hey quick question - if i were to put a backup in a safe deposit box with my other important bank stuff and money, what media should I use? i have approx 20gb music, 7GB family photos and cool stuff (NOT p0rn) and probably another 20-25 Gb of ISOs and super important programs for my business. In all it is probably just under 50GB. What is my best bet? Should I do like 10 DVDs (i have them), an external 80Gb HDD (i have it), DL dvds - dont have, or cds (whew thats alot) or tapes (need a reader, have plenty of tapes. I am looking to leave them in there for an unknown length of time - I want to add to the collection of stuff when I get more data, but I dont want to have to reburn 10 DVDs a month. Any ideas?
I would place my bet on an HD, CD / DVD media has a short(er) lifespan, even if it is good quality. Also, adding data to a HD is easier then to a DVD. Don't know nothing about tapes tough, but aren't they too small in size?
that's given me an idea lappy loced in a deposit box conected to wifi dunno wot to use it 4 but cool idea
DVD's last about 6 years in the best of circumstances. Tape, as far as I know, lasts the longest. After tape, hard drive lasts the longest.
Deposit boxes are usually made of metal. They are usually stored in giant metal vaults. So WiFi=unpractical, lol. Also, then anyone could hack your data.
I don't think you would get much wifi access from inside a safe... On topic: Do you mean a safe deposit box at the bank? Isn't that pretty.. unpracticle if you want to update/add data? I think a Hard Drive is the best choice if you plan on updating/adding data on a regulary basis. Maybe even an external one.. then you could do it at the bank (with the laptop), it would only cost you one trip that way. If the data won't change... then I think DVD's are a good solution. Much cheaper and they can take alot more then a harddrive. (If you would drop the hard drive you could have damaged alot of data). But may I suggest getting a small safe at home? They aren't that expensive and it will safe you alot of trips and hassle. Also, a raid setup in your computer would be a good idea aswell. (the raid type that writes your data on 2 seperate harddrives) Good luck, L
harddrive, in any form. USB, Firewire, ATA, SATA, NAS. 3.5", 2.5", 1.8"(yes those exist) CD's and DVD's have a limited lifespan, so that would't be a good idea. Flash would work. Dataretention is around 100 years, but you have a limited amount of writecycles on those (about 1 milion writes), but that isn't a problem, because it's going to be inside a safe anyway. The only impractical thing about it is that it has about 1GB per chip max. Would take a lot of USB sticks to backup all data. So a HDD would be best. Doesnt matter what kind you get, as long as its a HDD with enough storagespace.
I belive you can actually get a lot bigger than 1GB these days but they're pretty expensive. I think storing your data on tapes would be the best bet. You could probably get all your stuff on a single tape and it would last for ages.
Often USB sticks have a couple of chips, not just one. the 4GB models often have 3 or 4 chips, so that translates into 1 or 1.3GB per chip. Also, flashmemory has a very low bits per square inch value, compared to other things, like harddrives or tapes.
What is the lifespan of a Hard Drive just out of interest? Is it like a year or are we talking hundreds of years. It occured to me recently that loads of stuff i have backed up on DVD will need to be re-done again as its been a few years and the media isnt great.
We're talking hundreds of years here... Ofcourse, when not used. Disks that are used regularly wear and breakdown in a few years.
I'd say go for both HDD and DVD. That way you get the lifespan of HDD but you get the droppability of DVD if you slip up whilst carrying it. _C
Not trying to drag this offtopic but 60GB thumb drives exist. Secondly, the 1G Nanos use 2Gb flash chips (2 on the 4Gb, 4 on the 8Gb, obviously). Don't know how they've worked it with the introduction of the 1Gb nano. AH p.s. +1 vote for hard disk. What's the lifespan of a HDD anyway?
A very, very long time if it's not used and is kept in appropriate conditions. Otherwise, the normal expected lifetime of a non-enterprise drive under use is 3-4 years. To the OP: I would recommend using a hard disk - it offers a reliable method of storage with a good $/GB ratio. Think the conditions of the box, though... if it's too hot/cold, then things might go wrong. Manufacturers will provide operating and non-operating temperatures on their product datasheets if this method is chosen; keep in mind that the temperature might not be regulated in the deposit box. Ever heard of a Faraday cage?
If you go for cds/dvds/tapes, make sure you keep them in the dark, in cool dry conditions etc, they will last for a lot longer. I would go for HD though tbh - they will last ages.
