Digital shooters, how are you backing up?

[ThoughtfulPirate]

I read this and then I burned a cd to back them up. Thats the only way I know how to do it, other than cameras and bikes, I am largely technologically illiterate.

[Norman]

Do you think CD's are good enough to archive, I hear after time they can corrupt files due to light humidity...... I reburn CD's from time to time, is this a waste of time?

Secondly Seb, is your external hard drive an old computer, or is a stand alone hard drive unit, I'm not very good with computers & was thinking of getting a refurb computer to use as storage only is this a viable option, as I'm not a pro.

Thanks

[Trevor Ash]

I wrote a couple articles not too long ago that cover this topic a little less specifically. There's tons of info on the web when you start searching around. It was meant to be a three part article but I've yet to write the final part which was supposed to include my current setup. If you haven't already read them they might help get you all going in the right direction.

Here's are links to the articles:
Quick Lessons in Computer Maintenance, Disaster Recovery, and Data Backup: Part 1
Quick Lessons in Computer Maintenance, Disaster Recovery, and Data Backup: Part 2

In a nutshell, all my images are available via hard drive all the time (on a 120G drive that's partitioned separately OS and Data). But the data is mirrored to another hard drive (another 120G drive) in the same computer. Every night my system automatically reboots and makes an image of itself for emergency recovery. That image is also stored on the backup 120G drive. I store 7 images total, one for each day of the week. This means I can fix many problems by restoring from the day before. Keeping OS and data on separate partitions helps with the backup process.

I used to use nothing but swappable drives (IDE drives installed in a swappable module ) but recently I replaced all my off-site backup with DVD's. I used to just plug in a hard drive to copy my backups to and then I'd take that drive to work and leave it there. Now I replaced that by burning DVD's. So I basically have three copies of all my data with one, less frequently updated copy, being off-site.

With the exception of burning the DVD's and remembering to take them to work my system is fairly well automated (I use Second Copy 2000 and the now obselete DriveImage ) and so I never have to REMEMBER to initiate a backup process.....it's done without me thinking. I just take an off-site copy off to work whenever I feel I need to. Depending on if I've been taking a lot of photos or not that could be as often as weekly or as little as once every two months. DVD's make this step a little more difficult because it takes about 15 DVD's (~60G) to backup my system. It's cheaper though than the hard drive. Hopefully I won't outgrow myself too quickly and be forced to choose something else.

For file naming, I shoot 100% digital and leave the names as they are (autonumbered). I use Breezesys Downloader Pro for downloading the images and they just end up in a folder based on the date they were shot. The folders are named things like "2003-12-06". Inside the folder are the raw or jpeg images including .thm files. For sorting and categorization I use a program called IMatch .

[Sebastian]

EosThree,

I downloaded Downloader Pro a few days ago, planning on trying it out.

Norman,

I use an external hard drive, click here to see the specific model.

Trevor,

iMatch looks very interesting, I will have to try it out. I am trying to simplify my workflow, and everything does something that some other software doesn't, but none of them do everything well...

[Norman]

EosThree,

I downloaded Downloader Pro a few days ago, planning on trying it out.

Norman,

I use an external hard drive, click here to see the specific model.

Trevor,

iMatch looks very interesting, I will have to try it out. I am trying to simplify my workflow, and everything does something that some other software doesn't, but none of them do everything well...

Thanks for the link, I'll look into this more
I use ACDSEE as an image browser, I find it very fast for looking around my folders.

[cush]

I have a PowerBook G4 and a new G5. Pics are on both hard drives. I also have a LaCie 160Mb. I have also been backing up everything to CD and storing them in a fireproof/waterproof safe. Now that I have the G5, I'll be backing up on DVD as well. Just in case, I'll probably be sending a copy of each CD to my brother in case the safe is not as safe as advertised.

I will probably keep a copy of everything on my old PC that is not connected to the internet.

[danag42]

The method I find best is to have an external hard drive, with backup software that runs every day, and then every so often offload old stuff to DVD. Having two DVD's of each collection won't hurt your chances, either.

Sometimes it's a good idea not to reformat your memory cards until the daily backup takes place, after you've put the images you want on your hard drive.

[yaronsh]

Hey, Does PS Album read Digital Rebel RAW files? The Adobe web site doesn't mention the Digital Rebel specifically, but is it the same format as 10D, 1D, etc.? Thanks...