I've also read that solid state/flash memory storage is also only on the order of ten years or so. Maybe that has gotten bett er. --Lee My understanding is that in order to get to the current order of miniaturization in solid state memory they used capacitors that require a bias voltage. If this is true, there is probably a small battery in the flash drives that will fail at some point, causing you to lose everything. But I am certain there are others in the list with a better grasp of the current technology. Tim