I've been using flash drives to store my photos and videos, but recently I've noticed that around 5% of my files got corrupted after two years of being stored safely in a box. I need a better solution for external storage. I'm not interested in PC storage since I don't own one. I'm looking for an affordable, accessible, and portable way to reliably store large amounts of data for many years. What would be the best option?
4 Answers
Avoid using flash drives for long-term storage. Stick with HDDs and be careful with them to avoid any physical damage. They tend to have less corruption over time.
Honestly, cloud storage is super reliable for backups. Just remember, all physical storage devices can fail eventually, so having multiple backups is key.
If you're looking for long-term storage, a portable external HDD (the kind with spinning discs) is still the best choice. You can get them pre-installed or buy a drive and a separate USB enclosure.
A compact portable hard drive that connects via USB is your best bet. They're generally more reliable than flash drives and SSDs for long-term use since they use magnetic disk memory.
Totally agree. External HDDs are perfect for this. External SSDs are good too, but they're more about speed than long-term storage.
Absolutely, but make sure to have at least three backups, with one stored offsite or in the cloud.