We have entered the digital age, yet, many of us are trying to navigate it using substandard beliefs, information and/or equipment. It’s mostly because we just don’t know what we don’t know. Hoping to avoid learning the hard way, here are a few “don’ts” for us to follow:
* DON’T assume that because your beloved is THE knowledgeable one regarding computers, they have expertise in organizing or safeguarding your family’s digital images.
* DON’T believe your digital images are safe when stored in just one place.
* DON’T load digital images onto your computer’s hard drive without knowing the total amount of hard drive space and the total amount of FREE hard drive space.
And, now, a few “do’s”:
* DO take an active interest in where/how your digital images are being stored. Contact me at info@unleashyourphotos.com for digital training and information on THE best long-term storage option plus THE 2 best digital organization and album-making programs on the market (I’ve compared them so I know this and can say this!).
* DO BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP!! And not on just anything! When using an external hard drive which you will be transporting often, purchase one which is built to be portable. If not moving it, a regular external HD will do. Plus, get the one with the most gigs you can afford! When using CDs or DVDs, purchase those which contain Phthalocyanine dye and are built to stand the test of time. If you are using the CDs or DVDs which come in sets of 100 for $20, for instance, they are a recipe for disaster.
* DO know the total amount of gigs on your computer’s hard drive (C drive on Windows PCs, Finder/Storage on Apple PCs), continually monitor the amount of free space available and ALWAYS keep AT LEAST 10 percent of the total space free. The closer you get to only 10% free, the more you invite a computer crash. Go below 10? You might as well kiss your computer bye-bye!
There’s more do’s and don’ts, but they will have to wait for another day. Where do you stand on insuring the safety of your images? Do you have any other great ideas for keeping them safe? Please share them.
And, watch for my next post which will be a survey of your interests. Let your voice be heard!
If you would like to republish any content found in this site, please contact me at barb@unleashyourphotos.com. If you’d like to just share a link to a blog post, that is welcome, and I thank you.