Hello. I want to add a compressed file(preferably free so I choose 7zip...) to my external HD, I am not sure right now whether I just want to "store" or "compress".
I wonder if there are any risks of file corruptions on my external HD.
Does compressing increase the risk? Based on my experiences I have come across many compressed archives that corrupted over time.
Thank you!
what are you going to compress? What did you use to compress the files that got corrupted over time?
afaik, archives are just a file like another, so they have the same chances of getting corrupted of any other file. I have plenty of compressed files, and none got corrupted in nearly a decade.
I'm a fan of Peazip as it has a better interface than 7zip.
Your Grace,
I am going to compress a huge folder of many different file's formats.
I think I will try Peazip, because you said they are lasting for decades.
Thank you!
ehm, wait a second. Peazip can compress your files in various ways, and create different kinds of archives depending on setup. The most reliable ones (imho) are the rar and 7zip archives (as both date back decades and actually lasted decades). Not that others suck, but I never used them.
Also check the compression options, as all compression programs can decrease the quality of images and movies to shrink the size of the file, and you usually don't want that.
Umm
I see.
I don't think this kind of compression is the kind that you would call lossy. The images and movies are already compressed in the first place. 7zip compresses it in size, not quality.
Some compressing programs like say WinRar (that I used before Peazip) did offer me to shrink the images and movies by using lossy compression (that is by decreasing quality). THat's because shrinking the size of a movie or an image has limits, while with documents or programs you'll see a lot of shrinking.
Just checked Peazip, and found none of such (stupid) lossy compression options. Which is actually better. Less things to worry about.
A tip I always did to ensure future compatibility: make self-extracting archives. They are a bit bigger (a few mb), but will work on their own as well, so if for some reason other (future) programs will refuse to open them you can still access the data.
You are moving the files to an external HD...
Is this drive one that will stay on your computer? I'd recommend taking the HD and storing it, as daily use of the drive will increase the chances of data loss.
Okay, this is interesting. I did not know WinRAR had such capabilities.
But as far as I know, 7zip and Peazip(from you) don't have. And yes this is stupid really, when huge capacities are cheap nowadays.
Thanks for the tip, I forgot about this option and I will take into consideration.
Or, to add, this program might not work in the future...
I move files as necessary and then store it back in its case in my living-room.
Now I'd be glad if you could explain why "daily use of the drive will increase the chances of data loss"
A running drive wears.
Every time the drive changes, there is a chance of data loss ever time the "map" get accessed. [A.K.A. FAT, or whatever it is called on NTFS, HFS+, etc]
In use, OR in storage, there is a chance the platter can lose data, that doesn't change.
Storing the drive on a shelf, in an anti-static bag with a anti-moisture pack in it is the safest for long term. I don't know if an anti-static bag would help on an external drive, but it wouldn't hurt.
Last edited by JoesMorgue; 16 Nov 2012 at 10:52. Reason: Had to elaborate
So it would be safe to transfer its content to a newly-bought HDD each time?
What is the "map"? maybe you mean the file that lists all files and their bytes and spaces in the HD memory?
probably more which I don't know, I remember vaguely.
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