In the electronic age we live in, most people have an extensive collection of photos, videos and other precious data sitting on their computer waiting to become extinct.

Photos and other essential files need duplicates to prevent the loss of their existence via an inevitable hard drive crash.

But there are steps computer users can take to ensure those favorite family photos will live on after a crash.

First, consider which brand of hard drive to buy if you are upgrading an internal hard drive in a computer.

A bit of research can provide studies conducted on top brands and how reliable they are.

As a backup, consider purchasing an external drive with lots of space. These tend to last longer because they are not being used consistently. Unplugging them when not in use can help extend their life, but it means regular backups will not take place if you set your computer to do so.

If you don’t require a lot of space consider a solid-state drive.

However, solid-state drives are costly. If you can afford it, consider investing in one.

For the uninitiated, a solid-state hard drive uses computer chips to store data similar to how a flash drive, or thumb drive, works.

Solid state hard drives are more reliable because they do not have moving parts like traditional hard drives.

And, since solid-state hard drives do not use magnetism to record data, they are not subject to failure when exposed to strong magnetic fields. But, they too can fail.

There is also the option of storing backups in the cloud.

While there are obvious advantages to this option, security is a concern.

Some cloud services offer increased security for a price, so do a bit of research in that area as well.

So find the best option, or combination of options, and backup your essential data.