Backup of photo files

Paul mabbott · #1 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 08:33 AM

How do you get a safe backup of your photographic files?
For trimmed, resized &c photos I have no problem copying to CD but I also like to keep the original files as uploaded (having deleted any seriously rubbish ones .... ) - gigabytes that don't easily fit onto a CD.

Does anyone use internet security vaults? ZIP files?

Mark Tulley · #2 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 09:20 AM

Hi Paul
I use an external (USB) hard drive which is only connected when I do a backup, perhaps once a fortnight. I also keep events such as holidays on DVDs. Fred Langa of LangaList recommended burning photo files to CD/DVD as soon as you download them from the camera. That way you have an archive copy. However I download my camera in dribs and drabs, so backup gets forgotten.
Hope you haven't lost anything valuable
Mark

Ambriel · #3 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 09:24 AM

I used to write these to CD but as my collection has grown I've switched to writing them to a data DVD which has substantially more capacity.

Jon · #4 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 09:50 AM

I have a duplicate hard drive on the PC for all RAW files I also keep some CDs. I tend not to back up JPEGs as they can be readily recreated. Jon

Paul mabbott · #5 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

.......... I tend not to back up JPEGs as they can be readily recreated. Jon

Only if you've still got the originals!

glsammy · #6 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 12:53 PM

I have two hard drive backups for the RAW files, one external the other a separate internal drive. So as soon as the files are uploaded, I've got three copies on three hard drives plus every month I create DVDs with those Raw files on, plus a further copy for good luck! Paranoid is what some might call it, but I would never ever rely totally on hard drive backups. I see more hard drive failures than almost any other computer problem, second only to power supplies.

matt_xyz · #7 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 02:18 PM

I also have a separate (external) hard-drive and copy my images to that regularly. This protects me against my internal hard-drive crashing but it has struck me that it doesn't protect my photos from fire, flood or theft which are all likely to involve the external and internal hard-drives. That's probably why burning DVDs would be a good idea because they can then be stored somewhere else. This isn't something that I currently do though

Matt

Paul mabbott · #8 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

I also have a separate (external) hard-drive and copy my images to that regularly. This protects me against my internal hard-drive crashing but it has struck me that it doesn't protect my photos from fire, flood or theft which are all likely to involve the external and internal hard-drives. That's probably why burning DVDs would be a good idea because they can then be stored somewhere else. This isn't something that I currently do though

Matt

Good thinking! I do transport some of my 'valuables' to other computers via discgo (or whatever it's called) and also burn a spare CD and put it in the garden shed every time I go away! Not pictures but all my records are copied onto CD and sent to appropriate people (national/regional coordinators) from time to time ....

But no one seems to be using internet storage .... ?

glsammy · #9 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 03:11 PM

I also use Photobox, part of the ntl service, where I've got about 1.5GB of storage space. I'm in the process of uploading full image high quality jpegs of my better shots there, as secure online storage.

FungiJohn · #10 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 03:24 PM

All my files are backed up on 2 seperate Hard drives (one at workplace) + 2 copies on DVD's once data reaches 4 Gb. Although with the latter it is now probably cheaper to just use hard drives and a USB2 caddy!

FungiJohn · #11 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

I also use Photobox, part of the ntl service, where I've got about 1.5GB of storage space. I'm in the process of uploading full image high quality jpegs of my better shots there, as secure online storage.

Not sure about it being 100% secure Graham. I know nothing is, but the upload/download time could be tiresome!

Oy · #12 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 05:20 PM

I use 3 methods...

1. DVD

2. 2nd internal hard drive (250gb)

3. Multiple Google email accounts - 2gb each

Walwyn · #13 (**permalink**) 13-12-2006, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

Not sure about it being 100% secure Graham. I know nothing is, but the upload/download time could be tiresome!

Its not that slow given broadband speeds these days. For £12 a year you can get a flickr pro account which lets you upload 20GB per month that's 240GB a year and way more than most people would use. You can batch upload a wadge of photos overnight using an uploader.

Whilst its not 100% secure its unlikely that they'll lose them on their servers at the same time as your house burns down and your hard disk crashes.

FungiJohn · #14 (**permalink**) 14-12-2006, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walwyn

Its not that slow given broadband speeds these days. For £12 a year you can get a flickr pro account which lets you upload 20GB per month that's 240GB a year and way more than most people would use. You can batch upload a wadge of photos overnight using an uploader.

Whilst its not 100% secure its unlikely that they'll lose them on their servers at the same time as your house burns down and your hard disk crashes.

I appreciate your view Walwyn.

