Efficient photo storage.

[Peter Jason]

My sister has just bought a new Win7 computer.

She wants me to put all her photo files, from the
old machine, and on CDs into the new one. There
are about 3000 photos altogether.

She is profoundly computer illiterate.

What is the best way? Should I store them all
into the "Pictures" folder in the library with
suitable sub folders? I take it that the
"Pictures" folder has some inherent advantage for
this purpose?

Then on the desktop have a shortcut to these? Her
previous technique was to store all the images on
the desktop itself.

Peter

 

[Bruce Hagen]

My sister has just bought a new Win7 computer.

She wants me to put all her photo files, from the
old machine, and on CDs into the new one. There
are about 3000 photos altogether.

She is profoundly computer illiterate.

What is the best way? Should I store them all
into the "Pictures" folder in the library with
suitable sub folders? I take it that the
"Pictures" folder has some inherent advantage for
this purpose?

Then on the desktop have a shortcut to these? Her
previous technique was to store all the images on
the desktop itself.

Peter

Much of this is personal preference, but you can keep them almost
anywhere. I keep all my pictures and videos in user created folders in My
Videos, but My Pictures and My Documents would be good too. Keeping them
in user created folders is the key IMO. Even a user created folder in C
Drive works and can be included in the library.

I personally would not keep files or folders on the Desktop as it is easy
to accidently delete them. Shortcuts on the Desktop are fine though.

 

[Ken Springer]

Much of this is personal preference, but you can keep them almost
anywhere. I keep all my pictures and videos in user created folders in My
Videos, but My Pictures and My Documents would be good too. Keeping them
in user created folders is the key IMO. Even a user created folder in C
Drive works and can be included in the library.

I personally would not keep files or folders on the Desktop as it is easy
to accidently delete them. Shortcuts on the Desktop are fine though.

Being very "old school" here, I never keep anything on C:\ drive, and
don't use My Documents and anything remotely related to it at all.

That's not what most people do these days. I'll let it go at that
unless you want more info.


--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.6.8
Firefox 12.0
Thunderbird 12.0.1
LibreOffice 3.5.2.2

 

[Yousuf Khan]

My sister has just bought a new Win7 computer.

She wants me to put all her photo files, from the
old machine, and on CDs into the new one. There
are about 3000 photos altogether.

She is profoundly computer illiterate.

What is the best way? Should I store them all
into the "Pictures" folder in the library with
suitable sub folders? I take it that the
"Pictures" folder has some inherent advantage for
this purpose?

Then on the desktop have a shortcut to these? Her
previous technique was to store all the images on
the desktop itself.

Oh yes, one of those that put all of their stuff into the desktop
itself. I know plenty like that.

There is a "My Pictures" folder specifically for storing photos of
course. But I suspect that somebody who keeps all of their photos on the
Desktop will find their way to storing on the desktop again.

The only advantage that the My Pictures folder has over any other folder
is that it is already setup to display photo-centric information rather
than general file information during the listing of the directory. But
you can create any other folder you like and give it the same
photo-centric property, and you can even include those folders into the
library. I wouldn't go too crazy about creating sub-folders for her, as
it will only confuse her. Maybe create subfolders with the month & year
and sort it through that.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Paul]

My sister has just bought a new Win7 computer.

She wants me to put all her photo files, from the
old machine, and on CDs into the new one. There
are about 3000 photos altogether.

She is profoundly computer illiterate.

What is the best way? Should I store them all
into the "Pictures" folder in the library with
suitable sub folders? I take it that the
"Pictures" folder has some inherent advantage for
this purpose?

Then on the desktop have a shortcut to these? Her
previous technique was to store all the images on
the desktop itself.

Peter

If the photos were never categorized in the first place,
then they're going to need to be sorted at some point.

If they were already sorted into folders, that implies
some kind of existing organization. In which case, other
tools may not be necessary. Just plop down the same
directory structure as existed before. (And no, putting them
on the desktop, is not a hygienic practice. Too many things
can go wrong that way, such as "wayward mouse movement" followed
by "disaster". They should be stored in a folder somewhere, and
preferably, in a folder that receives backups occasionally.)

