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RE: CD-Rs vs. Store-bought CDs (WAS: Do Burned CDs Have a Short LifeSpan?)
Subject:RE: CD-Rs vs. Store-bought CDs (WAS: Do Burned CDs Have a Short LifeSpan?) From:"Keith Hansen" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 18 Jan 2006 09:01:32 -0600
We've talked about the longevity of CD-Rs. One way to back them up
would be an external hard drive. What is the reliability and longevity
of external hard drives? Any good/bad experiences with them or with a
particular brand of drive?
I have numerous CD-Rs of music. They are important, and I wouldn't want
them to rot away. However, I hate to buy a hard drive and back them up
immediately; they may begin to decay tomorrow, or not for years.
Perhaps I'll watch for the first signs of decay before running out,
buying the hard drive, and backing them up!
Someone mentioned he had a commercially produced CD from the early 80s
that was decaying. The articles I've read state that such CDs should
last as long as we do. I've read about only one example of CD rot. It
involved improperly manufactured CDs at one plant in the UK in the late
80s (PDO's plant in Blackpool, used by various small British labels).
Apparently an improper metal was sprayed onto the discs during
manufacture. The discs began to oxidize and decay in a few years (not
just audibly, but also visually--you could see the oxidation occurring).
My guess is that most store-bought CDs will last your lifetime, provided
you don't scratch them and store them under temperate conditions.
Keith
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