Flash vs SSD vs HDD for long-term storage

[Kil4Thril]

Let's say, for keeping receipts, tax documents, rebate forms, etc, etc. I want something reliable, and easy to use. Obviously, mass amounts of storage isn't necessary as most of these things are simple PDF files. Would a thumb drive be the way to go? Maybe a CF or other flash card? I can do optical (and still keep optical backups, always), but I just hate optical media. It is unreliable, IMO.

[theystolemyname]

I think the general answers will be "SSD and flash devices will preserve data longer than hard disks and optical media". I haven't seen any experiments for archival data integrity over time.

Personally, I would buy two 8gb SLC flash drives (kingston hyper-x 8gb is an example of a decent SLC flash drive).

1. Archive all of the data you want to store with winrar.
2. Encrypt the rar(s) with truecrypt.
3. Create parity with quickpar up to what will fit on the 8gb SLC flash drive.
4. Copy the truecrypt-ed rar(s) and parity to both flash drives such that they are a mirror of each other.
5. Keep them both in different locations, inside some sort of anti-static and water-proof containers (security deposit box comes to mind as a good location for one of the flash drives).

[Kil4Thril]

Is there any advantage to, say, a thumbdrive over a flash card of sorts? I'm not concerned with security in as much as I am integrity and longevity. I wish to rid myself of the paper I have in my small safe/file and replace it with these types of devices. But, encryption would be icing on the cake.

[bigddybn]

Is there any advantage to, say, a thumbdrive over a flash card of sorts? I'm not concerned with security in as much as I am integrity and longevity. I wish to rid myself of the paper I have in my small safe/file and replace it with these types of devices. But, encryption would be icing on the cake.

The thumbdrive is much smaller, cheaper and easier to recover data from. You can buy a dozen thumbdrives for the price of 1 SSD allowing you to keep multiple copies in multiple places all encrypted if you wish.

[bigdogchris]

I would say keep the files on a Thumb Drive, and sign up for a free storage service like SkyDrive to keep an off site backup.

[nitrobass24]

grab a couple thumbrives.
Download TrueCrypt and do whole disk encryption for all the thumb drives.
Then you and only you can read what is on the disk because you are the only one that knows the key.

give one to a friend
take one an leave it at work
put one in safety deposit box at the bank

[Kil4Thril]

Any advantage to thumb drives over SD cards (or CF or any other flash media)? I'm simply asking so I can find the best deal on the proper stuff. Actually, the SD's may be TOO small as I think they'd be too easily misplaced in the event of a move or something.