Backing up photos

[kakarott]

Not sure if I'm posting in right place but what's the safest method to backup personal photos and videos? Wanna do a clean windows 11 install.

Was thinking cloud but got a quite a few videos. Would an SSD be a better option over a micro SD card or usb stick?

 

[MrRockliffe]

Yes an SSD would be infinitely better, if only because it’s bigger and you’re less likely to misplace it.

Of course the cloud is also a viable option, depending on your upload speed and the amount of data you have.

 

[Malevolence]

Doesn't even need to be a SSD, one of those portable desktop HDDs would suffice.

 

[Werewolf]

I'll move this over to photography, but personally I'd look at backing up to at least two separate places/devices at all times.

So an external hard drive of some kind and possibly some good SD cards or USB sticks (and put them in a box that is clearly labelled and easy to find*).
The "cloud" can be good depending on how many you've got, but don't rely on it alone.

I tend to have mine on the original SD cards, my main documents drive, a couple of external drives on different machines, and Amazon.

*I store usb sticks and sd cards in small really useful boxes in a rack with other odds and ends, things like picture pins and fancy dice are in other boxes in the rack.

 

[haaammit]

Personally I do cloud and HDD/SSD - belt and braces approach, especially for photographs etc that can't be replaced.

 

[kakarott]

Doesn't even need to be a SSD, one of those portable desktop HDDs would suffice.

Don't HDDs eventually or randomly fail?

 

[.one.]

Don't HDDs eventually or randomly fail?

Yep important pics CD/DVD for me.

 

[VigiFlyer]

Have you thought about using Google photos as an alternative. They certainly used to have unlimited storage as I recall

 

[kakarott]

Have you thought about using Google photos as an alternative. They certainly used to have unlimited storage as I recall

Was unlimited for pixel users

 

[VigiFlyer]

I admit I did it on an apple device and a computer and their was no apparent limitation. This was several years ago. Now I have a Synology device they are all backed up and shared via their platform.

 

[Haze]

All these brave people installing win 11 already...

 

[VigiFlyer]

All these brave people installing win 11 already...

Someone as to be first. Oh and then the first follower and then after that we can all get onto the band wagon in our own time.

 

[Haze]

Someone as to be first. Oh and then the first follower and then after that we can all get onto the band wagon in our own time.

My band wagon is about 12 months away lol

 

[kakarott]

All these brave people installing win 11 already...

Laptop for kids where I am temporarily keeping some photos and vids.

 

[VigiFlyer]

This is probably thread drift but related to backing up files/photos, how do you know when your ssd is starting to deteriorate?

 

[LiE]

If you're an Amazon prime user, you get unlimited full resolution back ups (and RAW as well).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=12153286031

You can use the Amazon Drive app to upload to it.

 

[VigiFlyer]

That’s good to know as another option.

You can also create an s3 bucket but that would cost. I can’t remember if you get 12months free on that service or not.

 

[Snapshot]

This is probably thread drift but related to backing up files/photos, how do you know when your ssd is starting to deteriorate?

Run CrystalDiskInfo once a month and keep an eye on the SSF's health rating.

 

[Minstadave]

If you're an Amazon prime user, you get unlimited full resolution back ups (and RAW as well).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=12153286031

You can use the Amazon Drive app to upload to it.

I use this alongside my Synology. Works really well.

 

[Tysonator]

Personally I use a separate HDD which is installed in my PC to back up every thing and also another HDD in a HDD USB caddy.
HDD are cheap enough to use and hopefully I will not have 3 HDD fail at the same time !