HOW TO.....

How to Keep Your Digital Images Safe

Whether you've sent all your photos, slides, or other film format to be converted to digital format for memory preservation, or you just have all your digital camera images just sitting on your computer or DVD, it is important to set up some safe guards. Computer crashes, fires, floods, and other unfortunate events can happen without notice, leaving your memories lost, and you in a bad mood!

There are five ways you can store your images, and the more you have your images copied, the better your chances are of never having to worry about losing them forever.

1. You can store your images as actual prints. While this solution is not storage friendly, you can always submit them to a photo scanning company, such as Larsen Digital Services to be scanned to digital format. This method of storage is very volatile, as prints can be easily ruined by floods, fire, children, etc.

2. Another method of storage is to keep your images on a CD or DVD. While this is a reliable medium for now, CD's and DVD's just won't last forever! It still is a good idea to keep at least one copy of all your images on a CD or DVD to keep in a safe spot, such as a safe deposit box. Just like photos, they are prone to be damaged by fires, and even in car accidents.

3. Always keep a copy of your pictures on your immediate computer. Yes, they crash all the time, but storing your digital images on your computer allows them to be readily accessible. You will be able to easily share your memories via email, Facebook, Twitter, or any other program of choice.

4. A Great option right now is to copy all your images to an external hard drive, or a USB flash drive depending on how much space you need. This way, if your computer crashes, because the hard drive or flash drive is not attached to it, your images and files will be safe. You can find many cost-effective choices for an external hard drive at online merchants such as NewEgg.com, mwave.com, and others. Once you have purchased your hard drive and transferred all your files on it, you will want to make sure it is stored in a well-conditioned area.

5. The last option, and my personal favorite is to find an online file storage company with which to keep your images. Not only will they keep your images backed up, but they will be easily accessible as well! Most online storage companies will charge you a minimal monthly fee depending on how much storage your data requires, but the cost of all your lifetime memories is priceless! When choosing a provider you will want to ensure that they offer password protection, as well as an encrypted file transfer. Some free online file storing companies include 4shared, Humyo, and ADrive.

You can never be too extreme when dealing with your life's legacy, so make sure you take every precaution in keeping your digital images safe.

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