Storage container for Hard Drive (Photo Storage for my M8)

[eleskin]

I am one of those M8 users that treats his files like film (I save everything I shoot, I now have 34,000 photos since 2007) and keeps everything and uses a tremendous amount of hard drive space.

On another post, I asked about the best Hard Drive dock to use for a standard internal Hard Drive. I bought a BLAC X hard drive dock and love it.

Now my question is what do I store my hard drives in? I see cases that look similar to the old VHS cases. Some say just use anti static bags and bubble wrap in a box.

Also, the dock I bought has a limit on 1TB. Anyone use one that has a greater capacity?

 

[Jarle Aasland]

Now my question is what do I store my hard drives in? I see cases that look similar to the old VHS cases. Some say just use anti static bags and bubble wrap in a box.

I'm using a similar device. I put my disks in an anti static bag AND an old VHS case. Works fine. Good luck.

Jarle

 

[dimitris]

I would use a plastic box that seals. Make sure you backup!

 

[degruyl]

Is this for archival purposes? How long a term of storage do you expect?

Hard disks are not the most stable way of storing large amounts of data long term, unless you are keeping them running and replacing failures with backups.

 

[Merkin]

Is this for archival purposes? How long a term of storage do you expect?

Hard disks are not the most stable way of storing large amounts of data long term, unless you are keeping them running and replacing failures with backups.

Agreed. I think your best bet is building a RAID array. If you have an old windows desktop computer you no longer use, format its hard drive, install ubuntu linux on it (it's free) and turn it in to a server/RAID controller.

 

[Merkin]

another option would be to let someone else do your archiving for you. If nothing else, each Gmail account gives you seven gigs of free storage on google's servers 😉

 

[Mario Alessi]

Hard drives are magnetic based digital storage.
Tape is magnetic digital storage.
CD/DVD are optical and reflective digital storage.
Prints are analog storage.
Negatives are analog storage.

Basically you need a minimum of TWO backup storage. and you use any of the digital photos regularly ONE primary storage.

I suggest to my clients to have DVD backups. And a pocket hard drive backup. This is in additional to a hard drive they normally access their files on.

WHen you burning a DVD its very simple to just burn 2 while your doing it.

A hard drive can loose it magnetic properties after a while, the platters can shatter if the drive is dropped, the electronic components on its own circuit board can go bad. I have personally seen all those failures occur over the last 10 years in addition to my clients.

DVD and CDs i have seen scratched. If the bottom is scratched the (clear side) the laser can sometimes read through the scratch. If the reflective surface is scratched (which can happen on the top) the the data is GONE in that spot.

I sugest having two dvd copies. One dvd copy store offsite. I had a client who had his computer system stole form his house, and his stack of backup hardrives next to the computer as well as the cd cases with backups on the bookshelf.

Also your house could burn down. You could make a second backup of the pocket harddrive and store that and the second backup on dvds in a Bank safe deposit box.

Storage is very inexpensive compared to the time it takes you to pay for and or attempt data recovery.