Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Do burned CDs and DVDs have a shelf life?

Jan 30, 2009 5:52AM PST
Questions:

I've been backing up my important files on recordable CDs and DVDs for a quite a few years now. However, the other day my friend told me that he read some article explaining that burned CDs and DVDs, while a reliable backup method, do have a shelf life and one day they will fail to read and that I should make duplicate backup copies of my files on another media or external hard drive just in case. This is new news to me, but paranoia still set in! I went immediately to check on a few of my backed up CDs from many years ago dated 1998 and 1999 and was relieved to find that they read perfectly fine from my PC. Now I'm questioning if what my friend read was a myth and I'm turning to you for answers. Is it true, will burned CDs and DVDs eventually become unreadable? If there is a shelf life, what is their expected life span? Are there better quality CDs or DVDs recordable discs that are better for longtime storage? What is the best way to store burned disc to prolong shelf life, if there is such a thing? Am I being paranoid for no reason? Have you had any old burned CDs or DVDs fail on you because they were too old? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for any facts you can provide.

--Submitted by Michael D.

Here are some featured member answers to get you started, but
please read up on all the advice and suggestions that our
members have contributed to this member's question.

CD/DVD shelf life --Submitted by Zouch
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7588_102-0.html?forumID=70&threadID=327942&messageID=2966806#2966806

Longevity of optical media --Submitted by Watzman
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7588_102-0.html?forumID=70&threadID=327942&messageID=2966751#2966751

Life depends on quality--here are my experiences --Submitted TonyGore
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7588_102-0.html?forumID=70&threadID=327942&messageID=2967126#2967126

To read or not to read? That is the question. --Submitted by Starkiller5
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7588_102-0.html?forumID=70&threadID=327942&messageID=2967968#2967968

Do burned CDs and DVDs have a shelf life? --Submitted by explorer2_000
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7588_102-0.html?forumID=70&threadID=327942&messageID=2966896#2966896

About CD/DVD lifespan --Submitted by mssusanf
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7588_102-0.html?forumID=70&threadID=327942&messageID=2967294#2967294

If you have any additional tips, knowledge, or experience to share with Michael, please click on the reply link below and submit your answer. If you have links that will help with this topic, please do provide it in your submission. Thank you!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Do Recordable DVDs and CDRs have a Shelf Life?
Feb 1, 2009 3:18AM PST

Yes they do, but a mostly has to do with storage and the quality of the disk to begin with. I don't know what brand you bought but in general, the gold archival discs are the best. The defective rates are far lower in discs made by Falcon or Mitsui than unknown or store brands, even if they say "archival". The "green dye" discs tend to be less reliable with higher failure rates, but even these are better than the "fashion color" dyes like black.

We do archiving where I work, and we've tested discs, tape, etc over and over again to find the most reliable solution. There's even a new system of isotopic atomic-level recording being worked on. This is ultra-reliability ultra high density recording on metal film tape.

Remember the TOP of a CDR or DVDR has nothing more than a lacquer paint coating (no matter what they call it) between you and the data. The bottom is not the most vulnerable and can generally be polished if scratched.

The nice thing about digital recording, is you can make many many multi-generational copies of your data without losses. To this day, the very most reliable way to back up data is on tape. Yes, it's slower read and write access, but the tapes will outlast the DVDs and CDRs you burn.

Why? Dyes used in a DVDr or CDr are organic materials that slowly change with humidity and temperature. Some dyes are simply more expensive to make than others. Remember that layer of lacquer paint? Moisture can seep through this material in time, and can attack the dyes. Also, heat is a biggie vastly accelerating the degredation of the recordable discs.

Don't archive to a burnable CDR or DVDR. Yeash they're cheap but for years now we've been hearing the horror stories. One University archive we know of trashed a whole collection of one-of-a-kind audio recordings relying on CDRS to hold the data. Needless to say the discs started failing. They transferred back to tape.

I would use a tape drive and back these up to other tape every few years. Yeah, they're slow and all, but far more reliable. Also, HARD DRIVES are not an archive-reliable medium for storage no matter who makes them or how much you pay for them.

- Collapse -
cd and dvd shelf life
Feb 1, 2009 3:23AM PST

No medium has an infinite shelf life, and I would recommend having a second back up copy somewhere. However, cd's and dvd's are a pretty robust storage medium - early cd's were *supposed* to be prone to oxidising and therefore losing data, although I haven't found one that doesn't work yet.

