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General discussion

JUMP DRIVES, LIFE SPAN

Jan 15, 2005 8:15AM PST

I WANT TO USE USB JUMP DRIVE TO STORE PICTURES AND RECORDS, IN A SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX. SO BEFORE I START I WANT TO KNOW HOW STABLE THE DATA IS.
HOW LONG WILL A JUMP DRIVE HOLD IT'S DATA?
HOW MANY TIMES CAN JUMP DRIVE BE OVER WRITTEN?

Discussion is locked

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Depends on the maker.
Jan 15, 2005 8:28AM PST

Here's some GENERIC numbers. These are gleaned from the LOWEST numbers I know of from a few FLASH components.

-> Erase cycles >= 100,000
-> Device life in storage > 10 years.
-> Data retention with no power > 10 years baring erasure due to radiation or "other" effects.

Hope this helps.

Bob

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CD/DVD Storage is better for long term
Jan 22, 2005 8:25AM PST

My main question is why spend the money to archive on a flash (thimb) drive when CD/DVD burning is cheaper and less volatile as an archival storage media? Thumb drives are too pricey to use as long term storage, they work better for short term storage and file transfer. As I understand it, CD/DVD disks can last well beyond 10 years, but by that time CD/DVD ROMs may be almost obsolete and a new better storage media should be King Of The Hill by then. Just my humble opinion, hope it helps

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My Opinion
Feb 1, 2005 6:51AM PST

I believe that CD's are better for archiving, but you can't beat flash drives for convenience and portability.

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JUMP DRIVES, LIFE SPAN
Jan 31, 2005 1:47AM PST

Well, I don't recomed that you try this yourself.
I left a SanDisk Cruser mini in my pants pocket and my wife washed and dried the pair of pants, found the drive laying in the dryer. I just left it alone for a few days to make sure ther was no moisture left in it and pulged it in AND IT WORKS FINE. John

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my experience
Feb 1, 2005 3:51AM PST

I had a lexar 128mb jump drive that at the worst possible time decided to corupt (right before a huge presentation to industry leaders). I could pull files off the media just fine (thank God) but I could no longer save to it. It gave me a "corupt disk" message. I had it all of three months, used it daily and it recieved what I would call normal wear and tear. I want another because they are so convienant, but am leary now. my advice: don't use it as a primary storage device.

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I had one
Feb 1, 2005 7:30AM PST

that died for no apparent reason. I didn't unplug and plug it in repeatedly or do anything else I would consider to be abusive. I agree with many others who have posted here. They are great and I did buy another one. But I would never trust one to store important information.