A tad bit of computer advice sought.

Zeke · 03-22-2006, 08:22 AM

Actually, I need a huge amount of computer advice

, but I'll limit my question to the current issue/need.

In preparation for installing a new computer (not here yet), I would like to remove files from this one and store them on CD. I have about 100 pics (which surprised me, they add up) and certainly don't want to try to save them to floppies, which is all I have in hardware.

Is there a recommended external CD writer that plugs into the USB that a dummy like me can configure and get this stuff on CD? And, will said writer be a good unit for the new computer to do the same so I don't fill it up with pics?

Or should I be looking at an external hard drive? Or both?

I can't go into the retail stores anymore. I will order online. Sources?

TIA, of course.

JeffO · 03-22-2006, 08:33 AM

go to buy.com and purchase a 1gb memory flash drive that plugs into your usb port. http://www.buy.com/prod/ACP_EP_Memory_1GB_USB_2_0_Mini_Flash_Drive_for_Mac _and_PC_MY14576/q/loc/16073/10356042.html

Zeke · 03-22-2006, 08:39 AM

Wow. I didn't think of those. I have a few around here for music downloads I've never used. Thing is, I don't know about any software I might have gotten with the system. Never got that far, but that's another subject for another day.

I'll look.

BTW, linky no worky, but I'll find it. That much I can do. Thanks.

928ram · 03-22-2006, 09:53 AM

No software needed for USB drives, it just reads it as another drive- drag n drop. If you've got a card reader, you can use the cards from your digicam as well.

FrayAdjacent911 · 03-22-2006, 10:35 AM

Only 100 pictures? Weak! If I had to guess, I'd probably have well over 1000 pictures, maybe closer to 2000.

Anyway, on topic, a decent external USB hard drive would probably be a good idea. You could use it for backing up things that you want to save, like your pictures. Keep a copy on your computer, and on your external drive. Then if anything happens to one, you still have the other. Redundancy is a good thing.

RickM · RickM's Garage

For long term storage I would opt for CD as oppsed to a chip based product. If transferring to you new PC then the thumbdrive is perfect. Here's how to get a free one: http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=5441&t=206495&highlight=microsoft+drive

HardDrive · 03-22-2006, 10:52 AM

I personally think everyone should have an external hard drive for storage and backups. Its a sad ****** day when your hard drive quits with all of your family photos on it......

slodave · slodave's Garage

Why not just take the old hdd and put it as a secondary drive in the new computer, copy data, remove secondary hdd and voila, data transferred. No cost either.

Dave

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
I personally think everyone should have an external hard drive for storage and backups. Its a sad ****** day when your hard drive quits with all of your family photos on it......

AMEN

I backup to DVD. When Dual layer media becomes cheaper that'll be the next step.

FrayAdjacent911 · 03-22-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
I personally think everyone should have an external hard drive for storage and backups. Its a sad ****** day when your hard drive quits with all of your family photos on it......

Amen! I keep my pictures on my machine, copied to an external hard drive, and occasionally burn them to DVDs for permanent backup.

Mom and dad went to Australia recently, dad bought a USB memory stick to transfer pictures from their very first digital camera. He was copying files to it on one of my mom's rellies' computers, and XP finished the copy, but the next time he went to plug the drive into another machine... xp said there was no media in the drive and wouldn't read the key! He probably had over 1000 pictures on it!

He's been trying applications to try to mount it, but hasn't had any luck.. I told him to check into data recovery.

If I were in such a situation (travelling, taking lots of pictures, and needing to store them)... I'd take some blank CDs to burn them to... something that would be very unlikely to get hosed up.

I hope he gets the pics back... they would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience lost if he doesn't get them back...

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by 928ram
No software needed for USB drives, it just reads it as another drive- drag n drop. If you've got a card reader, you can use the cards from your digicam as well.

I believe Zeke stated in another thread that he is running Windows 928

on his current computer. If this is the case, drivers are typically required. They've been provided on mini cd-rom drives with all the thumb-drives I've purchased. W2K and up generally doesn't require additional drivers. YMMV

Zeke, if you know the manufacturer of the thumb-drive, you can prolly go to their website and download whatever drivers you need from them.

Randy

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by rcecale
I believe Zeke stated in another thread that he is running Windows 928 on his current computer. If this is the case, drivers are typically required. They've been provided on mini cd-rom drives with all the thumb-drives I've purchased. W2K and up generally doesn't require additional drivers. YMMV

Zeke, if you know the manufacturer of the thumb-drive, you can prolly go to their website and download whatever drivers you need from them.

Randy

He later mentioned he was getting a Dell, IIRC. Should have XP.

Matt, Regarding the recovery of images...try this utility: http://www.smartpctools.com/flash_recovery/

FrayAdjacent911 · 03-22-2006, 02:16 PM

Rick, I sent the link to my dad. We'll see if it works! Thanks!

Joeaksa · 03-22-2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
I personally think everyone should have an external hard drive for storage and backups. Its a sad ****** day when your hard drive quits with all of your family photos on it......

Bingo! I have a 250 gig USB external for storage and backup. Also copy backups to a old computer that is networked with my home server.

Everyone will have a hard drive crash sometime. How much you lose is up to you...

Joe A

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by RickM
He later mentioned he was getting a Dell, IIRC. Should have XP.

Right! XP on the NEW Dell. But he's still gotta get the images off his old one...Win 928.

Randy

JeffO · 03-22-2006, 03:23 PM

Please be aware that optical storage such as cdr and dvd's that are recorded on a computer are not going to last forever. The lifespan of burned cdr can be estimated to be as low 2 to 5 years.The process is a chemical change by which the chemical dye is changed to a crystal structure by the laser and therefore its stability is affected by its storage conditions. Differant means of backing up precious data is a very good idea.

Zeke · 03-22-2006, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JeffO
Please be aware that optical storage such as cdr and dvd's that are recorded on a computer are not going to last forever. The lifespan of burned cdr can be estimated to be as low 2 to 5 years.The process is a chemical change by which the chemical dye is changed to a crystal structure by the laser and therefore its stability is affected by its storage conditions. Differant means of backing up precious data is a very good idea.

Thank you for that info. I'm sure that will give my wife a lot of reason to keep shooting film. Old prints seem to last forever if not damaged in a catastophe. We have drawers full of them.

EdT82SC · 03-22-2006, 05:39 PM

That 2 to 5 year life of a CD is on the low end. I have a few CDs I burned in the mid-late 90's that still work fine. If you buy junk brand CDR, and burn at high speed they may only last two years. If you buy a good brand and burn at a high speed they may only last five years. If you buy a good brand, and burn at a slow speed they will probably last longer.

einreb · 03-22-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zeke

In preparation for installing a new computer (not here yet), I would like to remove files from this one and store them on CD. I have about 100 pics (which surprised me, they add up) and certainly don't want to try to save them to floppies, which is all I have in hardware.

sign up for a gmail acount. zip up the photos and email them to yourself.

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

Have you tried loading the 100 pictures back onto the camera? I have never tried it, but it seems like it would work for jpeg files. Hate to see you spend money for an external device and only use it once.