Protect Your Files

[Fred588]

In the last week or ten days I have seen several instances described of files lost due to disk corruption or other mistakes, including one request to me for a replacement file. This is to urge everyone who collects images, videos, or most anything else in computer file form to back everything up on a regular basis, and to suggest alternatives for doing so.

One means, albeit not the least expensive, is to install a RAID system on your computer (assuming, of course, that you store things on a computer). This is two or more drives where one is a copy of the other. RAID systems are expensive but the back up process is automatic.

If your collection is not too large and you have an internet connection that can handle the amount of data required, you can use a cloud-based storage system. Google Drive can be used FREE for up to 15 gigs of total storage and a 1T Drive costs around $10.00 a month. It can be configured to work automatically.

If you are like me and have a collection that is way too large for Google Drive to be reasonable, an alternative to a RAID system is to simply install drives in pairs and use one of each pair as a backup for the other. This is almost certainly the least expensive method but it does require that you remember to do the backups. This is the method I use. I have five pairs of external drives, matched in capacity. Some of these are as large as 8T and none are smaller than 5T. Every time I add a new file it goes to the drive designated for its content and then immediately to the paired drive. As a further measure, all three computers that can make use of the ten storage drives are NEVER connected to the internet.

The cost of a 1T drive, which ought to be easily large enough for most people's collections is less than $100.00 so there is hardly any excuse for not backing things up. Drives DO fail!

[Duncan Edwards]

I can't recall what I pay for Google drive storage every year but it's not much. The beauty of it is that I've got access to all my photos on anything no matter where I am. I've got a neat little app on my iPhone that makes it a virtual library for tens of thousands of photos from MPV and Studio 588. There are some videos up there too but nearly all I have are readily retrievable from the respective producer so I don't have to worry about that. Unless Google blows up, which is probably part of a wider apocalypse anyway, I've got safety and convenience.

[Fred588]

I can't recall what I pay for Google drive storage every year but it's not much. The beauty of it is that I've got access to all my photos on anything no matter where I am. I've got a neat little app on my iPhone that makes it a virtual library for tens of thousands of photos from MPV and Studio 588. There are some videos up there too but nearly all I have are readily retrievable from the respective producer so I don't have to worry about that. Unless Google blows up, which is probably part of a wider apocalypse anyway, I've got safety and convenience.

Google drive is roughly 10.00 per month for a 1T account, which is enough for every quicksand video currently offered by all producers (although this may not be true for much longer). While it is true that lost or damaged videos can be replaced by the producers it would be my assertion that relying on this is somewhat risky and inefficient. There is no guarantee that a producer will still be around when a drive fails - even giant international corporations fail. It could also take quite a while to replace a large collection. The wisest choice is to maintain one's own backup, by whatever method.

[Duncan Edwards]

I can't recall what I pay for Google drive storage every year but it's not much. The beauty of it is that I've got access to all my photos on anything no matter where I am. I've got a neat little app on my iPhone that makes it a virtual library for tens of thousands of photos from MPV and Studio 588. There are some videos up there too but nearly all I have are readily retrievable from the respective producer so I don't have to worry about that. Unless Google blows up, which is probably part of a wider apocalypse anyway, I've got safety and convenience.

Google drive is roughly 10.00 per month for a 1T account, which is enough for every quicksand video currently offered by all producers (although this may not be true for much longer). While it is true that lost or damaged videos can be replaced by the producers it would be my assertion that relying on this is somewhat risky and inefficient. There is no guarantee that a producer will still be around when a drive fails - even giant international corporations fail. It could also take quite a while to replace a large collection. The wisest choice is to maintain one's own backup, by whatever method.

Agreed but don't neglect the geographical separation of original and backup. If a bad guy breaks in and steals all your stuff he's taking your backup with him. I've experienced fire, flood, lightning and tornado in my life as well so a drive plugged into your laptop provides protection against drive failure and not much else. And I just like having all my toys with me all the time.

[Fred588]

I can't recall what I pay for Google drive storage every year but it's not much. The beauty of it is that I've got access to all my photos on anything no matter where I am. I've got a neat little app on my iPhone that makes it a virtual library for tens of thousands of photos from MPV and Studio 588. There are some videos up there too but nearly all I have are readily retrievable from the respective producer so I don't have to worry about that. Unless Google blows up, which is probably part of a wider apocalypse anyway, I've got safety and convenience.

Google drive is roughly 10.00 per month for a 1T account, which is enough for every quicksand video currently offered by all producers (although this may not be true for much longer). While it is true that lost or damaged videos can be replaced by the producers it would be my assertion that relying on this is somewhat risky and inefficient. There is no guarantee that a producer will still be around when a drive fails - even giant international corporations fail. It could also take quite a while to replace a large collection. The wisest choice is to maintain one's own backup, by whatever method.

Agreed but don't neglect the geographical separation of original and backup. If a bad guy breaks in and steals all your stuff he's taking your backup with him. I've experienced fire, flood, lightning and tornado in my life as well so a drive plugged into your laptop provides protection against drive failure and not much else. And I just like having all my toys with me all the time.

Quite correct.