Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Poll: Where do you store your precious digital photos?

Dec 5, 2014 9:53AM PST

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
One Computer, Multiple Drives
Dec 5, 2014 12:04PM PST

I have an unusual setup that I built myself from scratch. My primary PC has a 128 GB SSD for its system and application files, a 2 TB 10,000 rpm internal drive for my primary data files ("My Docments," "My Pictures" etc.), a 3 TB internal drive for media files (movies and music), and a 4 TB external drive for backups and other dead storage. Storage is cheap, so why scrimp?

I backup all my data and pictures periodically to my external 4 TB drive, and backup both of my wife's computers user data to that same 4 TB drive. I figure that, sure, if my house burned down suddenly I run a risk of losing it, but it would have to burn down REAL quick for me to be unable to save the easily physically accessible external drive to which everything is backed up.

Because my system is on a UPS, the odds of both of my hard drives failing simultaneously is genuinely minuscule. And as far as a fire goes, I don't live in any arid western canyon area so I trust that we aren't going to suffer that sort of conflagration a LOT more than I trust the cloud. Hey, we don't even smoke.

- Collapse -
Convenient and fast, but
Dec 5, 2014 12:37PM PST

Your hard drive is a great place to collect all your videos; Picasa is a great tool for organizing, viewing, and printing them. For sharing I have found Google+ to work great - especially if your digital photo files are too large to attached to an email. HOWEVER: if your computer hard drive goes south, you may lose everything. Cloud storage may be best, but if you can't get an internet connection, that option is out. Modern technology gives us many choices, most of which have limitations. How about a shoe box full of prints? I have some memorable Kodachrome slides that date back to the mid-50's; they still look good and print excelent if I ever need a copy.

- Collapse -
I keep mine...
Dec 5, 2014 2:29PM PST

I keep mine on an internal HD and make a backup from time to time, which I keep in my climate-controlled storage locker.

- Collapse -
3 ways
Dec 16, 2014 12:38PM PST

I store them on a separate internal hard drive, on Snapfish and some on Blu Ray discs.