I am a graphic designer and after a few years of accumulating images, now need a secure way to archive my catalogue of work. Til now I have burned multiple copies of my work on many DVDs but searching and using past images is a hassle. Would you recommend using a (or multiple) external hard drives or just keep on burning? Is either one less secure? I know that, depending on the chemicals used, DVDs will lose the information burned on them in 10 to 25 years. Thanks!
2007-01-12 07:31:47 · 4 answers · asked by mathiaslerouge 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
I think it's just a question of which "medium" you personally prefer.
External hard drive - over time it will eventually quit working like any other hard drive.
CD/DVD's - I haven't ever heard of the 10-25 year life span you mention.
Flash or Jump Drive - very handy for access and transferring files.
If you are looking to permanently "archive" your work I would stay with making "hard copies" of those files. Nothing beats a non-volitile copy for archiving. So I'd say stay with the CD/DVD concept and burn copies of everything important to you.
We all know that the technology and the medium will change in time so making new copies down the road is inevitable. Let's face it :
microfilm eventually went the way of magnetic tapes,
magnetic tapes went the way of floppy and hard disks,
floppy's have gone the way of CD's and DVD's,
and now flash and jump drives are what's currently in.
In the not to distant future something will take the place of those also.
Right now CD's and DVD's provide the best "permanent" record so go with them!
JMHO. Hope this helps.
2007-01-12 07:59:31 · answer #1 · answered by Dick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would love to know why the previous poster said both were unreliable... How is an external hard drive any more or less reliable than an internal drive? For that matter, what would he/she say *IS* reliable... Hogwash!
I would go with an external hard drive. Yes, over time, the drive will eventually fail, but that is true of all things computer-related. Frankly, I would use the external drive as the 'active' storage device but also make regular backups of the pictures to DVD. Just remember to transfer your pictures to whatever newer media comes out in 3-4 years. I know people dont believe it now, but DVDs will not be around forever....
2007-01-12 07:49:08 · answer #2 · answered by davidinark 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both are unreliable but I think an external drive would be better, since depending on what size they are, they might hold more files thaan the DVDs. I am not sure though, I am not a professionel. you might want to go to an electronics store and ask someone there.
2007-01-12 07:42:14 · answer #3 · answered by bluefire_91 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i'd bypass for the exterior puzzling rigidity. I truly have had more suitable DVD/CD bypass undesirable than my 7 year old exterior rigidity. you should purchase it from a reputal corporation. there are various of them obtainable. CD/DVD are good medium yet they are more suitable susceptable to the elements and stupid human moments than an exterior rigidity. to boot, in case you chop back to rubble a cd/dvd, you are able to always recreate it from the exterior rigidity. an same won't be able to be reported in case you scratch a DVD which has an significant portion of your kept meduim on it. i exploit my exterior rigidity as an addition to my pcs rigidity and it holds videos, images and music. a number of my pals, in trouble-free words turn on their rigidity to maintain their stuff then close it off. I only keep it on a shelf connect with my pc and all my classes promptly get carry of/keep archives on to it. I truly have not all started to lose any archives in 7 years with my old Seagate exterior rigidity. My Itunes Library is on my exterior rigidity. the decision is yours, yet i trust the flexiblity of having an exterior rigidity will be more suitable of a earnings to ya. Expecially because the cost of those instruments are slowly ticking downward.
2016-10-30 22:41:41 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