Backup!Backup!Backup!
- This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated Mar 10, 2007 at 9:23 pm by
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I’m going to pass along some words of wisdom, especially to all the fledgling photographers out there.
John. Very sorry to hear about your loss of data. That is a bummer.
Everyone. Heed John’s warning. Here’s what I started doing last summer.
1) Establish a routine for backup. Like John said, if you get lax, good intentions will not save your files if you have a disaster.
2) I download images onto the laptop drive and immediately copy the folders onto an external hard drive.
3) When I have enough data to fill a CD, usually about every month or so, I burn two CDs. One goes in a 3-ring binder in the office. The other is stored OFF SITE. Fire is probably as much a threat as hard drive loss. If you have enough data cards, you can leave images on the card until you back them up onto CD, giving your self even more protection.
4) When I burn the CD, I archive it on the laptop saving just thumbnails for file and database searches. I then have permanent copies on 2 CDs and one external hard drive.There is no perfect solution. Hard drive storage is the cheapest solution, online storage the most expensive. CF cards can also lose data. CDs have their limits too. I can’t remember where I saw it, but one of media companies recently said to use archival quality CDs (which I don’t) and to store them in hard plastic cases (which I don’t, I use the binder sleeves) and vertically in a low humidity, stable, cool, dark environment. Yeah right.
It’s a hassle, but backup regularly and don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you do have a loss, hopefully it will not be a total one.
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