Lets talk backing up...........again. - Page 3

kindlekitten · 12-13-2009, 08:59 AM

I put important papers and expensive jewlery into the freezer when I am traveling. would this be detrimental to a thumb drive or an external drive?

kennyc · 12-13-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

I put important papers and expensive jewlery into the freezer when I am traveling. would this be detrimental to a thumb drive or an external drive?

Uh....might be better to get one of those small fire-proof lockable storage boxes. That's what I do.

The defrost cycle/humidity might screw it up.

kindlekitten · 12-13-2009, 09:09 AM

the problem with those boxes is that they could possibly grow feet if you know what I mean... so the humidity might be an issue, but if it were protected from that; ie a ziploc... would the cold hurt it?

HarryT · 12-13-2009, 09:14 AM

USB memory sticks are pretty indestructible. Put one of those in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer and it'll be fine. I really wouldn't do it with a hard disk!

kennyc · 12-13-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

the problem with those boxes is that they could possibly grow feet if you know what I mean... so the humidity might be an issue, but if it were protected from that; ie a ziploc... would the cold hurt it?

I don't think the cold itself would be an issue. Particularly if it's airtight sealed.

Sweetpea · 12-13-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It may sound like a strange thing to say, but for me, it's not.

I have insurance which would rebuild my house, but things like my 20+ year-old eBook collection, my collection of old radio shows, and many years worth of digital photographs are all irreplaceable. There are things that money can't buy.

Which is why I want that external HD for my pictures. My books are secure already, duplicated on every reading device I have and two thumbdrives...

JSWolf · 12-13-2009, 09:48 AM

Once i upgrade my computer, I will be saving up and purchasing a bunch of 1TB external drives for backups. That will be the simplest and best way to do it.

rhadin · 12-13-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Leaning more and more towards an external hard drive.

The only problem with external hard drives is that they do fail and you are no better off once they fail than if they didn't exist.

A better choice for an external drive system is a NAS box. NAS boxes contain mirrored hard drives to protect in case of hard drive failure. Essentially, it means that there are an equal number of hard drives (2, 4, etc.) that are paired with one drive being a mirror image (or backup) of the primary drive of the pair.

I use a NAS box and Backup4All software as a local backup for our desktops, along with occasionally synching my primary desktop computer to my laptop using GoodSync. But I also play it safe and use an offsite backup company, Carbonite. I like Carbonite (been with them 3 years and just renewed for 2 more years in September for all our desktops) for several reasons, including that the storage space is unlimited.

HarryT · 12-13-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

The only problem with external hard drives is that they do fail and you are no better off once they fail than if they didn't exist.

A better choice for an external drive system is a NAS box. NAS boxes contain mirrored hard drives to protect in case of hard drive failure. Essentially, it means that there are an equal number of hard drives (2, 4, etc.) that are paired with one drive being a mirror image (or backup) of the primary drive of the pair.

I have a NAS box, too (four drives in a RAID 5 array), but what do you do to back that up in the case of, say, fire or theft? That's what I use my external USB disks for, which are so easily kept off-site. With hundreds of GB of files, such as I have, it's unfortunately impractical to make backups over the internet (at least it is with my internet speeds).

WT Sharpe · 12-13-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I bought this one less than a month ago when my old external HD became filled to capacity, and so far it's working like a charm. Plug and play simplicity.

That looks good, but way more than I need? ...

There are smaller, cheaper models out there, but I find with all the videos, music, pictures, and other files being saved on computers these days, an external hard drive with at least 1 terabyte of storage capacity makes sense. Today's large files can max out a smaller unit quickly.

Another plus is the physical size the newer units take up on the shelf. The new 1TB unit (The dimensions listed on the Amazon page are incorrect) measures approximately 7-3/4" long, 5" high (with stand), and 1-1/4" wide. That makes it considerably smaller overall than the old 250GB MyBook sitting next to it (5-1/2" long X 6-1/4" tall x 2-1/4" wide).

HarryT · 12-13-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Another plus is the physical size the newer units take up on the shelf. The new 1TB unit (The dimensions listed on the Amazon page are incorrect) measures approximately 7-3/4" long, 5" high (with stand), and 1-1/4" wide. That makes it considerably smaller overall than the old 250GB MyBook sitting next to it (5-1/2" long X 6-1/4" tall x 2-1/4" wide).

The USB bus-powered 2.5" drives are tiny. The most recent 500GB drive I've bought is about the size of a pack of playing cards and obviously needs no power supply, so it's truly portable. You could carry half a dozen of them in your pockets and really not notice them. They are certainly the optimum in terms of GB of data storage per cubic cm of physical storage space.

WT Sharpe · 12-13-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The USB bus-powered 2.5" drives are tiny. The most recent 500GB drive I've bought is about the size of a pack of playing cards and obviously needs no power supply, so it's truly portable. You could carry half a dozen of them in your pockets and really not notice them. They are certainly the optimum in terms of GB of data storage per cubic cm of physical storage space.

I'm constantly being amazed by the ever-increasing capabilities of our ever-shrinking technological devices. It must be the result of all that secret government research with crashed alien crafts at Area 51.

kennyc · 12-13-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I'm constantly being amazed by the ever-increasing capabilities of our ever-shrinking technological devices. It must be the result of all that secret government research with crashed alien crafts at Area 51.

No, no, no silly boy, it was discovered by Dan Brown in ancient texts!

daffy4u · 12-13-2009, 11:58 AM

All you Carbonite users, Cnet reports:

Quote:

Backup deal: You know online backups should be part of your overall backup regimen, right? Well, here's a rare chance to get in cheap: Carbonite is offering 50 percent off annual subscription plans (with coupon code CUST50). You can get one year for $27.47, two years for $49.97, or three years for $64.97. This awesome offer's good until the end of December.

I may take advantage of the 1/2 off the 2 year plan. I also have a new Seagate 1.5 TB drive arriving tomorrow ($100 Dell sale item now $160).

EDIT: I went for the 3 years. Backing up now.

desertgrandma · 12-13-2009, 12:55 PM

I:m doing both.

Going Carbonite, AND an exernal HD. I spend more than that on crap monthly.

Someone please give me some feedback on this one, or suggest another?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...0656593&sr=1-6

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12-13-2009, 08:59 AM	#31
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	I put important papers and expensive jewlery into the freezer when I am traveling. would this be detrimental to a thumb drive or an external drive?

12-13-2009, 09:09 AM	#33
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	the problem with those boxes is that they could possibly grow feet if you know what I mean... so the humidity might be an issue, but if it were protected from that; ie a ziploc... would the cold hurt it?

12-13-2009, 09:14 AM	#34
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	USB memory sticks are pretty indestructible. Put one of those in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer and it'll be fine. I really wouldn't do it with a hard disk!

12-13-2009, 09:48 AM	#37
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,748 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Once i upgrade my computer, I will be saving up and purchasing a bunch of 1TB external drives for backups. That will be the simplest and best way to do it.

12-13-2009, 12:55 PM	#45
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	I:m doing both. Going Carbonite, AND an exernal HD. I spend more than that on crap monthly. Someone please give me some feedback on this one, or suggest another? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...0656593&sr=1-6

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