You can have a look through articles like this for inspiration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Photo_Gallery

The only thing I don't like about the Windows Live suite, is
the notion of uploading the pictures onto storage at Microsoft.
Now, depending on how the Windows Live suite behaves (insists on
cloud storage), you may want to not bother with it, and stick
with the Photo Gallery idea. There may even be third-party
photo organizer tools, which can do a good job (perhaps something
from Kodak that came with a camera, etc.).

I don't sort pictures or treat them specially. I make descriptive
file names (tags as part of file name) if downloading images. Storage
is in folders like GIF1, GIF2, JPG1, JPG2, as the main folder gets
too full. The only reason for having separate folders, is to prevent
name collision when they're moved.

Some pictures, the ones shared on imageshack.us, I find those
by searching my sent messages, using terms associated with the
picture. And that's how I figure out what the name might have
been for those. (The file names for those are artificially shortened
to keep imageshack happy.)

So I'm not really that organized at all. Everything on my computer
is stored that way (tagging at file name level, or folders for
non-tagged goods). Anything which is not tagged, that's a message that
the content can be disposed of on the next "cleaning cycle" to the
trash bin. So if I find a file like 12345678.jpg, that means it
is safe to delete. If I find 12345678__holiday_in_Brighton.jpg,
that means it's a keeper.

Paul

 

[Paul in Houston TX]

My sister has just bought a new Win7 computer.

She wants me to put all her photo files, from the
old machine, and on CDs into the new one. There
are about 3000 photos altogether.

She is profoundly computer illiterate.

What is the best way? Should I store them all
into the "Pictures" folder in the library with
suitable sub folders? I take it that the
"Pictures" folder has some inherent advantage for
this purpose?

Then on the desktop have a shortcut to these? Her
previous technique was to store all the images on
the desktop itself.

Peter

It comes down to personal preference.
I try not to use default Windows supplied data folders
and have deleted the libraries.
Default seems to be target for malware and other
nasty things.

 

[Ken Springer]

It comes down to personal preference.
I try not to use default Windows supplied data folders
and have deleted the libraries.
Default seems to be target for malware and other
nasty things.

This and Paul's comment storage on MS's servers or anything cloud
related is why I do Old School! LOL

--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.6.8
Firefox 12.0
Thunderbird 12.0.1
LibreOffice 3.5.2.2

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

A manageable number, though still some work for you that may or may not
be justified (see below).
[]

Oh yes, one of those that put all of their stuff into the desktop
itself. I know plenty like that.

There is a "My Pictures" folder specifically for storing photos of
course. But I suspect that somebody who keeps all of their photos on
the Desktop will find their way to storing on the desktop again.

Indeed. (Though presumably she _didn't_ have all 3000, unless she had a
_huge_ [or multiple] monitor!)

Do you think you will succeed in preventing her from doing this again?
If not, then I'd say don't waste your effort. (Can the desktop be made
read-only or something?)

The only advantage that the My Pictures folder has over any other
folder is that it is already setup to display photo-centric information
rather than general file information during the listing of the
directory. But you can create any other folder you like and give it the
same photo-centric property, and you can even include those folders

I tend to agree with Paul - I don't like defaults and tend to remove
them, and they're also magnets for malware. As Yousuf says, you can give
the special properties to any new folder(s).

into the library. I wouldn't go too crazy about creating sub-folders
for her, as it will only confuse her. Maybe create subfolders with the
month & year and sort it through that.

[]
Assuming most of the photos come from a relatively modern camera, and
(probably not a valid assumption in view of what you say) the date and
time is kept correct on the camera, most will have a valid datestamp
built into them. If you batch rename them - in IrfanView, to

$E36867 $N

- they will have the date and time they were taken tacked onto the
beginning of their name. (The $N means original name: if they've not
been named to anything meaningful anyway, but left at their original
name straight out of the camera like DSC000123, then leave the $N out.)
[Other image-handling software is available; I just know IrfanView.]

As Yousuf says, I wouldn't bother making subfolders - not only might it
confuse her, but from what you say she wouldn't continue to use them,
and would just add any new pictures to the top level, or - more likely
in my experience - to an inappropriate one, being the last one used.

