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Archiver > POWYS > 2002-08 > 1028880475


From: "John Ball" <>
Subject: Re: [POWYS] BACKUP your records
Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 09:07:55 +0100
References: <000301c23f5a$f51e37c0$92941cd3@default>


Carole. Foster <> wrote (edited version):
Hello Tom, Eric and Other Listers,
I also use the LS120 diskette to backup ALL my records - The diskettes
have a "Lifetime Warranty - My problem will be if there is a machine in
40 years time that can read the diskette if I do not keep my reader in
working condition with the operating instructions close by.
It is not that long ago that we all backed up on 5 and 1/4 inch discs,
until the next generation of computers came out WITHOUT a 5 and 1/4 inch
drive. Then what do you do ?. - 40 years from now will CD readers be
part of the computer ? That is the question I want to know. I
might wait for the next generation of computers and jump over the CD
backup debate entirely.
=====================

Dear Carole, et al.,

I've been reading this thread with interest, but it seems to me there is
no real cause for concern.

The great advantage of digital data is that they are not corrupted when
they are copied, so the process of copying digital data from one storage
medium to another scores of times or even hundreds or thousands of
times, does not result in any loss of data.

If and when CDs are phased out, there will be a period of overlap when
both the old (CD) and new (DVD or whatever) storage media will be in
use. During this period it will be possible to transfer our data from
our old storage medium to the new one.

All we need to do to protect our precious archival data is to make sure
that whenever a new storage medium is introduced, we transfer our data
from the old to the new medium during the period when both media are
still being used. We'll have plenty of time to do this. After all,
floppy discs and CD writers have co-existed for at least five years -
ample time to transfer our data from one to the other.

If CD technology stays with us for a lengthy period, and we are
concerned about the "lifetime" of an individual CD, all we need do is to
copy its data onto a new CD every (say) five years, so that none of our
archive CDs is ever more than five years old.

What we should *not* do is put our backup or archival CDs in a 'safe
place' for our descendants to find, and then forget about them!
Maintaining archives is an active process, not a passive one.


To give you an example from my own experience:

In the 1980s, I first started storing my genealogical data on computer,
on the 3-inch discs used by the old Amstrad PCW8256 and 8512 series. I
was then using the "PAF" (Personal Ancestral File) program produced by
the LDS.

In the early 1990s, I switched to my first IBM-compatible PC, which used
5¼ inch floppy discs. During this period, a link cable and software was
available to enable data to be transferred from an Amstrad PCW to an IBM
PC. I used this to transfer my data into a PC version of PAF, and stored
the data on 5¼ inch floppy discs.

When 3½-inch floppy disc drives came along, I installed one on my trusty
PC and copied the data from my 5¼ inch floppies onto the new 3-inch
floppies. I also upgraded my software and started using Broderbrund's
"Family Tree Maker" (FTM) instead of PAF.

When CD writers arrived, I was able to transfer my data again from the
3-inch floppies onto a CD. I also upgraded the FTM software and
eventually changed to Sierra's "Generations" program (version 8.0).

None of my data has become lost or corrupted as a result of these
upgrades and changes.

Kind regards,

John
----------------------------------
John Ball, Ystalyfera, South Wales, UK
E-mail:
Homepage: http://home.clara.net/wfha/
Welsh Family History Archive (WFHA): http://home.clara.net/wfha/wales/


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