Fr Robert Ballecer, SJ Are current SDHC SDXC card good enough for long term storage of photos v...

[G+_Todd Mizomi]

Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Are current SDHC/SDXC card good enough for long term storage of photos/videos? Been backing stuff up to Taiyo Yuden DVDs, but takes a lot of time to burn and takes up a lot of physical space. 

[G+_Travis Hershberger]

Let's say it wouldn't be my first choice for long term storage.  The way the technology works the data will degrade over time.  Physics, you can't change them!  I've had too many quality issues with even known good name brand memory cards that I just don't trust them as well.

 

A story went around a bit ago about SSD drives loosing data when stored after only a week.  That story was taken out of context for the most part, and the sky was not really falling.  http://www.pcworld.com/article/2925173/debunked-your-ssd-wont-lose-data-if-left-unplugged-after-all.html

[G+_Bill H. Sr. McMullen]

I too once swore by Taiyo Yuden (now owned by JVC) blank media, and I still use them for distribution to friends and family.  

However, for archiving your precious memories I believe nothing is better than M-Disc (sometimes referred to as Mellenium Disc) blank media. 

You should do your own research into M-Disc.  Basically it has no dye layer. 

 

Additionally, with BluRay blank media there exists an attractive alternative to M-Disc.  Unlike the common consumer grade CD, DVD, and some BluRay blank media, which contain a dye recording layer, there is a superior manufacturing process known as HTL (High To Low) that involves (from what I read) a composite copper-silicone recording layer. 

 

It seems there is a cheaper manufacturing process, known as LTH (Low To High) which is the basis for the vast majority of consumer grade blank media.  

 

One would expect media suppliers to happily advertise HTL on the labels of their products, but I have found it very difficult to ascertain whether a blank disc product is or is-not HTL.  Conversely, I have found the LTH designation to be more readily specified on product labels, so that at least is a good thing.  I remain uneasy that the designation (whether HTL or LTH) is not universally specified.  

[G+_Eddie Foy]

I don't trust flash for LTS. 9also LTS wasn't defined 1? 5? 10? +years?)

Gibson says optic media.  I'd go one step further and say archival grade.

I'd also opt to buy a reader and shelf it.

[G+_Ben Reese]

I haven't lost too much data on flash storage, but as everyone else echoed it shouldn't be relied on for long-term storage. Steve Gibson talked about that SSD storage story a couple weeks ago and it's worth going back and listening to his explanation of the storage. Essentially, if you do plan on storing on SD cards long-term, put them in a couple moisture-blocking freezer bags in put them in the fridge or freezer.

 

Honestly - not worth it though. If you don't want to take the time to burn media, magnetic media (aka: Hard Disk Drive) will have a longer cold-storage shelf life.

[G+_Eddie Foy]

I've lost on SD cards.  Had a few of them fail.  Even genuine SanDisks.  Just has a Cruicial 1TB SSD die (just over a year old.  Gonna RMA it, I hope)  Back to spinners.