CheetahHugger wrote:
Complicated one, let's say i have a need to keep certain programs/data
in running order for the next 50 years.
Don't discuss upgrading, converting ect, it's not applicable in this
situation as the actual structure hard and software have to match each
other and you cannot emulate.
I see a lot of survivors among early PIII slot 1 machines, may sound
strange but i have seen quite a lot of those that are still in use and
work just fine.
So if i need a computer for the following 50 years based on either PII
PIII PIV or similar (AMD/CYRIX...) (isn't that called I865 architecture)
what machines/brands of components i would source that could last that
long, storing units for spares is possible until certain level but i
think aging on stored components could be a problem as well sudden shoch
when becoming operational again?
Or am i paranoia and should just get myself a batch of PIII machones
from a recycler and strip them down, pack and vacuum seal the parts and
stock them?
I was thinking of aquiring a few older generation workstations as i
assume those ones were still built to proper industrial specs.
Any suggestions?

Cheetah


"have you counted your spots today?"
Please don't think I am against modern technology in any way but I think
by trusting any modern form of storage alone, we're asking for trouble.

Magnetic media such as hard drives are fragile. Water, shock,
lightning, and other factors can easily damage a hard drive beyond
repair. Some or all of the data may be retrievable by an expert using
expensive methods and equipment, but it's a gamble.
Optical media is very fragile. Discs can easily be broken, and a single
deep-enough scratch on the reflective (top) side of a disc will
destroy some of the data.
Older methods that are proven to work:
Paper - writing on paper with permanent ink can survive hundreds of
years and can still be legible after being torn, floods, etc.
Parchment, papyrus, etc, may last thousands of years!
Stone carvings last even longer, but are a problem when shock is
involved such as earthquakes, landslides, etc.

I'm not suggesting that we go back to the last century and store
everything on paper or back to the stone age...
I'm suggesting that we find a way to store our data in a way that can
last hundreds to thousands of years, while making it repairable and
retrievable, and able to be understood by the equipment we will have a
century from now.
At this point I believe that everything that is stored in some elctronic
way should be constantly updated and translated into every possible file
format, especially the newest formats as they are created.