Delete files by age?

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by pwr, Mar 15, 2010.

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  1. pwr

    pwr Registered Member

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    Hello,

    I have a large amount of files on several hdds, and knowing what to keep and what to delete is a science.

    Now, I noticed that all the cds on my shelf (100's) just kept gathering dust. So I threw them all out, because after years on the shelf, the data on them had become obsolete.

    Nowadays, people have multible TB hdds in their pcs. But they still suffer from the same problem, of not knowing what to keep and what to delete.

    But from my experience, if I haven't touched a file for X amount of time, then I can safely delete it.

    Does any of you guys employ a strategy such as this? And if yes, How?

    Thanks for any replies! =)
     
  2. LenC

    LenC Registered Member

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    I pretty much keep everything forever - especially as ext Hard drives become cheaper. I don't want to take a chance on needing something in the future.

    I know I have a lot of junk out there, but that's okay.
     
  3. layman

    layman Registered Member

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    My critical files break down into several categories. I have a directory for each category, and each of these has an 'archives' sub-directory. Annually, at year's end, I transfer each directory's static files to a zip archive. I keep these archives for ten years. Before deleting each ten year-old archive, I review the contents and transfer anything I'd still like to keep into an "antiquities" archive for that category.

    I play somewhat loose with the archiving process. For example, tax-related files for the 2009 tax year will wind up in the Data archive for 2009, even though they were created in 2010.
     
  4. pwr

    pwr Registered Member

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    I cant imagine having any use for files that old, but thats just me =)
     
  5. layman

    layman Registered Member

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    I just did a quick Google on records retention and found this:

    http://www.smead.com/hot-topics/records-retention-schedule-1022.asp

    "Generally speaking, you should hang onto supporting tax documents for 7 years in case of an audit – but ask your accountant if you face any special circumstances that would extend that to 10 years."

    Since I increasingly retain records in electronic form (scanned receipts, etc.) the old rules of thumb for physical documents apply to file retention.

    Interestingly, the linked site says:

    "You are required to keep tax returns forever – there is no statute of limitations on how far back the IRS can ask you to prove that you filed a return."

    AYSM?!! I'm pretty much SOL if I ever have to prove to the IRS that I filed a tax return in 1964.
     
  6. pwr

    pwr Registered Member

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    Oh my god, haha! I bet most people would have trouble then =)

    I guess on could upload such docs to their gmail or whatever (since they keep it forever).

    On another note, im currently trying to count the size of my current "dataset" So far I'm below 500GB. I'm trying to split it into several categories: OS+programs, Games, Media, Private, etc. And putting each category on a seperate partition so that I am forced to manage its contents more closely than if I just had everything on one big 1TB drive all mixed together.
     
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