Hi,
Here is a quick question. I cloned hard disk using bit-by-bit copy and kept this hard disk without power in evidence store. I was wondering is there any limitation on data storage life-time on that hard disk if kept without providing power to it. e.g., will the data be there after five years?
You'll want to store your hard drives each in sealed, anti-static bags in a climate-controlled (arid) room. The baggies run under a dollar a piece at Fry's (or free if you keep them when you purchase hardware for yourself).
Power is your hard drive's enemy, so as long as you maintain low humidity, mild/moderate temperatures, and a generally dust-free environment, you'll be fine.
A flimsy cd that's damaged simply by prolonged exposure to sunlight can otherwise last to 100 years in storage (or so they say). An immobilized hard drive (and a backup drive if costs permit!) will last you the necessary 5 years years … with a few decades to spare.
You could also invest in a salt mine in Colorado if you want to be a little more cautious. =)
thanks logg,
thank you for your time to reply to my question.
Not a problem.
Also, you may want to go to
Under the best of circumstances a modern new drive used once for data storage and secured in an environmentally controlled area would be expected to preserve data for a little more than two decades.
However, it is important to remember that for the purposes of forensic verification, a single bit mutation of an image would be sufficient to alter the image hash without significantly altering the data, itself.
Thus, I would want to make sure that I have multiple copies.
The data on the platters will last for years. The mechanics, not so sure.
I would be tempted to power the drive up every 12 months or so, just to spin the motor, and move the heads. No need to connect to a computer, just spin the drive for a few minutes. If it is making clicking noises, investigate, otherwise put it back in the bag.
The data on the platters will last for years. The mechanics, not so sure.
I would be tempted to power the drive up every 12 months or so, just to spin the motor, and move the heads. No need to connect to a computer, just spin the drive for a few minutes. If it is making clicking noises, investigate, otherwise put it back in the bag.
Better off leaving them alone. The voice coil actuators in the drive have a good life span and the ability to self park. These actuators are much more accurate than the old stepper motor actuators that and not as vulnerable to temperature, etc. The use use the drive in general will cause more wear on the platters. If it is kept safe from magnetic environments and humidity it will last for a long, long time.
Remember the old Seagate MFMs? One of the problems was the spindle lubricant. After a time the lubricant broke down and when it cooled, it bound the spindle - stopping the platters to spin up. Fix? Smack the drive a couple of times…
When I used in work in computer retail, I used to tell people that if the data was important enough, you should have several backups. My suggestions were
1) Save to backup HDD on the same computer
2) save to external backup HDD
3) save to CD/DVD store in a fireproof safe
3) ftp it to a web server
4) save to a good quality flash drive…store in safe
5) if possible…print off and save
6) use a company that specializes in
The more important the data…the more variety and number of backups you should use.
…just my two cents
…place a 7th copy on the next Delta IV rocket if you can. )
In all seriousness, having two physically separated backups (NAS, SAN, HDD in a cabinet/safe, …whatever you choose) is practical. One to work off of, and one to re-recover from in case your working copy malfuctions. The rest is overkill and over-priced (under normal circumstances).