I have two 120 Gb Hard Disks - both of which are nearly full at the mo (but
there are a few backed up DVDs on there. Most of the data I have is - are,
sorry - MP3s. Apart from a few minidisks, my entire music collection is
backed up to and hence stored on my PC (over 12,000 mp3s). They account for
around 70 Gb. I have a few Gb of photos too - a collection which will
inevitably grow larger. I have a DVD rewriter but I've already lost way too
much data to DVDs to put any faith in them (which is why I backed up some of
my fav movies to hard disk!).
The nearest thing I know to reliable storage on a PC is a hard disk. I think
that before long an external 400 GB hard disk will become necessary. CDs
last longer than DVDs - but they still aren't reliable enough. Minidisks are
much better - but I can't find any minidisk drives :(
I am kinda hoping that it won't be long before flash memory arrives with TB
capacities - but then, think of the potential for data loss if you lose your
memory stick!
Allan
PS No trees were harmed in the sending of this message and a very large
number of electrons were asked their permission to be terribly
inconvenienced. (And threw a party for them afterwards for being really cool
about it).
Disrupting the unnatural balance that you, as a conscious human being and a
confused mass of energy, have created.
-Disturb the mind -
>From: Chuck Norcutt <chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
>To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [OM] Re: Back up and storage
>Date: Sun, 03 Dec 2006 06:57:01 -0500
>
>Normal (low cost) CD's are unreliable. A normal writeable CD is a layer
>of plastic coated with a very thin layer of dye followed by a very thin
>layer of aluminum which, in turn, is coated with a layer of laquer (the
>painted label). Pressure on the laquer layer (such as with a pen) can
>distort the aluminum recording layer underneath and destroy bits.
>
>More insidious is that the thin laquer layer on top is not impervious to
>the atmosphere, moisture or contaminants. Eventually the aluminum layer
>starts to oxidize (rust) or corrode and your bits go bye-bye.
>
>It is not uncommon for CD's to last as little as a year although 2-3
>years is more likely and possibly much longer if they're stored under
>exceptionally good conditions. The problem is that you don't know and
>you won't know until they suddenly start having read problems.
>
>Since the fundamental problem is oxidation of aluminum the solution is
>to use gold which does not oxidize and also use a more expensive and
>more stable dye than is used in the typical cost competitive CD. Gold
>CD's are available from MAM-A or Kodak but they're much more expensive
>than convetional CD's. <http://www.datamediastore.com/goarqucd.html>
>
>Gold CD's probably will last a very long time (assuming you don't write
>on the label with a pen) but the cost makes them more expensive than
>multiple external hard drives even considering that you should have two
>or three identical drives as backup. Keep the third one off-site and
>rotate where the drives are stored.
>
>Chuck Norcutt
>
>Phil wrote:
>
> > I was led to believe that the safest method of storage for my images was
>CD.
> > The theory was that any form of magnetic storage (HD) would be less
> > relaible.
> > Having just read a thread on DP review, many are claiming the oposite
>and
> > that a separate Hard drive is there preferred method and CD's are
>unreliable
> > As all my images
> > are on CD I am a little worried, what do you guys use to store you
>files.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Phil
> >
> >
> >
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