Backup important files on Flash drive or hard drive?

[JEDI]

the files are small: tax forms, word/excel docs, etc

less than 1 gig total.

i feel an external hd is overkill, but how reliable is a 8gig flash drive long term (encrypted)?

 

[SKORPI0]

Flash drive/DVD. keep in a secured place.

 

[paul878]

If it is that Important, have multiple backup.
I would encrypt it and upload a copy to Microsoft live drive or something similar.

 

[MontyAC]

Yup, I keep my tax returns on 2 separate flash drives.

 

[Ken g6]

I wrote a script that backs up my important files, encrypts them with openssl, and copies them to my flash drive if it's plugged in. (They also get copied to my laptop.) I carry my flash drive on my keychain, so I expect I'll never lose my backups, and if I lose the flash drive the encryption should be hard enough to crack that I don't have to worry. (This also means I have to plug in my keychain one night a week.)

 

[JEDI]

I wrote a script that backs up my important files, encrypts them with openssl, and copies them to my flash drive if it's plugged in. (They also get copied to my laptop.) I carry my flash drive on my keychain, so I expect I'll never lose my backups, and if I lose the flash drive the encryption should be hard enough to crack that I don't have to worry. (This also means I have to plug in my keychain one night a week.)

openssl?
hm.. i was going to use WinRar's encryption.

and what happened to PGP since they were bought out by Norton/symantec years ago?
(1024bit encryption?)

 

[ShintaiDK]

Flash, 2 if you want to be very safe.

 

[lakedude]

Also use Terra Copy to verify that the copy is good.

Terra Copy is brilliant because it uses a check sum rather than doing a bit for bit comparison. It calculates the source check sum while it is copying and then calculates the new copy's check sum and then it compares them.

 

[corkyg]

If it is that Important, have multiple backup.
I would encrypt it and upload a copy to Microsoft live drive or something similar.

This is good. I haver my finances on two thumbdrives, and they are always with me - one on each set of car keys. But, my main tax records are kept by my accountant.

 

[mfenn]

Yup, I keep my tax returns on 2 separate flash drives.

Agree. The number of copies of data should scale with the importance if that data. Flash drives are cheap these days, why not put the (encrypted) data on several?

Also, a backup you've never tested is a backup you might as well not have. I'd do a test restore every few months.

 

[piasabird]

I have had some files on a flash drive for over 10 years. Never encrypted them. Encryption is one way to lose the files forever. What are you hiding it for?

 

[JEDI]

I have had some files on a flash drive for over 10 years. Never encrypted them. Encryption is one way to lose the files forever. What are you hiding it for?

in case i lose it.
i dont want other people to know my tax info and steal in identity

 

[ky54]

I have every important document printed in hard copy and on a flash drive kept in a fire/waterproof safe.

 

[mfenn]

in case i lose it.
i dont want other people to know my tax info and steal in identity

:thumbsup::thumbsup: If you can't remember an encryption key, print it out and put it in a safety deposit box (unmarked and separate from the drive itself of course).

 

[VirtualLarry]

I have had some files on a flash drive for over 10 years. Never encrypted them. Encryption is one way to lose the files forever. What are you hiding it for?

I would def make sure those are still readable. Flash memory has retention limits, something around 5-10 years, before you start loosing too many bits to be readable.

 

[Delusive]

I didn't see anyone mention baking up pictures. I only bring this up because I had a friend lose everything do to there house catching on fire. It is bad to lose your records of tax's and other stuff but you cant replace pictures or scans of family members.

It would devastate my wife if she lost every picture she has on here Mac.

 

[corkyg]

I have taken 1000s of photos over the past two decades. All are archived and backed up with duplicates on 5 different HDDs as well as CDs and DVDs.

 

[zardthebuilder]

I didn't see anyone mention baking up pictures. I only bring this up because I had a friend lose everything do to there house catching on fire. It is bad to lose your records of tax's and other stuff but you cant replace pictures or scans of family members.

It would devastate my wife if she lost every picture she has on here Mac.

that's why i bought a second external drive last year. one stays home, while the other stays in the safe deposit box. worse case, i lose 1 or 2 months of stuff.