How long do digital photographs last?
The oldest preserved photo was taken in 1826 and the snaps we take today may survive far into the future.
Asked by: Jacky Rays, Chichester
Digital prints and even CD-R discs will eventually fade with time but it is perfectly possible to transfer any digital files, including photos, from one hard disk to another as you upgrade your computer and your backup disks.
Hard disk capacities are increasing much faster than our ability to generate new photos so there’s no reason why most of us couldn’t keep all our photos on just one or two properly backed-up hard disks.
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