 

[...winston]

"Paul" wrote in message The only thing I don't like about the Windows Live suite, is
the notion of uploading the pictures onto storage at Microsoft.
Now, depending on how the Windows Live suite behaves (insists on
cloud storage), you may want to not bother with it, and stick
with the Photo Gallery idea.
Hello Paul,

Fyi - cloud storage is optional and only applicable for specific features

Windows Live Suite (Local or Cloud based options)
=========================================
Windows Live Messenger:
- requires Live ID signon
- Live ID contacts stored in the cloud at contacts.live.com

Windows Live Mail:
- operates in local or Live ID mode
- Local (Default account) - contacts and calendar only stored locally
- Live ID mode - contacts and calendar stored locally and in the cloud

Windows Live Photo Gallery
- operates in local or Live ID mode
- all pictures stored locally, i.e. no pictures are stored in the cloud in
either mode
- Live ID mode is necessary to share locally stored pictures to other cloud
connected services
e.g. SkyDrive, Facebook, Youtube, Flickr, Live Messenger Groups
- Sharing to cloud connected services **requires uploading locally stored
pictures/videos**
- Integrates with Windows Live Mail for sending Photo email (or video) via
SkyDrive (Live ID mode)
- Integrates with any default email client for sending pictures (or video)
as attachments

Windows Live Movie Maker
- operates in local or Live ID mode
- Same or Similar options as Live Photo Gallery but for Videos
- No integrated email option (use Photo Gallery or default email client for
sending videos)

Windows Live Mesh
- cloud based storage and synchronization (peer to peer)

 

[Mortimer]

As Yousuf says, you can give the special properties to any new folder(s).

As Yousuf says, I wouldn't bother making subfolders - not only might it
confuse her, but from what you say she wouldn't continue to use them, and
would just add any new pictures to the top level, or - more likely in my
experience - to an inappropriate one, being the last one used.

On the other hand, if you discuss what structure you are setting up and the
advantages of doing it that way (ease of locating pictures many months/years
later) then she might think it's such a good idea that she'll carry on doing
it.


I have created a folder c:\users\public\digital photos (in c:\users\public
so it will inherit permissions that allow it to be read from / written to
across the network). Below here I create one folder for each topic - usually
each place or occasion where I take photos. Within a topic folder I create a
folder with the date of taking, in the format yyyy.mm.dd so folders will
sort into chronological order.

I have installed Microsoft SyncToy (other synchronisation packages are
available) and configured various folder-pairs to back up folders such as
c:\users\public\digital photos to corresponding folder on an external hard
drive. I back up whenever something significant changes (typically at least
every day) - when I add new photos, when I modify word documents, when I
receive email. I *try* to keep the backup drive in a different room to the
PC when I'm not using it - OK, if I was doing it properly I'd keep the
backup drive somewhere completely different to guard against fire, theft,
flood etc... but you have to balance risk against ease of use.

I also backup photos across the network from my main desktop PC to my
laptop, partly as an extra and partly so I've got them if I take my laptop
anywhere and want to show people photos.


I'm a computer consultant and sometimes I visit clients who want advice on
setting up their PCs. I always advise not to store files or folders (only
shortcuts to them) on the desktop because of the risk of accidentally
deleting something critical and then failing to notice before emptying the
Recycle Bin.

 

[Jeff Layman]

My sister has just bought a new Win7 computer.

She wants me to put all her photo files, from the
old machine, and on CDs into the new one. There
are about 3000 photos altogether.

She is profoundly computer illiterate.

What is the best way? Should I store them all
into the "Pictures" folder in the library with
suitable sub folders? I take it that the
"Pictures" folder has some inherent advantage for
this purpose?

Then on the desktop have a shortcut to these? Her
previous technique was to store all the images on
the desktop itself.

Many replies already for you to consider so I will only add one comment.

Does she have a backup for all her photos? I could guess the answer, but
whatever you decide for her new Win7 setup, I would suggest that it
should involve simple and regular automatic backups for her photos.

 

[Roger Mills]

Many replies already for you to consider so I will only add one comment.

Does she have a backup for all her photos? I could guess the answer, but
whatever you decide for her new Win7 setup, I would suggest that it
should involve simple and regular automatic backups for her photos.

