Backing everything up on the internet archive

[thanonyx thanonyx]

I'm thinking about backing up my entire emulated game collection onto the internet archive so that I can download my collection, either partially or completely, to any device I want.

I just don't want to lose everything I've worked hard to collect since late 2012. Plus, the more I download the more storage space it takes up, this way I'll have somewhere to keep my games that I don't have space for and want to re-download later.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

Never hurts to make backups, but I'd recommend keeping a physical backup too in case anything happens to the archive. Multiple backups in general is a good idea imo.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

That's a good idea, but the IA is frequently under attack, so you should probably keep something else as well.

 

[bjork]

Is it just that you want it curated to the exact things you've saved, or do you have stuff that isn't already present on IA?

 

[DunkeyKong]

Just like @Waffles says, I'd recommend to do your own backup like in a hard drive or with any stuff that you can trust

 

[thanonyx thanonyx]

Is it just that you want it curated to the exact things you've saved, or do you have stuff that isn't already present on IA?

I have stuff I got off of IA. In fact, I have stuff I could ONLY find on IA.

 

[PaleFolklore]

Just like @Waffles says, I'd recommend to do your own backup like in a hard drive or with any stuff that you can trust

Exactly. You may also want to look up certain softwares focused on setting up a home server, so you can host your own cloud, and thus, create another safe enviroment for backing up your files.

The only software I am currently aware of (that I recommend) is unfortunately destined solely for backing up photos - Immich is its name.

However, I'm certain there must be some kind of software out there that's just the right thing for you - as others have adverted, I'd be cautious regarding any sort of backup in IA.

 

[IyoTheHelpfulWolf]

My advice is to have local and cloud backups. Buy two or three used hard drives from reputable eBay sellers and mirror your files across all of them periodically. I like to use FreeFileSync, but there may be better programs depending on your needs. Then, backup your files to one or more online hosts like Internet Archive.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

I'm thinking about backing up my entire emulated game collection onto the internet archive so that I can download my collection, either partially or completely, to any device I want.

I just don't want to lose everything I've worked hard to collect since late 2012. Plus, the more I download the more storage space it takes up, this way I'll have somewhere to keep my games that I don't have space for and want to re-download later.

Consider flash drives as well.

 

[VampireLord1024VampireLord1024's icon]

Mega works as well.

 

[thanonyx thanonyx]

I forgot to mention. I have over 1.5TB of games BTW.

 

[DunkeyKong]

I forgot to mention. I have over 1.5TB of games BTW.

Damn that's a lot, a lot of Retro and modern games?

 

[JustLooking123]

Also please note that i have seen some big personal collections was taken down in IA...
And they were around a gig or two... Storing such a big collection in there, i wonder if they would be happy... also being copyrighted data makes it an easier target to be deleted too.

 

[Matricks]

I bought few 12TB 100000++ playnite/hyperspin/retrobat/launchbox etc, just browsing play instantly.

 

[Bonkers225]

Invest in an external hard drive. It doesn't cost too much. Usually around the $70-150 mark. Or SD cards. Never rely on the internet to store your files.

 

[PrismRed]

Do save in cloud or wherever, but always keep physical backups that you can access easily as well, ideally more than one too.

 

[RustySK]

I'll advocate for a physical backup as well. With a good few of my old go-to emulation sites getting taken down over the last couple months, I've made one for myself too, just as a precaution.

 

[Spike's iconSpike]

Some seem to think the IA is exempt to DMCA but they get DMCA and take down stuff frequently (example) So it's not bulletproof. Best option is have backups. But that's an investment.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

A disc drive will always be more reliant than being dependant on servers.

 

[Pandaprewmaster325]

I have already worked on this archiving my mods for WarCraft 3 , age of mythology , red alert 2 and 3 , stronghold crusader and age of empires 2.

I also worked on saving every single PS1 game I played and uploaded it to drive and archived some on a USB memory I want to get a better USB memory and maybe a separate hard drive.

I too have uploaded my save files for PS1 games if you interested in looking at my save for FF 1 ,2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , metal gear solid , silent hill 1 , RE 1 2 3 just tell me.

 

[DanVzare]

Some seem to think the IA is exempt to DMCA but they get DMCA and take down stuff frequently (example) So it's not bulletproof. Best option is have backups. But that's an investment.

Exactly this.

With this in mind, it's only a matter of time before there's a purge of the majority copyright infringing material. It might be five years from now, it might be ten, it might even be more than that. But it will happen. I've seen it happen with several websites in the past, so it's inevitable that it'll happen with a website as popular as the Internet Archive.

I wouldn't recommend using IA for long term backups. But it is a good site for giving other people access to your backups.
For long term backups, nothing beats physical media. Just make sure to back it up in several locations.

 

[thanonyx thanonyx]

Damn that's a lot, a lot of Retro and modern games?

Well that's just my retro games.

 

[RetroLaw]

I have a hard drive for that.

And a back up hard drive in case the first one stops working.

I do that for everything I dl.

 

[beefbowl]

Internet Archive is not your personal cloud drive. Get a hard drive and create physical copies.

 

[thanonyx thanonyx]

OK, I did back up some of my games on IA but ONLY my Atari 2600 games.

I'm considering this a test run.