- Collapse -
shelf life
Feb 1, 2009 12:31PM PST

yes,in do time the coating come off,so make one more copy.

- Collapse -
It's a 5 year mission...
Feb 1, 2009 1:22PM PST

Yes, consumer burned CDs have a lifespan. Unlike manufactured CDs, which are stamped, consumer CDs burn data onto a dye. Over time, this dye degrades. After about 5 years, they will start degrading, and you will lose your information. It is advisable to reburn your data every few years, onto a higher capacity format, so you don't end up like me, with an enormous book of discs because I was too lazy to burn DVDs of the stuff.

Yes, there is a difference in quality between brands. Memorex discs, for example, tend to fail sooner and burn improperly more frequently than other brands. Some high quality CDs or DVDs can last longer than 5 years before degrading.

- Collapse -
Shelf life of CDs
Feb 1, 2009 5:12PM PST

Any data storage has a shelf-life - I'm an archive researcher handling mediaeval parchments, and whilst the substrate is fine, you'd be amazed how dirty my white gloves get by the end of the day from the ink falling away. Now, most of those documents haven't been accessed in fifty years or more, so it's not a problem, but it could be in another thousand years' time.
As regards CDs, they're burned in by light. Natural sunlight and office lighting isn't strong enough to have any serious effect inthe short-term, but in the longer term (5 years +) there is some degradation if left in the open. Writable CDs are worse, which is why the backs of the cases are normally black and they're preferably kept in closed cabinets. That being said, however, these are the original lifetime indications, recent studies suggest the lifetime may be significantly longer in practice, and quality CDs should last longer than cheap ones - see the manufacturers' recommendations on the original box.
However, that's not the only problem: more serious is the risk of format creep. How many of you still have a 5.25" drive? I do, but that's because I go back to the Ark. Similarly, how many of you have data accessed in .pdx format? Paradox won't run on some modern machines, yet was in common use a mere ten years ago. Similarly with SuperCalc .sc5, and a whole host of other ancient artefacts. Except when you need to know why something was done many moons ago, then you have problems.
Probably the most dangerous instance of this is the digitalisation of property titles. The public registrars are only keeping the current state-of-play in many instances, but old liens and conditions often aren't recorded there and the old paper-based systems remain invaluable. I'm currently involved in a case where the heirs to an estate want to do something which was specifically forbidden in the original transfer of title in the 1920s. They were encouraged into the activity by the absence of any mention of such an interdiction in the current documentation, and the result will be huge legal costs all round.
So think before you digitise.

- Collapse -
Burned CDs/DVDs - shelf life
Feb 1, 2009 8:23PM PST

I heard (about 10 years ago) that burned CDs/DVDs have a shelf life of 20 years. However, as burned CDs/DVDs had not been around for 20 years at that time (I'm not sure if they have been around that long even now) I do not see how anyone can say - it must at best have been an estimate based on accelerated aging tests. Even if such tests did give some sort of reliable evidence, the quoted shelf life would probably incorporate a safety factor of at least 2 so I would guess that if stored in dust free conditions at between 10-25C they will probably last for at least 40 years. I have CDs that were burned well over 10 years ago that show no sign of deterioration whatsoever and reckon that the odds of them being good for 40 years must be at least 5-1 on.

- Collapse -
Do burned CDs and DVDs have a shelf life?
Feb 1, 2009 9:43PM PST

Hi Michael:

Actually, backups to CDs/DVDs are among the most stable and reliable methods for preserving your valuable data. However, the main thing to remember is to keep these discs in a safe place (sleeves); free from scratches, oily fingerprints, excessive heat, and most importantly, direct sunlight! Personally, I have data backups to discs dating back to the mid-nineties, and can still retrieve photos or documents without a problem. Some reports state that if the above rules are followed, the estimated shelf-life can be as long as 50 years! Bottom line Michael? Your friend is giving out incorrect information regarding this issue.

- Collapse -
Shelf life for CDs
Feb 1, 2009 10:01PM PST

I had this discussion with some folks in GB a few years back and their research says yes there is a shelf life. Here is the deal, Cheap CDs and DVDs are cheap, they will not last on the shelf. A high quality CD/DVD will last a considerable amount of time, how long? That is just a guess for now but the thinking is that the media will become obsolete long before the CDs become coasters.

