Questions
Frequently asked questions
Here is what people ask us again and again: what this reference is, about vanished websites and pages, and about backups and home archives. If you can't find an answer, have a look at the guides and the glossary.
The best time to sort out your archive is before anything gets lost.
About this reference
Is Z83 connected with the free hosting service that used to be on this domain?
No. The former hosting service and its users' websites have nothing to do with us, we do not have their material and we cannot restore it.
Why don't you name programs and services?
Products change and shut down, but the principles of storage stay the same. We want our advice to work regardless of what you use.
Can I send you files to store?
No. We do not accept or store other people's data. This reference only explains how to keep it safe yourself.
How often are the articles updated?
We review texts when the facts they rely on change, such as system support periods.
Websites and pages
A website has closed. Can it be brought back?
Only the owner can bring the site itself back. You can sometimes view former pages in a web archive, but far from all captures are complete.
Is it legal to save someone else's page?
Saving it for personal reading is generally acceptable. Distributing the copy, publishing it or passing it off as your own without the author's permission is not.
How do I cite a page so the link doesn't die?
Give the full address, the title and the date you accessed it, and for important links keep your own copy or check for a capture in a web archive.
Why is a page in the web archive missing its images?
The archive keeps whatever it managed to fetch when it crawled the page. Images, styling and interactive elements sometimes don't make it into the capture.
Backups and archives
Is one copy in the cloud enough?
It is better than nothing, but the 3-2-1 rule recommends three copies on two types of media, with one kept somewhere else.
How often should I update my backup?
As often as the amount of data you are prepared to lose. For a home archive, once a month or once a quarter is usually enough.
What should I do with old discs and USB sticks?
Copy their contents to a modern storage device, check the copy and only then decide whether to keep the original.
What will happen to my accounts later on?
That depends on the service's rules and the laws of your country. Look at the trusted contact settings and leave your family a clear note.
Further reading
- Guides
Practical guides: how to save an important web page, build a personal archive and move photos off old media. The article catalogue is here too.
- Security
Encrypting backups, account access and inheritance, and handling other people's data and photos with care.
- Comparisons
Cloud or external drive, PDF or original format, USB stick or hard drive for long-term storage: the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
- Glossary
Digital storage terms in plain language: archives and copies, formats and media, addresses and links.
- Tools
Built-in features found almost everywhere: print to PDF, document version history, account data export and disk checks.
Sources
- Internet Archive — information about the Wayback Machine
- Microsoft — product lifecycle (Windows 7)
- General data backup recommendations
Facts about system support periods, file format standards and web archives were checked against the organisations' published information at the time of writing. Menu items in your own software and devices may be named differently from the general descriptions used here.