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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Best of 2004 + naughty computer = 4.7
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01/25/2005 03:41:28 PM · #1
I wanted to get suggestions on good methods of storing photos, other than CDs. Yes, CDs are good, but I've had bad luck with them in the past. I burnt a CD recently with about 600 photos, checked the CD, then deleted the files from my computer (I need all the space I can get because of video rendering work I do). About 3 weeks later, my drive, for the lack of a better phrase, "went out." If I put a cd in it, the drive would make a loud grinding noise, a crack, a pop, a sputter, a shuffle, a waltz, then the computer would crash. I thought everything was good- just buy a new drive and get on with life. Unfortunately, my new drive, along with the drives in the nine other computers I work with in my home will not read my discs with photos.

In the end, I lost 2 discs, roughly 600 post processed photos each- a collection of my very best of 2004.

I had to submit a photo for the challenge that I didn't feel was my best, and that the voters feel isn't my best. It was just one of the very few photos I had left from the year, stored on a 32 mb jump drive.

The point-

1) How should I store the photos?
2) What might've been the issue with those CDs?
3) The voters here have a keen eye for spotting the best, and not so best photos. I'm amazed by the abilities of everyone here.
01/25/2005 04:04:46 PM · #2
Get a quality burner and use good burning software.
Use settings in the CD-writer that are advised to be used when you want as much compatibility as possible. (Check the help files of the software for that).
Run a verification after the burning.
Use high quality CD-R's, like Kodak CD-R Ultima (Gold) or Mitsui (now MAM-E for Europe and MAM-A for the Americas) Gold Archive.
Make two copies (and a third of a set of 4 on Mitsui DVD's).
Store a third backup on a external swappable HDD.


01/25/2005 04:10:42 PM · #3
External USB Hard Drive is best option...any computer...any where...any when.

And reasonable prices now!
01/25/2005 04:40:34 PM · #4
When you burn to a CD you need to make sure that you close the CD, then they will read in any CD Drive. If they are not closed then only in the drive that they were burned on.
01/25/2005 04:53:47 PM · #5
Originally posted by Formerlee:

External USB Hard Drive is best option...any computer...any where...any when.

And reasonable prices now!


Or you can do like I did and buy a external hard drive enclosure off e-bay. I bought one for like ten bucks the took my 80GB hard drive and put it in there. It works great. Also go to snapfiles.com and search for Syncback. It is free and a great program for backing up. It makes an exact copy of two drives. This way you have two copies of everything.
01/25/2005 05:02:34 PM · #6
You could even try and online database. You can buy 1gb space on websites so cheap now days and you will have total control of the images. It also means that no matter where you are, you can access your images.
01/25/2005 05:09:35 PM · #7
For your CD's, give this a shot:
//www.smart-projects.net/cdrecovery/
01/25/2005 05:18:18 PM · #8
Originally posted by loz1:

You could even try and online database. You can buy 1gb space on websites so cheap now days and you will have total control of the images. It also means that no matter where you are, you can access your images.


Get a gmail account...1 gb space and it's free ! just send youself an email to your gmail box with pic as attachment.

I've got an invite spare if you want one.

Bob
01/25/2005 05:28:22 PM · #9
Originally posted by Fibonacci:

Originally posted by loz1:

You could even try and online database. You can buy 1gb space on websites so cheap now days and you will have total control of the images. It also means that no matter where you are, you can access your images.


Get a gmail account...1 gb space and it's free ! just send youself an email to your gmail box with pic as attachment.

I've got an invite spare if you want one.

Bob


Maybe you can store a few 600px images... But I burn through 512mb of storage on a single outing. Gmail would last two days at that rate. What's more, I don't want my portfolio depending on anything I haven't paid for a level of service on to guarentee it.

A removable drive is a great near-line backup, but it gets expensive for redundancy. Remember that it's a delicate piece of electronics which can be toasted by eletrical surges, static discharge, or mechanical failure. I really like having a removable of network drive as a glorified "undo" button, but I still trust my backups to redundant optical media. It would not be a comfortable thing for me to depend on an external drive if I were to fomrat my primary media drive. Having been an engineer for a large computer company working in large data centers I've seen too many disks flake out.

CD-R or DVD-R (note: not RW) are probably the most economical plan. That being said you need to make certain precautions. Only use a name brand quality drive. Something like a Plextor, Sony, Phillips, Pioneer, etc. Next, use only name brand media. I stick with TDK, but others are good as well. Your drive should include recommended media types. Don't stray.

Always make backups in "2s". Stuff happens, and at less than a buck a platter it's cheap insurance. Store media in temperature and humidity stable locations. Don't put 'em in your car, attic, or windowsill. Always store in jewel cases, not sleeves, and always store vertically. Finally, minimize writing on the disc - ideally, only write on the jewel case. NO INKJET PRINTED LABELS.

CDs are good. Discs are good. If you really can't loose your data, do both.


01/25/2005 05:35:31 PM · #10
Originally posted by Fibonacci:

Originally posted by loz1:

You could even try and online database. You can buy 1gb space on websites so cheap now days and you will have total control of the images. It also means that no matter where you are, you can access your images.


Get a gmail account...1 gb space and it's free ! just send youself an email to your gmail box with pic as attachment.

I've got an invite spare if you want one.

Bob


Thanks for the invite offer, but I already use gmail. I think I'm going to try your suggestion.
01/25/2005 05:38:10 PM · #11
Originally posted by cghubbell:

Originally posted by Fibonacci:

Originally posted by loz1:

You could even try and online database. You can buy 1gb space on websites so cheap now days and you will have total control of the images. It also means that no matter where you are, you can access your images.


Get a gmail account...1 gb space and it's free ! just send youself an email to your gmail box with pic as attachment.

I've got an invite spare if you want one.

Bob


Maybe you can store a few 600px images... But I burn through 512mb of storage on a single outing. Gmail would last two days at that rate. What's more, I don't want my portfolio depending on anything I haven't paid for a level of service on to guarentee it.

A removable drive is a great near-line backup, but it gets expensive for redundancy. Remember that it's a delicate piece of electronics which can be toasted by eletrical surges, static discharge, or mechanical failure. I really like having a removable of network drive as a glorified "undo" button, but I still trust my backups to redundant optical media. It would not be a comfortable thing for me to depend on an external drive if I were to fomrat my primary media drive. Having been an engineer for a large computer company working in large data centers I've seen too many disks flake out.

CD-R or DVD-R (note: not RW) are probably the most economical plan. That being said you need to make certain precautions. Only use a name brand quality drive. Something like a Plextor, Sony, Phillips, Pioneer, etc. Next, use only name brand media. I stick with TDK, but others are good as well. Your drive should include recommended media types. Don't stray.

Always make backups in "2s". Stuff happens, and at less than a buck a platter it's cheap insurance. Store media in temperature and humidity stable locations. Don't put 'em in your car, attic, or windowsill. Always store in jewel cases, not sleeves, and always store vertically. Finally, minimize writing on the disc - ideally, only write on the jewel case. NO INKJET PRINTED LABELS.

CDs are good. Discs are good. If you really can't loose your data, do both.


Thanks for the advice. What program do you recommend for writing data to DVD-Rs? Also, what is the significance of storing discs vertically?
01/25/2005 07:05:27 PM · #12
That is truley sad that you lost all that work. I just finished voting on all the pcitures for the best of 2004. I eagerly awaited the next image to open up as I pressed on through them. Most were simply stunning! Many were outstanding! But none were "what some might say" not up to par.
S.W.
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