- Collapse -
cd`s and dvd`s shelf life
Feb 1, 2009 10:21PM PST

Michael: Personally my experience with this storage method is not good. I don`t know if this is because quality disc or brand dvd, or method (software dvd burning). If you don`t have problems with that method I would suggest you buy the better quality discs of type RWR of a good brand. (rewritable, in my opinion this type of disk is more durability and better quality than normal discs, and the price is similar to normal discs).
Thanks.
3116t

- Collapse -
Yes! But mostly dependent on WHERE you store them.
Feb 1, 2009 11:38PM PST

Humidity, heat, moisture, etc. these are factors to consider for CD/DVD long term storage. Constantly using the CD is also a factor for wear and tear. Although technically CDs are supposed to be a long term archiving option, some CDs aren't meant for long term use. Some of them do deteriorate from exposure to moisture, can attract molds, or at one point, I have observed, a rust like appearance. It also depends on how the build quality of the CDs are, but from my experience,even the more expensive ones don't last either.

Warped CDs are also common, especialy if you store them in CD sleeves inside a leather CD case.

The most effective storage would be in a vaccuum-like environment (to ensure that no moisture or other elements can reach it) or just put them in a CD Spindle together with a bunch of other CDs (the outer CDs that are exposed to air would probably not last though).

I have had been usings CDs for more than 20 years now, and I found that the only ones that usually survived were my old CDs that were stored in a stacked position on the original spindle that came with my blank CDs. Those placed in CD holders or CD cases, probably 50% of them wound up in the garbage (after I took what I can read from the contents)...

- Collapse -
CD and DVD shelf life
Feb 1, 2009 11:50PM PST

As with all media, shelf life is more of an environmental issue than anything. In a perfect world (no light, no heat, vacuum) CDs and DVD will last longer than you will. However, our world isn't perfect, and as such if you use good common sense and good habits, your DVDs and CDs will outlast your needs. Cool, Dry, Dark and protected is the key. Use jewel cases and store upright, not flat to avoid stacking. Avoid storing with any chemicals that might break down the plastics in the discs. You need not be paranoid, but if so make 2 copies and store them separately.

- Collapse -
Do burned CDs and DVDs have a shelf life?
Feb 2, 2009 12:24AM PST
- Collapse -
Paranoia with a hint of truth
Feb 2, 2009 1:42AM PST

I first saw this in CNET Community Newsletter: Q&A forum 1/27/06. My experience does not support the statement "Some of the better-quality discs offer a longer life span, of a maximum of five years." There are various grades of recordable discs. We use commercial grade, name brand CDs for production CD burning (because volume doesn't justify the start-up cost for pressing them.) I use only quality, highly rated name brand drives and media for personal use.

Your CD/DVD burner contain a small Flash memory, used to store a table of parameters for identifying and burning various discs. Parameters vary due to different dyes and other factors. You may get better results if you update the drives. If a drive doesn't recognize your exact blank media, it may use best match or generic settings.

The rather paranoid Computerworld article link is still alive, at:

http://computerworld.com/hardwaretopics/storage/story/0,10801,107607,00.html

The very short version:

"Burned" CDs and DVDs don't have the uniform high life expectancy of pressed discs.

Some blank disks are better than others. Some burners are better than others. Heat over time can change the dye enough to cause some read errors.

Writer John Blau reports that Kurt Gerecke, a physicist and storage expert at IBM Deutschland GmbH recommends magnetic tape over optical disks and hard drives for long-term storage.

Personally, if something is that critical, I back it up in more than one physical location and on more than one media type.

- Collapse -
Short answer.... Yes!
Feb 2, 2009 4:24AM PST

Hi Michael,

This particular topic is actually a very contentious. Let me state straight out that there are many schools of thought as to how long a disc lasts, but the fact of the matter is that it will eventually fail. No form of storage commercially available is capable of storing your data inevitably.

I've noticed that many people have been discussing and questioning the difference between commercial discs (such as movies and CD's) and discs which you burn at home. Let's tackle this question initially by looking at the difference between the two. It should help explain why these discs are far more likely to last longer than the discs which you burn at home.

How are the discs burnt?
The movies and CD's you buy at shops are created using a completely different process to that of a typical burner. To put it simply, the plastic in the disc is heated to the point where it is malleable and then a metal template is quite literally stamped into that plastic creating tiny grooves which represent the data. The discs are then coated in a very fine layer of metal which acts as a reflective surface on the base of the disc, which the laser in a player can bounce the beam off in order to retrieve the data. It also acts as a protective layer, which prevents the data on the disc from being damaged by scratches. So in summary, the data is quite literally etched into the disc.

