Flash drive data lifespan?

[krystian]

Hello,

I'm sure everyone has come across those handy USB flash drives (nowadays anywhere from 128MB onward)

I've got a question about data integrity. I'm not too familiar with how data is locked into a flash drive, but what is the lifespan data can remain on a flashdrive and not have to be plugged into the computer?

I remember learning about register flip-flops years ago, I just don't know if this technology applies to flash drives or not.

Is plugging a flash drive into the computer a way of "upkeeping" the data to make sure it's still stored?

Or perhaps- is data expected to reside on the drive indefinately and will never corrupt?

Just wondering-
Krystian.



(I'm asking because I hope to familiarize myself better with the technology and avoid this kind of a procedure... How a Corrupted USB Drive Was Saved by GNU/Linux

 

[m3trj]

Apparently it lasts a good 10 years. I'm not sure of the effect of plugging it in.

 

[krystian]

Where'd you read that?

Please cite sources. I'd love to read some publications about this.