Where do I back up my pictures (34GB) to?

Norman-B

I have an 80GB hard drive (my PC is 5 years old). I have bought an External HD (465GB) and I have copied my pictures and Docs' to that drive. I have very little space (1.40 GB) left on my C drive and need to free up space.
I am worried that if I delete my pictures and docs' from my C drive and only have them on my external drive, that something could go wrong with that drive. Where can I have a second copy stored?

Hope the above makes sense. Please reply in layman terms.

Thanks for reading.

scottishblondie

Burn backup DVDs and keep them in a safe place

Norman-B

Thank you for the reply.
Would I need 7 or 8 DVD's to copy to? ie, I have DVD's that are 4.7 Gb, so does that mean I need to 'break down' my photo files to 4.7 GB and less to copy to disc? Sorry if that seems a really basic question but I need to get this right before I start. Also, do I need DVD RW discs?

Thanks again.

BillScarab

Alternatively buy a second external hard drive and use that so you have two copies.

Another alternative is online storage. If you use Picasa Web Albums you can upload your pictures there. You get 1GB free and then if you wnated 80GB of storage for example it would cost $20 per year.

Backing up to DVD is a good idea though, especially if you keep a copy at a relative's house so if even if you have a fire you won't lose your pictures.

EDIT: editing as I've just seen your post. I would use DVD-R and just burn new discs as your photo collection expands and yes you would nee dto break the collection down into seperte 4.7 GB 'chunks'.

Norman-B

BillScarab wrote: »

Alternatively buy a second external hard drive and use that so you have two copies.

Another alternative is online storage. If you use Picasa Web Albums you can upload your pictures there. You get 1GB free and then if you wnated 80GB of storage for example it would cost $20 per year.

Backing up to DVD is a good idea though, especially if you keep a copy at a relative's house so if even if you have a fire you won't lose your pictures.

EDIT: editing as I've just seen your post. I would use DVD-R and just burn new discs as your photo collection expands and yes you would nee dto break the collection down into seperte 4.7 GB 'chunks'.

Bill, many thanks for that useful info'. Shame is, I gave my daughter a 250GB ext' HD that I had upgraded from only on Friday! Never thought that I could have used that. Still, she had no backup at all from her laptop.
Thank you.

cyberbob

You can pick up 1TB hard drives at really good prices now

scottishblondie

No matter how many copies on HDDs I had I would still always make a DVD copy. I've only ever had one HDD fail on me but it can happen any time! All of my data is regularly burned to DVD, and I've even thought about getting a fire-proof box to keep my backups in, just in case.

Norman-B

I would be devastated if I lost my photos (100's and 100's ). I have been putting my photos on my PC for the past 10 years and have lovely photos of my late parents, aunt and her family. Also my own family and 100's of my grandson.
I do use Picassa and have wondered about an upgrade on there but I might as well buy another HD.
Many thanks for the advice.

JoKay_2

Many thanks for this very useful thread, I was thinking about the very same problem only yesterday!!

supermonkey

34 Gb of just photos? That must be talking over 7000 photos!

Norman-B

supermonkey wrote: »

34 Gb of just photos? That must be talking over 7000 photos!

Gosh, that does seem a lot. I did write that I have been storing photos for years and years. I have three digital cameras and use them at any chance I get (much to the annoyance of those around me!) I have been using a HD camera for some time now and guess that bumps up the GB? At my daughters recent wedding, I gave my cameras to three people and they took over 100 each! Needless to say, I have saved them all. I hate to delete any. My grandson is 11 now and I have 1000 or more of him as he has grown up. I like to think that he will show them to his children later in life. (sad it might be but it's my hobby)