Advice from computer guys about saving pictures - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Gilly · #1 10-18-2012, 04:17 PM

Hey, my camera software is getting pretty full of computer images, about time to clear them out. Lots of them I just took for ebaying things, and even some of those I wouldn't mind keeping somehow.
For the most part I'd probably be fine just putting them on a disc. I'm sure I can handle doing that technically, but how many pictures can I put on a disc?
Right now I have over 2000 images, no idea how many I'd really want to save, lets say 1/4 to 1/2, maybe 1000 or so? Or is that a "ton" of discs to save that many and I better pare it down a lot? I think I'd rather do this than get a bunch of pictures printed.

Also what is a good way to back up my music files? CDs as well? Music files I have around 700 I think? Mostly around 2-4mb range. Just so I still have them when it's time to replace or have to reformat my computer

I am not all that computer savvy so go easy on me!

Gilly

tbomachines · #2 10-18-2012, 04:22 PM

It depends on the file size of your images. Honestly it sounds like your best bet is an external hard drive, which would have more than enough space and is probably much more user friendly than a bunch of CDs.

Something like this, although there's no way you'd need to even get close to this much space (so price is lower from here)
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG S2 Portable 1TB USB 3.0 Piano Black External Hard Drive HX-MTD10EA/G2

Does your computer have a DVD-RW (can write DVDs) or just a CD-RW? Most computers within the last 7ish years should have a DVD-RW drive. It should be embossed or printed on the face of the CD drive somewhere.

G-Benz · #3 10-18-2012, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

It depends on the file size of your images. Honestly it sounds like your best bet is an external hard drive, which would have more than enough space and is probably much more user friendly than a bunch of CDs...

I concur!

It's what I do with music, video and pics. Less cumbersome to deal with than loading CDs or DVDs.

Plus it offers the flexibility to remove stuff you no longer need (like e-Bay pics). And endless opportunities to reshuffle your media into different folders.

Can't Know · #4 10-18-2012, 05:48 PM

Don't use an external hard drive. And don't use DVDs. Either can fail, and no one stores DVDs the way they are intended for archival purposes. Nothing sucks more than putting your stuff on one of these and then losing it because the head crashes or the media becomes unstable. Just don't.

USB "thumb" drives are now very inexpensive. They are solid-state, fast, stable and highly reliable. They are also far more portable, they're easily stored and easy to take along if you want to carry pics with you to show friends when you're on vacation, at least so long as they have a computer. And they don't require an external power source as with a conventional external hard drive.

JohnM. · #5 10-18-2012, 05:50 PM

USB thumb drives are just as prone to random failure as an external hard drive, if not more. I have had more flash drives just stop working, or all of my files are gone but the drive still works...than hard drives fail.

I'd say an external drive for backup purposes will suffice, only turn it on when needed. If you want more peace of mind, use a flash drive as a secondary backup. Be sure to get a 2.5" external so you don't need a power source, just the USB cable.

Gilly · #6 10-18-2012, 06:35 PM

I have made cd's and dvd's before ("tribute" type for a friend who passed on), so yeah I guess i can do either one, with some guidance.
I know on an image I could just order prints online. Even those are never 100% safe (fire and whatnot) so anything is a gamble to a certain extent.

On my computer (PC, around 8 yrs old), it has these designations:

DVD R/RW, RW DVD+ReWriteable, and a Compact Disc emblem that also says rewriteable, and on the side says Ultraspeed?

Not sure if I have many of the connections newer computers have, but does have what I think you call USB ports (like how I connect my MP3 player and digital camera to get photo images to the computer).

Whats the best way to backup my music, same way?

Once I get my images paired down I can tell you how much space we are talking about. Is there a way to find out how much music i currently have, expressed in bytes?

dcotejr · #7 10-18-2012, 08:36 PM

One more option is the Cloud - there are MANY options that are free - dropbox, google drive, skydrive, etc, etc. I'd hedge my bets and use a few of them. Free storage usually in the 2-5GB range; pay for it after that...

cullennewsom · #8 10-18-2012, 08:59 PM

CD's and DVD's are vulnerable to light exposure over long terms, and scratches. In addition, they are a huge pain. Get an external HDD if it is more than a few GB, use a thumb drive if it is just a few GB. They are also not necessarily cheaper than a HDD per unit of storage.

In fact, if you have a lot of data that you worry about, get two, back up your data, store one away from your home, rotate them regularly.

Gilly · #9 02-08-2013, 03:41 PM

Dragging up this thread because I did just purchase a "portable hard drive". My wife has been on me about saving some pictures that are currently only on the computer. Mainly a party that was held for her brother a month or 2 before he passed on from the big C.
I also have songs on Windows Media Player that I transfer to my MP3 player and I'd hate to have to collect all those songs again (500 or so, so not like a lot of younger people who have 1000s of songs, plus I just add a song now and then at this point, and for the most part they are oldies that I remember I don't have).
I also have free access to an online storage site associated I guess with google, called Picasa? I have used that as a dropbox for different things, but I could use that for off-site storage of the pictures.
Does the MP3 player itself act as storage if my computer would crash like today, would the MP3 player be able to act as a backup?
The portable hard drive was on sale at BestBuy it is called "My Passport Edge", 500GB which I think for my purposes is like 5 times more than I should need at this point.
Never used one before so if anyone has any further tips I am all ears.
Gilly

spdrun · #10 02-08-2013, 03:45 PM

Used Drobo or similar, configured to RAID level 1. Relatively safe (redundant drives), private (data aren't on the cloud), and stable.

Jorn · #11 02-08-2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

Used Drobo or similar, configured to RAID level 1. Relatively safe (redundant drives), private (data aren't on the cloud), and stable.

Why would he spent a $1000 to store 2000 pictures, sounds like over kill to me(?) Buy two cheap external USB 3 1TB drives and back up your stuff to both drives, so you are covered if one the two drive fails.

I wouldn't back up to SSD's or USB thumb drives, they fail with out warning. This could happen with regular drives but in most cases you will see/hear failure coming and gives you time to back up.

spdrun · #12 02-08-2013, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorn

Why would he spent a $1000 to store 2000 pictures, sounds like over kill to me(?) Buy two cheap external USB 3 1TB drives and back up your stuff to both drives, so you are covered if one the two drive fails.

I wouldn't back up to SSD's or USB thumb drives, they fail with out warning. This could happen with regular drives but in most cases you will see/hear failure coming and gives you time to back up.

I said "used" -- things like that tend to end on on EBay or Craigslist for a few hundred.

Jorn · #13 02-08-2013, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

I said "used" -- things like that tend to end on on EBay or Craigslist for a few hundred.

Copy that. The drobo itself I would consider second hand, but used drives scare me.

spdrun · #14 02-08-2013, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorn

Copy that. The drobo itself I would consider second hand, but used drives scare me.

New drives are dirt-cheap (under $100 for a TB), so there's no point in buying used.

Gilly · #15 02-08-2013, 09:13 PM

OK if I have stuff tranferred over to the portable, and I decide I don't need everything I transferred, how can I kick it off the portable?