RoomDiskProtect your photos from drive failure
External drives fail more often than people expect. In large studies of failed hard drives (Backblaze and Secure Data Recovery), the average failed drive was only about two and a half to three years old. In 2023 a class action also alleged that some SanDisk Extreme and WD My Passport portable SSDs disconnected and became unreadable (the claims are allegations). Whatever drive you use, the protection is the same: more than one copy, and checking that copies are still good.
The simple rule: two copies, checked
- Keep every photo you care about in at least two places, on two different devices.
- Check the copies now and then: a file can go bad without you noticing until you need it.
- Replace a drive that disconnects or throws errors; don’t wait for it to fail.
An easy two-copy setup with RoomDisk
- Use an old phone or tablet as one spare disk, and a laptop as another.
- Send your photos to the first. In the send details, tap put these on another spare disk too, connect the second and send.
- Every few months, open each disk’s Settings and tap Check now: it re-reads every file and tells you if anything changed or is missing.
What else helps
- Every copy verified with SHA-256 when it arrives, with receipts.
- Undo for deletes: Recently deleted keeps files for 30 days.
SanDisk, WD and My Passport are trademarks of their owners. RoomDisk isn’t affiliated with them.
Questions
How long do hard drives last?
Many last much longer, but in large studies the average failed drive was under three years old, so plan for any single drive to fail.
How do I know a copy is still good?
On a RoomDisk disk, open Settings and tap Check now. It compares every file with the fingerprint recorded when it arrived.
Try it with the two devices you have
Free to start. Nothing to install, no account.