I'm on a a 8mb home connection which is ultra slow compared with a 1gb backbone connection at uni. However, It's the upload/download/management of the system which would deter me. Apart from obvious security issues (Multiple Admin access) they are just as likely to suffer a major failure even with backups at different locations .... Remember Plusnet and how thousands of their customer email accounts were lost this year!

lewisa · #15 (**permalink**) 14-12-2006, 02:34 AM

Dont forget that its only download speeds that are 8mb etc, unless you have an SDSL service(very unlikley for residential) uploads will be a lot slower, between about 1/8 and 1/4 the speed of downloads, depending on how big your download speed is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oy

3. Multiple Google email accounts - 2gb each

Thats a great idea. If you are going to backup by uploading, may as well get it free

Made easier thanks to POP3 for gmail as well, unlike hotmail.

glsammy · #16 (**permalink**) 14-12-2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

Not sure about it being 100% secure Graham. I know nothing is, but the upload/download time could be tiresome!

It's not that bad John. I can upload in the background and still use the computer perfectly normally.
Nothing is 100% safe, that's why I use three hard drives, 2 x DVD's and on line storage. Belts and braces comes to mind!!

FungiJohn · #17 (**permalink**) 14-12-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

It's not that bad John. I can upload in the background and still use the computer perfectly normally.
Nothing is 100% safe, that's why I use three hard drives, 2 x DVD's and on line storage. Belts and braces comes to mind!!

Absolutely Graham. I reckon we all maybe take this type of approach as well. I still have 3 copies of all my BBC B programs / files but I know I will never use them

The important thing here is that it looks like we are all taking steps to ensure we can access backup information when we need to. All good advice for anyone looking in.

Paul mabbott · #18 (**permalink**) 14-12-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

Nothing is 100% safe, that's why I use three hard drives, 2 x DVD's and on line storage. Belts and braces comes to mind!!

... and a few bits of string as well ...
Incidentally, I'm told that DVDs are not as reliable as CDs ... for various reasons they sometimes fail to record (or be readable). Was this an early problem or does it still happen.
I still have nightmares about some experiences with floppy backups but have only once had a problematic CD that became write-only

nightshade · #19 (**permalink**) 14-12-2006, 06:35 PM

I bought an external 250 drive to back up to, but the internal drive failed when I turned the computer on!
DO NOT PUT IT OFF get backed up now

Walwyn · #20 (**permalink**) 14-12-2006, 07:29 PM

I refuse to be paranoid about it even after having lost the C drive in the last 2 months. Should have taken note of the grinding noise over the previous 3 weeks. My problem is that the more difficult the backup system is the less likely I am to adhere to it, something nice and simple like ghosting to an external drive will do for me.

Even though I work in the software industry and I've been involved with computers since 1978, my backup procedures are pretty rudimentary. I did acquick survey around the office the other week and I don't think that any one here has a comprehensive home backup system. Lots of guilty smiles though.

glsammy · #21 (**permalink**) 14-12-2006, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

... and a few bits of string as well ...
Incidentally, I'm told that DVDs are not as reliable as CDs ... for various reasons they sometimes fail to record (or be readable). Was this an early problem or does it still happen.
I still have nightmares about some experiences with floppy backups but have only once had a problematic CD that became write-only

I've had a few DVD failures, it was early cheap discs, created OK, checked OK, then a few weeks later, nothing!
I now use branded ones, and so far no problem..touch wood!

MTR · #22 (**permalink**) 14-12-2006, 08:59 PM

Hi
I used to be an Engineer for the CD & DVD industry.

I can tell you that your data is NOT safe using CD or DVD.
It is still very unpredictable its to do with the dies that are used for the media storage.
Basically they degrade although they are covered with Poly carbonate which is basically a lens to view the Die.
The die is burnt by the Lazer creating light and dark spots, and hey presto there's your "0"s and "1"s (Binary code)
Get the idea why you shouldn't leave them in direct sunlight!
Music Cd's well that's a different story, no dies involved at all!

Mark

Paul mabbott · #23 (**permalink**) 14-12-2006, 09:07 PM

Thanks, Melton Man.
Absolutely off the subject but why are music CDs a different story? I'm not sure what these 'dies' are that you're talking about. Just interested

No, surely, nothing is perfectly safe which is why you back up often and spread your backup discs (whatever kind) around the country.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTR

I can tell you that your data is NOT safe using CD or DVD.
It is still very unpredictable its to do with the dies that are used for the media storage.
Basically they degrade although they are covered with Poly carbonate which is basically a lens to view the Die.
The die is burnt by the Lazer creating light and dark spots, and hey presto there's your "0"s and "1"s (Binary code)
Get the idea why you shouldn't leave them in direct sunlight!
Music Cd's well that's a different story, no dies involved at all!

Mark

lewisa · #24 (**permalink**) 15-12-2006, 12:49 PM

Original CDs and DVDs are pressed on a thin sheet of alluminium, like a Vinyl record.

Recordable media uses Dye (often made from organic material) in place of the thin sheet of metal, its just gunk that changes when a laser is fired at it.

If you are worried about longevity the best thing you can do is use Taiyo Yuden and store them well. Very expensive compared to other discs, but they are the best.