[upchuck]

How long does a USB last? I have a USB loaded with some pictures that’s been sitting on the shelf next to my speaker for a couple of years.

How are you defining USB?

If you mean a USB flash drive, the answer is virtually forever. Flash drives use silicon chips for storage and are not susceptible to magnetic interference.

If you mean a hard drive connected via USB, I wouldn't trust it more than five years. And hard drives are susceptible to magnetic interference like that coming from a loud speaker.

FWIW, I have seen flash drives go through the laundry (wash & dry) and still work.

[dragnet2]

You bet...Forget the hard drives, external or what ever. Waste of money.

Get the USB flash drive...You can put massive amount of stuff on them and they are small and really cheap...Put it in your pocket and take it with ya.