Where to put all our photographs?

lovethymini

Hiya

My husband and I have been scratching our heads for months about how to store all our digital photos - what do you IT gurus do?

Our thought was to buy an external hard drive, which we could perhaps put video clips on, too - but I just don't know enough about this type of thing to have the courage to buy one.

We were looking at the Western Digital ones from Amazon and didn't want to spend over say £80.

We've got an old PC which we really need to transfer 100's of old photos off, and a laptop with a gazillion photos on.

Is this the best thing to do?

espresso

lovethymini wrote: »

We've got an old PC which we really need to transfer 100's of old photos off, and a laptop with a gazillion photos on.

Is this the best thing to do?

If your PC is old, it may only have USB 1 ports, which means a much slower transfer rate. However you really should back up your stuff rather than running the risk of losing it all for good. Another option would be to burn to DVD's or CD's but do something now before it's too late. See the sticky on backing up.

Sput2001

How old is your "old PC".

What version of Windows is it running?

lovethymini

NickMidgley wrote: »

How old is your "old PC".

What version of Windows is it running?

It's approximately 6 years old and running Windows XP

lovethymini

espresso wrote: »

If your PC is old, it may only have USB 1 ports, which means a much slower transfer rate. However you really should back up your stuff rather than running the risk of losing it all for good. Another option would be to burn to DVD's or CD's but do something now before it's too late. See the sticky on backing up.

Will do, thanks.

We've spent the last 18 months moving house and running around after a baby so are only just getting round to sorting this type of stuff out.

[Deleted User]

How long do you want to keep them for? Ideally, you should be getting them printed

In 50 years, will you still have your jpgs?

lovethymini

I suppose that's the question, isn't it?

Putting it that way, I guess we ought to get some of them printed; I get the impression that an external HD isn't the answer...?
Is it better to put the photos onto our old PC then, rather than an Ext. HD?

latecomer

You can get really cheap photo printing online. I got nearly 400 pictures from our wedding printed and delivered for just over £20 not that long ago. I would also back them up onto CD/DVD as others have said.

lovethymini

latecomer wrote: »

You can get really cheap photo printing online. I got nearly 400 pictures from our wedding printed and delivered for just over £20 not that long ago. I would also back them up onto CD/DVD as others have said.

Wow that's cheap!

I'm definitely going to be doing that!

[Deleted User]

If you want it to keep long enough to show your great great grandchildren - get it printed using silver halide processing.

Getting your prints done in bulk really cuts the cost down. There's also lots of vouchers and codes on this forum

For your purposes, go any buy an external hard disk. If you get a 2.5" model, they run just from USB power.. here's a cheap one for you - http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/6061396/Freecom-Mobile-Drive-XXS-160GB-External-USB2-0-Hard-Drive/Product.html

Marty_J

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