DVD-R Discs
Saturday, April 26, 2014 by kona0197 | Discussion: Personal Computing
OK, so in another thread here someone said we should not use DVD-RW or DVD-R discs to backup data. The reason being was because the discs can lose data over time.
I have a problem with that statement. I have movies in DVD that i have had for 10+ years and they still play fine. So what's going on?
And for the record I use a external hard drive for backup, LOL.
Reply #2 Saturday, April 26, 2014 4:35 PM
Commercially produced optical discs have the data physically stamped into them (similar to a record, but read with a laser instead of a needle).
Consumer writers on the other hand use discs with dyes or phase-change materials which change in reflectivity when 'burned'. These dyes are more subject to breakdown due to light, temperature, etc.
Reply #3 Saturday, April 26, 2014 5:46 PM
Yup. Expose them to UV light and they'll degrade in a hurry.
Reply #4 Saturday, April 26, 2014 6:45 PM
Any media will degrade over time. I have albums, cassettes and VHS tapes older than a lot of members here. When played, I play copies and only use the originals as masters. That said,how they are handled, stored and the equipment they are played back on is a major factor in their lifespan. External drives go bad as well. Your best bet is multiple backups/copies.
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Reply #1 Saturday, April 26, 2014 4:29 PM
It is all in the type of dye used in the manufacturing process and any past/current/future environmental influences (UV exposure, temp etc.).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-R