The best way to archive files

JohnRice · 10-03-2007, 11:06 PM

I know some of you guys look all around the photo forums, which I don't, so I'm hoping for some feedback or links to some good articles or threads on this topic.

I want to find the best all around way to archive my photo files. Hard Drive is great, but I am looking for something that is as reliable, but removable. A friend who is my computer expert tells me that DVD-RAM is probably best, as it has the same level of error correction as hard drives, which regular DVD formats lack. Of course, DVD-RAM is magnetic, which has certain drawbacks. DVD-R is not magnetic, but you have dye degeneration issues, and no error correction.

Is there something else fairly cheap I am missing? Some of these files may reach in the 200-300 MB range, so I do need a fairly large capacity.

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Alon Goldberg · 10-04-2007, 12:41 AM

Time to purchase an SDLT tape drive

Individual tapes are reasonably priced, but you may go into sticker shock when you see the price of the drive

JohnRice · 10-04-2007, 01:36 AM

That's not in the cards, I'm afraid.

Sam Posten · 10-05-2007, 10:44 AM

Buy a cheap external drive, install Microsoft Sync Toy, backup to the drive, unplug it, you are done =) Rinse and repeat as needed.

JohnRice · 10-05-2007, 12:43 PM

I was thinking about that, but since I am looking to archive, I'd really rather have something that is removable and can be done on a project by project basis. I know that can be done with the HD backup. I was just about to go the DVD-RAM route, but RAM discs seem to be almost nonexistant anymore. So, though it is probably the best media, I decided against it.

Instead, I am just going to archive to DVD/CD, burn two copies of each archive, use the best media (Verbatim, most of the time) and store them in double DVD cases so they are protected from light. My main problem with the HD idea is that if (when) the drive fails, I could lose EVERYTHING, which would be enough to keep me awake at night.

Keith Plucker · 10-09-2007, 10:49 PM

Burning two copies to different discs is a good idea. However, I would suggest buying two different brands of quality media, one copy on each. Using two different brands of media protects you in case you get a bad batch of discs from one manufacturer.

Also, if possible, store one copy at another location in case of fire, flood, etc.

-Keith

JohnRice · 10-09-2007, 10:54 PM

I had thought about storing in two locations, but hadn't thought of two different brands of media. I think I will do that. I have generally come to consider Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden to be the two best brands, and I typically have both available. Fortunately, there are usually very good prices for the 4x version of them and since I am not burning piles of discs, burning speed isn't that important. Also, I have 3 DVD burners, so I can just burn both copies at the same time.

I'm also using DVD cases, since sunlight is probably the most common enemy to DVD-Rs.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Christ Reynolds · 10-10-2007, 01:13 PM

What's the total file size of the data you need to archive?

CJ

JohnRice · 10-10-2007, 01:37 PM

There really isn't a total size. It's an ongoing thing, but it is highly unlikely any one project will need more than the capacity of a DVD, even if I do 200MB scans of each shot with film jobs. I was planning to archive them by the job, but not until after some time (maybe 2 years) had passed. Until then, I keep most stuff on HD with a backup.

A big part of it is I am trying to settle on a film scanner, and once I have a suitable one, I have almost 15 years of 120 and 4x5s to go through. I will be scanning in the better stuff and will be needing space to archive it.



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