Hello, Is anyone familiar with data backups on hard-drives and the impact of time on data? Like how many years can one safely back up data on a HDD before one should worry about backing-up the same data again? /Does data loss exist over time? Like Flash drives and SSD's have a limited read, writes though many there is an upper limit. Anyway, assuming the back-up storage is never dropped or moved, is stored in a sealed water resistance case and is disconnected and out of use 90% of the time, would one still have access to the data over 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 years later? Is there a media format to use that is better than a HDD over time? Thanks. ___________________ S.U. Mawiyoo Geographer, Mapper, GIS user, Spatial thinker. Connect with me online here <http://en.gravatar.com/sm1810> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this email may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the permission of SU Mawiyoo. It is therefore private and confidential. __________________________________________________________