Are You SURE You Are Backing Up Your Data Reliably? - Part 001
The big box stores would have you believe that you should buy a memory stick (thumb drive, USB drive) for backups. Don't believe it. These devices are great for moving data from one place to another, or for backup if handled a certain way, but they are not reliable enough to be considered backup devices. I'll explain.
Memory sticks are basically camera memory attached to electronics that provide USB connectivity. The problem is, they have a USB connector tacked with two small solder points to a circuit board just beyond the USB connector. This is a flex point for the stick. Solder joints don't do well when flexed, and eventually, they crack or break. Once that happens, all of your data is gone. It cannot be retrieved, even by the manufacturer.
Think about how the memory stick protrudes from the computer when you plug it in. It is vulnerable to being struck by your leg, or your hand when you go to remove it. If you carry it in your pocket, it's subject to all kinds of stresses.
I carry two in my pocket all day every day, and occasionally one fails. However, I make sure they are backed up on my Mac, and my Mac is backed up to both an external drive (through Time Machine) and online. I use the memory sticks to transport files I need when I go to client locations, such as software tools and invoice blanks and estimates for work. Every night, when I get home, I back them up. They are not for backups themselves.
When you go out to purchase a backup device, you are welcome to talk to the folks who work in the big boxes (Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, Circuit City, Office Max, etc.), but remember, they are not experienced computer professionals for the most part, although they may come across as such. Do your homework (read my blog!)
The only (ONLY!) (with reservations) way I would call memory sticks backup devices is if you use them and then hang them up on the bulletin board next to your computer (as my father-in-law does). Don't even put them in a drawer where they may get bumped or have other things laid on top of them. Even hanging them up, you are at risk. They are just too fragile for you to rely on as the only backup of your valuable data.
Posted by Sid Plait at 7/4/2008 10:15 AM 
Categories: Technology, Big Mistakes, Backups, Computers, All
Categories: Technology, Big Mistakes, Backups, Computers, All
"Solder joints don't do well when flexed, and eventually, they crack or break. Once that happens, all of your data is gone. It cannot be retrieved, even by the manufacturer."
I'm not sure I understand this -- couldn't you just repair the solder joints? Or does the heat from that destroy circuit elements in the flash memory?
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The original solder joints are done with a special machine that transfers very little heat to the circuit board. I have spoken to technical reps at four of the major manufacturers who tell me that it is almost impossible to recover data from a dead stick. I don't think the heat breaks down the memory as much as the other circuitry on the board.
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And never ever use hard drives with unreliable propriety file systems (Netgear Storage Central SC101, we're looking at you).
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I've got to agree with you there, Thomas. I had a really hard time at one client about a year or so ago getting an SC101 to work properly. He is moving the device to another network soon and I do not relish the thought of having to make it work on a different IP scheme.
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When I bought my SC101, I broke my own rule of doing research before buying, I actually took the double speak on the box as useful information, it's a bit like Nostradamus, once the facts are known you can always find a way to make it fit the scriptures. I should have taken it back the second I realised that the file system was proprietary.
To begin with it worked OK but problems began when using it with more than one computer or even when making slight changes to the network.
In the end I bought two USB to IDE cables, reformatted the disks to NTFS and now the casing just works as housing and power supply.
I lost independent network capability but it still works as a foot warmer.
Douglas Adams was on to something in his book "A Salmon of Doubt", he suggested that all manufacturers use the cigarette lighter jack in cars as a standard for powering and charging electronic gadgets. Of course had he been alive today he would have overjoyed to see that more and more things can now be charged with a USB port connector, the problem now is just to get them to agree on the connector at the gadget end so you don't have to lug a bunch of cables around with you.
I don't read a lot of blogs but the tone on BA appeals to me, also your blog here seem like my kind of place.
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Thomas -
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First time here, came over from BA. I'll be back, I could always use some computer advice.
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Thanks, Brandon. If you have any requests for information as posts, send them to me.
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I'm paying $50 a year to Carbonite to back up all my files. The first time it backed up my system it took 5 days, but it's done and I don't even notice when it backs up now. I'd love another article about what you DO recommend for backing up your system. Thanks for the advice about thumb drives, Sid! I definitely won't use them for back up. I never knew they were that fragile.
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I pay $5 a month for MozyHome. It does incremental backups (mine does this 12 times a day), and you get unlimited storage. I am approaching 30GB, all for $5 a month.
I highly recommend this solution.
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Hmm, I carry an infrequently used USB memory stick in my pocket all day, every day. I've been using the same one for several years since I first bought it (I don't even recall when that was at this point), and it has never failed on me. Am I just lucky, or is it possible that it's more a function of use than transport?
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I have had two UFDs die on me in the last two years. Both of them were used daily. I backed them up as much as I could, but you never know when it will up and die. When that happens, the data is a total loss over 99% of the time.
I recently got a Kingston DataTraveler Secure Privacy Edition through work. I work for a IT dept in health care, and we need to be sure that all data is secure.
http://www.kingston.com/flash/privacyUSB.asp
Basically, if you lose the UFD, no one will be able to recover the information stored on it. It is compliant with HIPPA and other regulations.
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You are either lucky or are taking very good care of the unit. If it's in your pocket and you bump something, or it's in a purse and something lands on it or it gets sat upon, it could go south. Hopefully that won't happen. Keep it backed up.
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