I agree entirely. I keep all my data on a separate partition from the C:
drive - current F:\. I have set up a Photos folder with various
sub-folders for year (and sometimes for significant events - like a
foreign holiday) within each year. I can find my photos easily by
opening each folder in IrfanView Thumbnails. By using sub-folders, the
thumbnails for each one don't take too long to load.

All my data files are backed up to an external drive daily, using
Windows Scheduler to run a batch file using XXCOPY commands.

Only when I have two copies of each photo - i.e. on hard drive and
external drive - do I delete them from the camera's memory card. I
delete them in the camera - *never* in the computer. [I have had too
many instances in the past of finding that a camera can't read a memory
card which has been written to by a computer].

It is very difficult to persuade people who are not very computer
literate to be systematic - I have terrible trouble with my wife! - but
it's essential to have a system if you want to keep proper track of your
photos.
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

 

[Wolf K]

My sister has just bought a new Win7 computer.

She wants me to put all her photo files, from the
old machine, and on CDs into the new one. There
are about 3000 photos altogether.

She is profoundly computer illiterate.

What is the best way? Should I store them all
into the "Pictures" folder in the library with
suitable sub folders? I take it that the
"Pictures" folder has some inherent advantage for
this purpose?

It's the default location for photo-processing software, and it's where
the Windows photo-viewer first looks for pictures. there is IMO no
inherent advantage to it all, since it's not a true folder, but a
Library. Basically, a Library is a list of pointers (ie, shortcuts) to
real folders and files. It's good concept, but MS has implemented it badly.

Then on the desktop have a shortcut to these? Her
previous technique was to store all the images on
the desktop itself.

Peter

This is not really as simple a question as it seems. Every method of
storing phtoos on a computer has its complexities, its pros and cons,
and copying the photos to the computer is just the beginning. I'm afraid
your sister will have to learn a few computer operations, and more
importantly, how to use her native savvy to organise them. 3000 pictures
aren't very many, if she has a digital camera, she'll add to that number
pretty quickly. I have around 10,000 on this machine (all backed up,
BTW). I'm sure your sister can master the small set of computer skills
needed to work with her photos.

Before you do anything else, burn all the photos on the old computer
onto CD/DVD.

Firstly, the "My Pictures" is not really a folder, but the subfolders
are. This can have rather nasty consequences, one of which is
inadvertent deletion of items stored there. there was an extensive
thread on this here a while back. If you do use Pictures, make sure all
images are stored in the subfolders. IMO it's better to set up a real
folder for her, call it "Photos" for example. Then create a shortcut to
Photos, so all she has to do is click on it to open it.

Then teach her how to make subfolders for it: just open the folder
window, click on New Folder, and give it a (short) name. I'm sure she
can figure out a naming system that helps her remember where the
pictures are. Actually, creating a labelling system that makes it easy
to find stuff is more difficult than creating folders. ;-)

Secondly, I'm assuming you'll copy the photos for her. But I'm sure
she's smart enough to learn how to do it herself. I open two Explorer
windows, one for the CD (or camera), and one for Photos and one of its
subfolders, and use drag'n'drop to copy. My wife learned how to do this
three tries.

Thirdly, if she wants to do anything at all with the photos, she'll have
to learn how to use photo-processing software. Pretty well all of them
allow (maybe even encourage) using real folders set up by the user,
which IMO is the best way to do it.

Fourthly, regardless of whether the new computer is a laptop or a
desktop, I strongly recommend she buy an external drive. Install a
backup program for her, and set it to backup the Photos folder-tree to
the external drive at regular intervals.

Fifthly - that's enough for now!

HTH & Good luck,
Wolf K.

 

[Ken Blake]

My sister has just bought a new Win7 computer.

She wants me to put all her photo files, from the
old machine, and on CDs into the new one. There
are about 3000 photos altogether.

3000 isn't a lot. They should fit on one or two DVDs.

I have way more than that.

She is profoundly computer illiterate.

What is the best way? Should I store them all
into the "Pictures" folder in the library with
suitable sub folders? I take it that the
"Pictures" folder has some inherent advantage for
this purpose?

There is no best way. She can put them wherever she wants to and
organize them any way she likes. Where you put files and how you
organize them depends on what's best for you. We all have different
needs and different tastes.

Then on the desktop have a shortcut to these?

That's fine, but it's not required,

Her
previous technique was to store all the images on
the desktop itself.

