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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Just order an External HD...
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 03/05/2007 01:12:32 PM · #1
OK, so I'm getting sick of the DVD backups...so I ordered a 250GB external HD.

Any clues as to organizing the photos?

Give me some tips on how you guys are using external drives for backups.

Message edited by author 2007-03-05 13:14:33.
 03/05/2007 01:14:37 PM · #2
I just bought my first one the other day. I do all my images in monthly folders with subfolders inside. Other than that I have no system. Just copied everything over as it was. I am not the most organized person in the world.
 03/05/2007 01:21:29 PM · #3
Originally posted by timfythetoo:
I am not the most organized person in the world.


Meee either :-) It's a guessing game figuring what is in my folders.
 03/05/2007 01:27:57 PM · #4
i have a 500GB external as a back up (bought in feb)
(90% full now !!)
all the files (except pre2000) are
year/month/00-00-0000 day-month-year

i can find things pretty quick
(the last 2.5 years take up more than 70% of the drive ...)
03/05/2007 01:50:52 PM · #5
It depends a bit on what software you have. If you have Bridge and are very diligent about adding keywords to your photos, organizing folders by date would be a good choice, since you can search by subject, location, etc. If you rarely add keywords to files (like most of us!), you may prefer to organize by location, subject, etc. since two years from now it will be impossible to remember when you shot what.
 03/05/2007 01:52:33 PM · #6
I use Syncback which is a free program found here:

//www.snapfiles.com/reviews/SyncBack/SyncBack.html

I save everything to one drive and Syncback automatically backs it all up on another drive for me. You can choose the time it does this.

You can have it mirror a drive or just backup certain folder at certain times.


03/05/2007 01:58:06 PM · #7
I went out and purchase external had drives. I was able to get some 160GB usb stackable external drives for $69 each. Very handy.
03/05/2007 02:02:47 PM · #8
I organize my external HD (Western Digital - highly recommend it) by titling the event (for example "Christmas 2006", "Easter 2004", "Summer 04", etc). When I'm too lazy, I throw the pictures in the "to sort" folder, which I then re-arrange once a month :)
03/05/2007 02:13:55 PM · #9
Originally posted by Southern Gentleman:
I went out and purchase external had drives. I was able to get some 160GB usb stackable external drives for $69 each. Very handy.

Officemax has a 250gb for $90 (with no mail in rebates right now I think). I picked up a 250gb from Circuit City on Monday for $80 (after $50 mail in rebate).
 03/05/2007 02:18:13 PM · #10
Originally posted by timfythetoo:

Officemax has a 250gb for $90 (with no mail in rebates right now I think).


Well crap, if I had known that I wouldn't have ordered from NewEgg for $107. Oh well... LOL
 03/05/2007 02:25:06 PM · #11
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by timfythetoo:

Officemax has a 250gb for $90 (with no mail in rebates right now I think).


Well crap, if I had known that I wouldn't have ordered from NewEgg for $107. Oh well... LOL


Yes but the brand matters a lot to me.
 03/05/2007 02:36:41 PM · #12
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
OK, so I'm getting sick of the DVD backups...so I ordered a 250GB external HD.


I don't know that I'd abandon the DVD backups, personally. I have a 250GB external drive that I use specifically for photos, too, and I had become a bit complacent about backing things up further.

I had been in the habit of backing things up on DVD after copying them to the external drive, but would occasionally go a long time between burns. And a power flicker chomped up the external drive last fall, and I had to buy a data recovery tool to get *most* things off it. Thankfully I was able to get all of my important stuff off the drive, but I sure wish I had been more diligent about burning the DVDs (I am now!).

Message edited by author 2007-03-05 14:36:59.
 03/05/2007 02:40:06 PM · #13
Oh, and to organize my drive, I do it by date, and I attach a name to go along with it. I never have trouble finding things on it. I'll name folders something like: 2007-03-05-blizzard

That way, everything on the drive is in order by date, and with a little description at the end, it's always easy to spot what I'm looking for.
 03/05/2007 03:54:17 PM · #14
remember that if you are going to backup to DVD you should order the archival DVD. They are supposed to last 300 years vs 4-5 years for the regular ones.

DVD:
//www.conservationresources.com/Main/section_6/section6_12.htm

CD:
//www.conservationresources.com/Main/section_6/section6_11.htm

Why:

//www.rense.com/general52/themythofthe100year.htm
03/05/2007 04:10:44 PM · #15
Originally posted by dleach:
remember that if you are going to backup to DVD you should order the archival DVD. They are supposed to last 300 years vs 4-5 years for the regular ones.


Yeah, but then every 299 years I'm gonna have to re-archive the stupid things.
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