Opions sought on using the USB Photo Stick for photo storage

I'm not a Mac user, but I don't think it will straight out of the box - however it might work under some sort of Windows emulator, but that's a whole extra level of complexity.

Rob

Have a look at MEGAsync. Will automatically sync any folders on your computer with cloud storage. You can also set it up on your mobie phone to automatically upload photos (only when the phone is on charge so as not to flatten the battery). All free of charge for up to 50 Gb IIRC.

Russell

Could you use Acronis to back up to an external HDD, say every hour, if that is what you wanted?

But it will probably overwrite the existing file with the new one.

Howard

Difficult to mirror discs without hardware RAID or SAN without trashing performance, and even harder to support hot plugging without them. I don't think Windows consumer versions have ever supported RAID & hot-plugging (both Windows Server technologies), but Windows 10 added mirror capability, worth a look maybe. It comes close, apart from the "isn't connected to the computer requirement".

Linux is much better at this sort of server stuff. Unfortunately far too advanced for soft-boiled Windows fans who prefer warm baths to bracing cold showers...

Dave

Definitely a RAID task that... and ideally for that, you need a RAID card or support.

Also, yes, it will get your system back up quick, but really you're replicating all the OS too, and it's faults, if any should exist.

I always recommend backing up your data only, possibly with Microsoft Sync toy if on windows, and restoring the OS via fresh install. Keep copies of your software though!

Many thanks to all who gave their time and views from which I gather that investing in a Photostick does not really offer very much over other (and cheaper) methods of saving JPEGs

A bit late, but for Windows I would recommend a drive for the operating system, and a separate drive for data, photos etc. To address the various disaster scenarios you need storage that can normally be kept disconnected (eg USB memory with ideally 3 drives cycled round). This covers hardware failure, corrupted files, deleting things in error, viruses, malware encryption and so on provided you are diligent and reasonably alert. Beware RAID controllers that tie the drives to them, so that a failed controller locks you out.

The separate OS drive (eg a 250GB SSD, less than £30) can get by with less secure provision since you can always reinstall everything, though restoring a backup image is much more convenient. Macrium, Aoemi backupper and others have free editions, and take only minutes to make an image of the (data free) OS. With cunning you can restore such an OS image to a new drive. Recent processor/motherboards have a unique identifier that is registered by Microsoft, and the re-installation should be automatically validated.

For the data, Free File Sync is an excellent utility. It only writes changes so typically will sync tens of gigabytes in a minute or two. It copes with complex re-arrangement of folders seamlessly.

F

The problems with a RAID are that (a) hot swapping isn't trivial. and (b) the processing overhead.

My idea would essentially be like 'file history' but more reliable and without the 'history' bit.

I can save money and set up a RAID using two partitions of the same drive!3

Neil

I have here, but not at present in use, a 2011 vintage motherboard with RAID built in and the appropriate drivers are still available for Windows XP, Vista and Win 7 dating from the same year.

Hot pluggable is a different question, but probably not necessary on a system where 100% uptime is less important.

As for the poke in the ribs regarding Linux - as a Linux user since 1995 I use it where appropriate, but for a simple 'go-to' laptop on the living room table offering compatibility with other people's systems I think Microsoft and/or Apple still have it I'm afraid.

For keeping track of files, photos and documents I found that a disc catalogue application is quite handy.

20 Years ago when I owned a computer sales/build/repair business it soon became apparent that one could not charge a customer for the time taken to locate a motherboard/printer etc driver file so I asked one of the young geeks that I employed to find such a program to catalogue hundreds of CD's.

This is a typical current version of what he came up with Disk Catalogue Program

All our CD's were numbered and catalogued and so it became possible to locate the required info in seconds. (Wolfey got a pay rise for that one)

For photo's I would suggest giving them a meaningful name before archiving as many cameras just label them DFC123456 etc. which is quite meaningless if you want to search for photo's of "My new car'

Edited By Danny M2Z on 31/07/2020 09:53:37

RAID provides quick reinstatement of redundant storage, appropriate for business use. It does not cover for other misfortunes, for which conventional or cloud backup is additionally necessary. Data security by swapping drives seems a lot of work for something that can be achieved easily by other methods.

Intel did indeed include a RAID controller in some chip-sets, and did warned that if accessing a drive was attempted other than in the array the contents might not be accessible! So a failed motherboard, and your data might not be recoverable.

F

Swapping drives is the best protection against a ransomware attack or any malicious virus that destroys files.

A RAID or mirror is useless if it just contains the same gobbledegook.

Neil

I should add that cloud backup isn't viable for me as with my present connection speed it could take two to  three months  constant connection to back up my data.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 31/07/2020 11:23:13

I meant swapping drives in a RAID volume. Yes, agreed you need multiple drives (to provide a hierarchy) that are isolated (disconnected) except when synchronising. I also agree that cloud backup poses speed problems for many people, and it is also not clear what protection against encryption by malware it can provide.

F

AFAIK, the person that wrote that died years ago (pre Win-10 at least). How well it holds up / will hold up with modern Windows versions is anyone's guess. In fact I'm pretty sure I've seen a specific comment on another forum that it reacted badly to a Windows update a while back.