These are my beliefs based on my experiences. I cannot take into account every situation that might cause data loss. Do your own research if you have any doubts about storage capabilities. By reading this information, you agree that if you experience a loss based on actions you took based on my understanding of hardware and or software, you and you alone are responsible.
Sometimes I run into situations that fall outside of my efforts to help protect custom data. These tips might help you avoid loss by understanding how the computer saves your infomration and what happens when data is stored for longe periods of time.
Backups
Please be aware that backups only work when files are in a saved state, meaning that if you are working on a document and you forget to save it, your changes will NOT be backed up. Here are tips that can help you avoid losing your work. Anything can happen when you are working with files: The power might go out, you might accidentally wipe the contents of your work with a keystroke you were not aware of, or you might using the undo/redo feature that might bring you to a point where you cannot recover previous work.
If you are working with data in any application:
- Save often, at least hourly, but sometimes you might need to save every 5 or 10 minutes depending on how important it is not to re-work previously created content.
- Save As, with a different file name each time you save. I often combine number one with this habit. I’ll save every 10 minutes, then when I reached a significant point in my progress, I’ll select the “Save As” option and specify a new file name. This way, the old file will be saved under the old name, and my new file will have the old changes plus anything new that I add to it.
- Know where your fields are saved. In fact, get into the habit of loading your documents from explorer/finder. Relying on the quick access locations in an application to open your most recently used documents is great, until you forget the name of the file or the shortcut disappears due to some unexpected glitch.
- After you are done working on document for the day, or for good, make a copy of that file in another location. Use your computers file explorer/finder to perform copy operations.
- If you are working on a big project, break your work content into separate files to reduce the changes of the entire document becoming lost. You can always combine these files later.
Storage Media (For Archival Purposes)
It’s a common belief that data lives forever. That is usually not the case. Data is dependent on the hardware that is used to store information.
As computer technology advances, new ways to store information becomes more compact and useful.
We used to store (for mainly archival purpose) data on tape, then we transitioned to hard disk drives, which is very similar to tape media, but more like a record player. Optical disks are also used to store data (CD-ROM, DVD-R). Recently, we transitioned to solid-state media, which is a sort of long-term memory solution on a chip.
All of these solutions have a shelf-life, it’s important to know how long your data can be stored before the media expires, and it’s also good to know what the best solution is for your particular purposes.
Please note that computer technology storage is susceptible to damage and decreased life expectancies at temperatures above 80% for extended periods of time.
Hard Disk Technology
Currently the gold standard for home use for long-term archival data storage. HDD technology stores information on a circular platter similar to a record. Magnetics is used to read and write information. Once the electric current is removed, the data storage is permanent until the media itself physically decays. It’s been my experience that, drives stored in a 60-degree temperature environment can last around 20–30 years, but the life expectancy can increase or decrease depending on the storage environment, use, and design characteristics of the device. It’s good to power on drives periodically if stored for long periods of time 5 years or more so that the bearings that allow the platters to spin, don’t lock up. It is also a good idea to refresh the data on the drive every 5-10 years to prevent magnetic field deterioration by copying the data off the drive to another location and then back again.
Optical Discs (CD/DVD)
CD and DVD writable media has a life of 10–20 years if stored correctly.
Solid State Technology
SSD and flash media (flash drives) fall under this category. Memory cells of Solid State devices degrade over time if there isn’t electrical current applied on a regular basis, in my experience at least once or twice a year, if not sooner.
Most media (except optical disks) require some form of exercise to maintain the life of the device if you want to use it for storage purposes.
The other option is to transfer the data onto a new storage media yearly or every 5 years, along with exercising the media periodically.