Here is an article that may answer your question. getusb.info/what-is-the-life-cycle-of-a-usb-flash-drive
I think the true answer is you have to update the data to new devices as they evolve. I would say putting them on DVD or Blu-Ray will be a way to go. But then again who knows how long they will last? All the stuff I had on floppies that I thought would last for years. At some point eSata may become the standard and USB disappear so the information would be trapped on the device.
George H April 16, 2014
Electronic devices last….till they suddenly die! In 20 years do you think USB 2.0 or 3.0 will still be around? Can you find a new machine with a “floppy” drive? How bout CDs? 8 track tapes? Tape back ups? Are you sure the “tech” of today will be here 20 years from now? I still have old pictures take from the old “brownie” camera! but I’ve already lost many things I had on hard drives and “media” drives.
Insane_mad_maniak April 16, 2014
it is solid state storage, but keeping 1 copy of all your pictures is a bad move.
any drive has the potential to die for various reasons.
if you want to have access to your files in 10-20 years you need more than 1 copy.
this is what i have done with my pictures.
1, made a backup of all the files on 1 drive (not a flash drive),
2, made another copy on an external HDD and given it to someone to look after in their house, so should there be a fire or computer gets destroyed, or the house completly vanish’s, i still have 1 copy there to get everything back.
3, i am in the process of backing up online, it is slow, but you can find many free file hosting sites. but remember, it’s a backup, not a solution, they may not be around forever, and they may not be free forever.
your email address might offer free online storage, Gmail also offers online storage with Google Drive.
never rely on 1 copy, it’s very risky.
Kristian April 16, 2014
You can put them on a USB thumb drive, but I seriously doubt that in even 10 years much less 20 years that the current USB standards will still exist. Digital archiving is an entire field of IT. Currently probably the best bet would be to get them printed out by a commercial photo printer at a camera store. Then they are just like the photos you may have in old albums that can last decades easily.
Here is an article that may answer your question. getusb.info/what-is-the-life-cycle-of-a-usb-flash-drive
I think the true answer is you have to update the data to new devices as they evolve. I would say putting them on DVD or Blu-Ray will be a way to go. But then again who knows how long they will last? All the stuff I had on floppies that I thought would last for years. At some point eSata may become the standard and USB disappear so the information would be trapped on the device.
Electronic devices last….till they suddenly die! In 20 years do you think USB 2.0 or 3.0 will still be around? Can you find a new machine with a “floppy” drive? How bout CDs? 8 track tapes? Tape back ups? Are you sure the “tech” of today will be here 20 years from now? I still have old pictures take from the old “brownie” camera! but I’ve already lost many things I had on hard drives and “media” drives.
it is solid state storage, but keeping 1 copy of all your pictures is a bad move.
any drive has the potential to die for various reasons.
if you want to have access to your files in 10-20 years you need more than 1 copy.
this is what i have done with my pictures.
1, made a backup of all the files on 1 drive (not a flash drive),
2, made another copy on an external HDD and given it to someone to look after in their house, so should there be a fire or computer gets destroyed, or the house completly vanish’s, i still have 1 copy there to get everything back.
3, i am in the process of backing up online, it is slow, but you can find many free file hosting sites. but remember, it’s a backup, not a solution, they may not be around forever, and they may not be free forever.
‘cloud storage’ like
Sky Drive
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/skydrive/download
Mega Share (files are safe as long as you dont give out links) 50Gb free
https://mega.co.nz/
Drop Box
https://www.dropbox.com/
your email address might offer free online storage, Gmail also offers online storage with Google Drive.
never rely on 1 copy, it’s very risky.
You can put them on a USB thumb drive, but I seriously doubt that in even 10 years much less 20 years that the current USB standards will still exist. Digital archiving is an entire field of IT. Currently probably the best bet would be to get them printed out by a commercial photo printer at a camera store. Then they are just like the photos you may have in old albums that can last decades easily.