> However, I'd consider hard disk to be the most durable & safe storage > medium
Don't be foolish. Your statement may be correct only while the disk is stored outside of any computer in suitable environmental conditions. Even then, bearings have been known to dry up / seize up by extended periods of no use, resulting in some difficulty to get the platter spinning on powerup... Burning to optical media is still a very good bet. You can't accidentally erase it, it's drop-resistant, and it'll guarantee you at least 2 years. With your hard disk, you don't even get a guarantee of 2 days (regardless of how new it is!). Volker -- Volker Kuhlmann is possibly list0570 with the domain in header http://volker.dnsalias.net/ Please do not CC list postings to me.
