Jim Gallops <gallops@hdshq.com> writes about keeping MIDI data on floppies:

> Personally, (and this is from experience), if you recopy the data on your
> floppies every couple of years to another floppy (or other medium) things
> should be fine.
>
> {Clip}
>
> Because digital data is so easy to replicate, the life of the media should
> not be a problem as long as copies are made on a regular basis.

I agree (unless we have a nuclear war).  But, if saving your data is REALLY
important, I would add a couple suggestions:

Try to make file copies where the copied data is verified.  I don't know
about Windows, but in DOS, if you are in the source directory and are copying
all MIDI files, use the "/V" option:  COPY  *.MID   A:   /V.  The "/V" option
verifys the written data is the same as the source.

Make at least two copies and send one set to your out-of-state relatives.  I
live in San Francisco, so I don't even trust my neighborhood bank vault.
 There was an earlier submission that worried about the earth's magnetic
field - I would worry more about fire.  Although Ibelieve that extreme heat
can change magnetic fields - long before that time, the disk is melted.  Even
paper fire safes or file cabinets don't guarantee magnetic media.  You need a
"data" fire safe.  Mailing multiple copies is much cheaper.

(If we don't have trustworthy relatives, maybe we can mail everything to
Jody?)

Will Dahlgren

 [ Editor's Note:  I got a chuckle out of that.  I'd _LOVE_ to archive
 [ everyone's Roll and MIDI data.  I won't promise not to listen to it, though ;-)
 [ That thing at the end of the last line is a "winking smiley-face".
 [ The truth is that I try to keep half of my backups in a safe deposit box at
 [ the bank.  Its expensive, and inconvenient, but it seems unlikely that
 [ bank and my house will burn down on the same day.
 [ Jody