Have you folks tried using an off-site file storage for your pictures and scanned documents? Along time ago I used www.xdrive.com instead of a USB flash drive.

The problem I see with those services is keeping them in sync and their guarentee against data loss. Plus my parents farm where I would bug out to you can't get over a 33k connection on the old phone lines which makes any online services useless.

There's tons of free back-up sites...

And those make no gaurente that your data will still be there. I learned my lesson using free e-mail services years ago when I signed in one day to find my mailbox empty.

When it comes to any type of backups, there is no guarantee that your data will be intact. In all my years in the computer industry, I have seen RAID systems fail, backup servers fail, thumb drives, portable drives, CD's, DVD's, online services such as web mail, online backup services all fail at various times....all when people needed it the most

The key is redundancy, never trust your data to only one or two backup types / companies / locations.

The big difference though is then you have no one to blame but yourself when the local stuff fails. When your paying (either direct or through the ads or however the free sites are supported) you expect that service provider to fulfill their end of the deal. I know any hardware can fail so I know to keep multiple pieces of hardware. When someone else is providing a backup service then you would expect them to backup what they are doing.
There are other issues. The more hands touching your data the more chances of a breach. Someone can breach the backup service security and searches for bank and credit card statements easier than they can the cd's locked in your safe.
Another problem I found was limited space unless your willing to pay a lot so people will use more than one cheap or free service. I tried that, pictures on one, bank account info on another then when it filled up other documents on another, it was a big pain keeping track of which was for what and when I had last backed up each and taking the time to do the backups. of course thats the hardest part still, remembering what documents I put on what flash drive or when I last updated them. So I've started minimizing the number of places I put backups to make it easier to manage.

Put it on paper, make multiple copies, put them in different locations ( family, friends, bank safety deposit box's ) Make sure you carry one in your BOB and forget about it. If your going to go digital as in a flash drive buy a few and give them to family or friends to hold. Myself I use paper and flash drives. Just my opinion.

WOW! That's some advice. I oughta' try that.

Sir you really need to grow up. But I doubt that possible considering your condition.


I hear there's no medication for stupidity, I'm sorry.

Nope, none whatsoever. I guess with a little luck I'll be doomed to repeat history over and over again.