Lifespan of data on stored flash drive?

[Dan_Linder]

I need to store quite a bit of data in a bank safe deposit box for a few years. I know that flash have (re-)write counts in the millions, and the stated data-life is 10 years on most Corsair drives, but is that:

A: Ten years if the drive is plugged in periodically to refresh/recharge the flash chips?

- or -

B: Ten years even if the device is stored un-used?

 

My gut feeling is that the data on the flash drive will be OK, but I'd like to know if there are any Corsair or industry pointers to tests of this nature.

 

Thanks!

 

Dan

 

P.S. My Corsair Flash Voyagers have been the hardest working pieces of computer equipment I've come across in ages! Much like my favorite 8+ year old Logitech optical mouse, and the Energizer bunny, my Flash Voyager just keeps going and going and going and going and ...

 

:-)

[RAM GUY]

The warranty is for 10 years but the problem is this should you need to use the warranty which I am 99% sure you will not have to but if you did the information on the drive may be lost. But if the information is critical I would have a second source of back up. But if the drive ever fails in that time we will be happy to replace it no matter if you use it every day or only one day.

[Dan_Linder]

I understand the warranty and that it will replace the physical flash drive if it fails within 10 years. (That's a prime reason I LOVE Corsair hardware and choose it over much cheaper stuff!)

 

I was hoping that you'd have access to some internal or industry research into this. Is there another forum or person you could recommend I could contact?

 

Dan

[RAM GUY]

I am sorry but no; I can tell there is no study like this to rely on and if there were it would take a few years to produce it long after the product is no longer available so these types of studies are not done any longer. The Computer industry has changed and the average production life is about 6 months for this type of hardware. So MTBF studies are not done. Sorry!

[Geoffreyf]

The other problem you will face with storing something for a long time is what will be there to plug it in to? If you had stored ten years ago, you might have chosen a IOMega drive or perhaps (with more data) some tape format that might be hard to find today.

 

USB is probably a good choice because the "player" and the media are one.

 

Going with the "latest" is not necessarily a good idea because some media that seem to be really hot don't stand the test of time.

 

If I really wanted to save the data, I think I would choose as many different formats as possible and store them all at your bank. A high quality flash drive would be on my list but I think I'd use a DVD drive as well (remember there are different formats and I'd use them all).

 

You are more likely to not be able to use one for lack of a place to connect it than for degradation of the data.

[First Light]

I was hoping that you'd have access to some internal or industry research into this. Is there another forum or person you could recommend I could contact? Dan

 

Agree with the above. No one can do a 10 year or 20 year study on flash drive data retention when the drives have only been out for 5 yrs. :confused:

[RAM GUY]

That is no always true, studies can be done to determine this type of failure by estimating but like I said it does take some time to compile the results and it is just not worh the time it would take.