Genealogy's Star: The genealogists' ubiquitous flash drives - 0 views
genealogysstar.blogspot.com/...s-ubiquitous-flash-drives.html
genealogist flash drives backup storage
shared by Margaret Harris on 05 Feb 10
- Cached
-
Wearing a flash drive around your neck on a strap has become the badge of the genealogist researcher. It is obvious that with ample storage space for most research needs in a conveniently small and light package, the flash drive is almost indispensable. But how reliable are they? Should flash drives be used for "long term" storage of data? What should I be using to archive my valuable digital files?
- ...5 more annotations...
-
flash drives are very prone to loss. The Mesa Regional Family History Center has a drawer dedicated to lost flash drives, usually left in the computers by the users.
-
how do you go about answering the questions of reliability, long term storage and using flash drives as an alternative to external hard drives.
-
flash drives are not immortal, they are subject to failure. Because of their relatively small cost, it would be wise to replace the drives periodically, perhaps once a year or so.
-
If the choice is no backup or a flash drive, the decision is obvious, backups are important and necessary. But perhaps you might have one flash drive for backup and keep it in a secure location and another to carry around so people will know you are a serious genealogist.