Technology like this was not feasible for consumers, so manufacturers started looking for an alternate method of writing data to a disc. The result was the CD burner we all know today. The primary difference between a burner and a commercial disc replicator (the method I described above) is that the data is not etched into the disc, but rather printed. CD burners work by heating a layer of transparent dye inside the disc. The dye responds by darkening (i.e. no longer being transparent). The laser in a burner is so precise that it can burn the dye in the disc in a specific sequence, hence creating the data that you wish to store on the disc.

Why is this a problem?
The problem with this process is that over time, ink starts to breakdown and fade. It's kind of like opening a book that was published 50+ years ago and looking at how much the text has faded on the page as a result of the ink beginning to degrade.

What does all this mean?
Basically it means that any disc you burn will eventually become corrupted and unreadable, as the ink in the disc will inevitably degrade. Even commercial discs will eventually fail as nothing lasts forever.

So how long will a disc last?
The truth is that it depends on a number of factors. Anyone who tries to give you an actual life in years is just speculating. The life of a disc depends on a number of factors. Some of these include the quality of the materials used to create the discs, the quality of the manufacturing process, how well the disc was burnt (i.e. if your CD burner's laser is dirty, then the recording won't be as clean as say a brand new laser), the speed as which the disc was burnt (higher speeds lead to degraded quality in the burning process), the amount of data on the disc as well as how the disc is handled and stored. Things such as heat and moisture will inevitably degrade the life of a disc or oil from finger prints on the disc will also degrade it faster.

In my opinion:
Arbitrarily, I wouldn't trust most discs burnt with a CD/DVD burner beyond 5 years, although the data will more than likely last well beyond that if the disc is stored in a safe manner (more on that soon).

So what can you do?
As I mentioned, there are different qualities when it comes to discs. For example, the ones that you buy in a 50 pack aren't exactly of the highest quality, and can't be expected to last for an extended period of time. A general rule of thumb is the more you pay for the disc, the higher the quality and the longer it is likely to last. If you're looking for long life discs, go down to your local major retailer and ask them what they've got. Many discs which boast a long life tend to be gold plated. They'll probably claim to hold your data in excess of 100 years, but none of these figures have actually been properly tested (I mean, how could they?) Disc manufacturers use all kind of different tests to rate their discs (some of them being quite questionable)and as a result, the life they print realistically isn't worth the paper its printed on.

What do I recommend?
If you're looking to backup precious data, then I'd recommend the following:

* Purchase long life gold plated discs
* Make sure the laser in your burner is clean (you can pick up disc cleaning kits from your local retailer)
* Burn the disc at a slow speed
* Store the disc facing down (not on its side) in a cool dry place (warm and moist = mold). I'd suggest no more than 50% humidity and 20 degrees Celsius (68 deg Fahrenheit).
* If you're going to write on the disc, use a non-solvent based marker.
* And most importantly.... MAKE MORE THAN 1 COPY... Store important data on more than 1 medium if possible (e.g. external backup drive and long life disc)

Hopefully this has enlightened you and has given you some tips on how to safely store your data Happy

Jaz.

- Collapse -
DVD Life
Feb 2, 2009 5:13AM PST

I actually had the same paranoia regarding DVD life. I bought a set-top DVD recorder in early 2003 (one of the first ones that was marketed) and started converting my old VHS tapes to DVD. I was reading the same dire stories that the shelf life of recordable DVD's was nowhere near as long as first imagined. So last year, I selected about 100 of my recorded DVDs at random and played them in my regular DVD player (which does not have recording capabilities). I had no problems with any of the disks; they played like they did when they were created.

I've actually debated making copies of my disks to be safe, but I estimate I have about 700 disks and have probably pulled out maybe 20 over the years to actually watch, so I've decided I'll take my chances with what I have.

- Collapse -
Just Like LP's
Feb 2, 2009 8:07AM PST

Just like LP's, the ancient version of CDs, as long as you take good care of them, the data will always be available to you. I have not yet lost data from any of my music CDs and some of them are over ten years old. Hope this helps.

