The search engine here informs me that using the search term "USB" is too short, or some such information. Even when it is added to other words. So I have been going through various threads and found this:
... if kept at low temperatures even a humble USB drive might store data for many decades.
I am needing to learn and this relates to archiving using USB sticks back more than ten years ago and needing to do more archiving within a few weeks to help an older Windows 7 run a little better. But I have a number of different units with all sorts of operating systems and am going to have to properly study about all this data storage stuff.
I haven't been careful about temperature control, but I have been very careful about wrapping all the sticks very carefully. In fact, one thing I have always used is those sheets and bags that have the little plastic bubbles built in and that was because this is an area of the planet that we are never 100% earthquake safe and so I figured even if an earthquake zapped me the USB sticks might be okay because they are so wrapped up that water probably couldn't get in the bags I use and those multiple layers of air pocket bubble bags might save them from getting smashed.
I always do two sticks of the same data every time I do an archiving job. Over the years it went from sticks able to store 16GB to 32GB to 64GB, but I have been not so sure about using any stick over 64GB. I probably have about 30 sticks already full, but I am wondering if I were to do the archiving all over again; meaning the oldest ones to new sticks --- would that be a worthwhile project?
I also have a piece of equipment from about 15 years ago that requires plugging in for power and a fancy connecting plug and did check it a few years ago and it seemed to be just fine and I'll dig it up and give y'all a model name and number and stuff and I'll ask for advice.
One thing that is important is some data that is absolutely of value for future students wanting to study the Net. I have stuff from when I was active with the ISOC. I have stuff from an early discussion platform that was one of the busiest in its time --- I was an employee admin and then almost got permission to buy the forum after the news people split their company section off from the discussion platform. During the discussion between my legal team and the new owner of the news section I was given permission to take control of the forum database and about 6 or 7 years ago a university fella that my chief doc graduated from indicated an interest in taking possession of that website data for historical research. Not a money thing for me. Just I hand it over, but we are also discussing some of my other work on the Net. There is also the VFW work that is an archive that goes way back, too.
So is it okay to be using this thread to be asking questions?
Anyone have negative thoughts about using USB sticks? Oh yes, so many are the 2.0 kind, I think that's the correct version. Had some trouble with the 3.0 when it first came out a few years or so ago. Maybe I should also buy a fancy storage machine or two as another storage backup? I've always been pretty good about making sure I buy quality USB sticks, but that is usually just determined by folks giving information about their experience or simply buying the most expensive. Lucky to be in Japan for all the years because it seems quality was reliable until maybe some much started getting made in Nam or China. Products out of Nam were really good quality when that first started. Mainland China has been a weird guessing game when it comes to quality control. Thing is, I don't mind paying extra for quality.
Last question, data stored about 20 or so years ago on the old floppy disks --- anyone reckon that could be recovered? I have two TRS80s and that huge manual and a whole bunch of original floppies that were sent out by Tandy Radio Shack for government use, so maybe a bit more from the company than to an average customer. Then a bunch of government data stored on the floppies purchased blank and filled up. Had at least one drive for the floppies that worked just fine about 6 or 7 years ago when we tested it. How long you reckon those old floppies can maintain data?