I had a close call today when I almost lost my 100gb of flac files . For some reason my computer crashed and corupted part of the hard drive. Luckely I was able to recover the files.

So now Im thinking I need some sort of long term storage medium which I can use to backup all my files and keep away from my computer. And then only returning to it in emergencies.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks

I use a 160Gb Samsung drive in an USB2/Firewire enclosure to back up all my stuff.

How long does data last on a hdd (removable) so once I have everything backed up and then leave the removable hdd and put it in storage for a few years, will the data be ok?

I know I cant do that with cds and dvds because they start to decay, does the same happen with hdds?

thanks

Providing the hdd is kept in a dry environment, away from magnetic sources, and unplugged, the hdd will probably outlast the busses to which it connects.

You say "provided it unplugged!". Why is this important, and how much of a difference could it make if it was always plugged in a computer which was unplugged from the mains?

I am now thinking about making a file server! I have a celeron pc with 256mb ram. I am thinking about getting a raid card for it and maybe 4x 250gb hdds! I think that can be come for £350 excluding the raid card.

I was planning on doing a mirrir raid config. e.g. 2 harddrives will be the main drives and the other 2 will mirror what ever is on the first 2!

Is that a worth while thing to do?

HDs in usage will decay by heat mostly, and the head movements, eitehr the HD dies by head crash or similar, or the data might be corrupted (or the hd) by heat and aging.

HD stored away unplugged will last longer, but:
you have a clear risk, that the magnetic storage data will lose its magnetization, and the magnetizations gets weaker and weaker, and then... data corrupted, only question of time, as always.

as HD is not the cheapest medium,
I went the optical media storage way:

My solution is DVD+R, previously CD-R.

But: as we all know, those do not last for very long, too.

But: see the development from to:
1.44 MB Diskette
0.7 GB CD-R
4.35 GB DVD+-R
-> soon: 25-40 ? GB "Blue-Ray" disc

so, after some time, you can recopy the data from 1 medium to the next, and u will even save "disc-space".

And since DVD+R and very cheapo space, one can create par2 recovery data and store this data on external DVDs for the enire data DVDs.
This adds some safety.
par2 data for Hds is recommended, too.

The german PC-Welt magazine has published online a test article about CD-R quality tests. years ago, they tested CD-R qualities, and found out, what is well accepted knowledge, that eg. Ritek and Tayo Yuden CD-R were the best.
But recently they published something new:
They wrote, they stored those written test-CD-rs properly away, and never touched them. Protected against dust, sunlight, heat, etc.

recently they pulled out those old test-CD-rs, and tried to read the old test-content and made the read-error-tests again.
No wonder, the error rates were higher than originally, but the medium tested qualities and the worst tested CD-rs have now such high error rates, that they are unreadable partly, not correctable.
But the best CD-R media was still readable quite well. (of course with higher error rates, than years ago, too).

Long story, short result:

Buy only quality media !

yeah, unplugged to avoid heat and usage.

If your going to set up a RAID array your data will probably be pretty safe anyway. So long as you don't use RAID0 .

I wouldn't call it a "clear risk". It will probably take decades for the earth's magnetic field to alter the data. CDs and DVDs decay much much faster.

A cheap, big hard disk + external enclosure seems the safest way for me, except magneto-optical storage (but that's too expensive).

Check High Capacity Music Storage Discussion thread.

Hello Jen,

as john33, I archive my data with a DD external USB2 of 200Go 7200tr/mn 8.
And it functions very well.
If it tempts you test a DD MODS, it is not for today, but you can the reserved all the same for the future.
Not silly this Guada Two

To soon

Backup HDD. If this is your desktop, RAID 1 is not a good idea. Daily or weekly backups to a separate HDD, however, is a good idea. I'd recommend a Samsung if internal (Samsung P80 w/ Nidex FDB motor = hard disk bliss), for noise. A Seagate is still quieter than the competition, though, and has a 5yr warranty (both Seagate and Samsung have excellent reliability).

HDDs will die, by heat or random factors that occur with so many moving parts. That is why you use the backup. The main HDD goes: you have the backup to back up from. Then, once backed up, you then have two points of failure again. DVDs might be good (and pretty cost-effective, too), but you'd want to go with quality ones (TY), and organization can be Hell once you've started adding to your collection.

Keep two HDDs pretty close as far as the data goes, and all will be well.

Creating par2 files as part of the backup process is a great idea, too, in case of corruption.

Wouldn't a home-made magnetically shielded box help?
To store it in to thwart off the Earth's magnectic field, and so that common problems from home applicances such as; using a vacuum cleaner (motor), placing a speaker or t.v. too close to it has minimal effects.

I am Waiting For bluray burners that support TDK Durabis bluray discs
they are the most durable!