal research and the advice of Digitalmedix, use all of the following methods to back-up your information:

CD's and DVD's have a lifespan of 2-5 years before oxygen deteriorates the glue that holds them together, thus losing your information. Regular disks are good for short term storage but not archives.

External drives are good for 5-10 years (If loaded with information once and then set on a shelf to archive information) but if they begin to have problems, take all the information off them so you don't lose it. Use two different drives and run alternate back-ups to each if you don't load them once and store them. Running them more often will bring their lifespan down to 2 -5 years.

Online back-up (mozy.com was recommended by Digitalmedix and costs $4.95/month) is good as long as their building doesn't flood or have any other problem. AOL lost email archives a while back, devastating to some.

Gold disks (MAM archival CD's and DVD's http://www.amazon.com/MAM-Archival-DVD-R-surface-Jewel/dp/B000LZDZG0/ref...) are the best bet for disposable storage. They are made with a special glue and 24 carat gold and rated to last 20 years for the DVD‘s and 100 years for the CD‘s. They are more expensive than regular disks but worth it if you want longer storage. To store, put into jewel cases and set on a high shelf in a closet, or lock-box. Scratches, moisture and markers will destroy your information so tend to the disks kindly.

Thumbdrives/Flashdrives are good for transferring data but should not be used for storage. When they wear out there is no warning or way to get the information off.