In my view, that's a terrible technique. I think you should never put
anything on the desktop except shortcuts. If you do, you run the large
risk of deleting something on the desktop thinking you are only
deleting a shortcut to it.

 

[Ken Blake]

3000 isn't a lot. They should fit on one or two DVDs.

I have way more than that.

And one more point, regarding the subject line: Efficient photo
storage.

Efficiency has nothing to do with this. Regardless of where they are
put and how they organized, they take up the same amount of disk
space.

 

[Ken Blake]

On 18/05/2012 09:56, Jeff Layman wrote:

If the transfer is done via CDs, those CDs can, and should, be saved
permanently as a backup. But yes, more backup will need to be done in
the future.

I agree entirely. I keep all my data on a separate partition from the C:
drive - current F:\. I have set up a Photos folder with various
sub-folders for year (and sometimes for significant events - like a
foreign holiday) within each year. I can find my photos easily by
opening each folder in IrfanView Thumbnails. By using sub-folders, the
thumbnails for each one don't take too long to load.

All my data files are backed up to an external drive daily, using
Windows Scheduler to run a batch file using XXCOPY commands.

If you do a scheduled backup daily, that suggests that the external
drive is permanently plugged into the computer. If it is, I think
that's a risky thing to do. A permanently plugged-in external drive
isn't very different from an internal drive. It's always possible that
a nearby lightning strike, virus attack, even theft of the computer,
can cause the loss of everything on all your drives

The value of using an external drive for backup is only there if it's
not permanently connected, and preferably kept somewhere other than
right next to the computer--in a different room, if possible, or even
better, in a different building.

 

[Mortimer]

And one more point, regarding the subject line: Efficient photo
storage.

Efficiency has nothing to do with this. Regardless of where they are
put and how they organized, they take up the same amount of disk
space.

Very true, but "efficient" might also be extended to relate to ease of
locating things afterwards.

 

[Mortimer]

If the transfer is done via CDs, those CDs can, and should, be saved
permanently as a backup. But yes, more backup will need to be done in
the future.




If you do a scheduled backup daily, that suggests that the external
drive is permanently plugged into the computer. If it is, I think
that's a risky thing to do. A permanently plugged-in external drive
isn't very different from an internal drive. It's always possible that
a nearby lightning strike, virus attack, even theft of the computer,
can cause the loss of everything on all your drives

The value of using an external drive for backup is only there if it's
not permanently connected, and preferably kept somewhere other than
right next to the computer--in a different room, if possible, or even
better, in a different building.

Agreed. The best solution is a network-connected drive so it can be kept
permanently available for backups but it located somewhere different from
the computer that it is backing up. I agree that the next best solution is
at least to unplug the drive and keep it somewhere else whenever it's not
being used for backups.

 

[Stewart]

I have about 8500 photos on my computer and every one has a starting file
reference of the year the photo was taken. If I am not sure of an actual
year then the start file reference could be something like 1978q. So if I
had photos of Majorca taken then they would be filed as 1978 Majorca. Again
with further sub file names if desired.

 

[ray]

My sister has just bought a new Win7 computer.

She wants me to put all her photo files, from the old machine, and on
CDs into the new one. There are about 3000 photos altogether.

She is profoundly computer illiterate.

What is the best way? Should I store them all into the "Pictures"
folder in the library with suitable sub folders? I take it that the
"Pictures" folder has some inherent advantage for this purpose?

Then on the desktop have a shortcut to these? Her previous technique was
to store all the images on the desktop itself.

Peter

There are quite a number of photo cataloging programs which will do that
more or less automatically, usually according to the date they were taken
(which is almost always in the photo meta-data). That's the type of
structure I use. Where the tree starts can often be user defined.

The amount of storage required for 3000 pictures can vary tremendously.
For example, the raw files from my Kodak P850 are over 5mb each (for only
a 5mp camera), whereas a highly compressed jpeg can easily be under 100k.
so you're looking at, probably somewhere between about 300mb and 15gb -
i.e. one CD or about 5 DVD's. Of course, both of those are probably on
the low end since 10,12 up to 24mp cameras are out now.

I'd recommend you take your questions to a photo group like:
alt.photography or
rec.photo.digital