- Collapse -
CD-DVD media as BACK-UP
Feb 2, 2009 10:51AM PST

Yes its true that CD and DVD media are not reliable back-up. . The reason for this is that molds in the course of time will begin to destroy your disc. If you have time, you just wipe your disc frequently so that molds will not set in. Or to make sure that you have a reliable back-up, shell out a few dollars more, buy a portable hard drive. . .ok

- Collapse -
Review for You
Feb 2, 2009 11:33AM PST

Michael, so far, you have seen a wide range of responses on the lifespan of CDs and DVDs. It must be very confusing to you. Many of us have read the articles that appear on CDs and DVDs that state that the expectancy of these media are five (5) years. While we recognize that, with excellent care, your CD/DVD may last longer, it may not even last that long. Some of the answers here do not differentiate between media that came with software and/or muisic and media that they burned themselves. Others think the lifespan is ten (10) years. Others swear they made a CD/DVD 20+ years ago. Possible. One person claims to have made a CD 50+ years ago.

If we look at our calendar, 50 years ago was 1959. I was 9 years old, but I can tell you that there were no personal computers back then and no "home" CD/DVD burners. Maybe the person was confusing this with magneto-optical which claims a shelf-life of 100 years but that is a different technology. Sorry, but home burning of even CDs was not invented a long, long time ago. Nor was the PC. Nor was the World Wide Web (WWW). Back in 1968 we had rotating drum storage, disk storage and exotic storage such as data cells on our mainframe computers. No CDs. So, please take with a grain of salt those of us who cannot remember what year they "burned" their first CD.

So what is the date that a CD-ROM existed in the first place? I'm not 100% sure. When you've lived this long, you forget minor details but I think it was around 1982. That means that, the earliest CD that you could hold in your hand was made than 27 years ago. That was also long before you could BURN one yourself. Philips came up with the specification for the CD-R (or CDWO: compact disc write-once) in 1988. So, yes, someone could be correct in saying that they made a CD 20 years ago, but just barely.

There are plenty of documents on the web that explain the differences between the music/software CDs that you buy already produced (CD-ROM) and the ones you burn yourself. The Internet is a great place to get information.

- Collapse -
Shelf life of CD's and DVD's
Feb 2, 2009 5:03PM PST

I only have long-term expereince with CD's but I suspect DVD's would be similar. I have found that recordable CD's do have a shelf-life, but it seems to depend on how much information is on them. For an audio CD, if the maximum amount of music on the CD is 60 to 65 mins then shelf life seems OK. But if you record 70+ mins of music the shelf-life may be 5 to 10 years (or less, it just seems better with some recordable CD's than others -- the brand doesn't seem to make much difference). It seems to be the outer (last) track that goes.
However, the same goes for bought CD's, though not to the same extent. I have a CD with 73 mins of music on it, made by a reputable CD company, and which I bought in June 1995. I have recently noticed that the end of the outer track (about last 1 to 2 mins) has digital distortion. I would have last played this CD about 4 to 5 years ago, and it was OK then.
My general advice would to be to keep the amount of info on a CD below 65 mins of music, (or about 650MB of data). Also, if it is REALLY precious, make 2 copies. And backup important bought CD's with 70+ mins on them.

- Collapse -
Do burned CD's and DVD's have a shelf life
Feb 2, 2009 6:23PM PST

Short answer YES THEY DO although most manufacturers will say otherwise all CD/DVD's have a limited shelf life. I know this to be true because recently I rediscovered a CD I had burnt as a compilation, with some of my all time favorite tracks from my collection for use in the car. I had not played it for about 3 years after trying it in 3 in car players, 2 different home players ( Panasonic and Sony) with all units not recognising it, I tried to copy it using my computer burner( reader is a Panasonic DVD/CD drive, writer is Panasonic DVD/CD multi format burner) even this did not recognise the disc I have had to bin it.
So beware anyone who thinks DVD/CD's are lifelong,.
Always the best solution is to make regular backups of important data/info anyway.
I would advise anyone to regularly check to see if DVD/CD's are still accessible,

- Collapse -
CDs - only part of a good backup plan
Feb 2, 2009 11:19PM PST

If you really value the files, don't put them all in one basket. If you use optical discs as your sole backup, make fresh copies at least every year or two and retain one or two old copies. Servers usually have at least three backup versions (mostly still mag tape) in rotation, with at least one of those stored off-site in case of fire or other problems.

Burned CD/DVD discs can last many years, especially if stored properly and not used too frequently. That doesn't mean that every burned optical disc will read perfectly for many years. You may have noticed that burned CDs don't last as long as pressed commercial music CDs when they are stored in your car - and thereby exposed to huge temperature swings. CDs don't have to get hot enough to warp or melt to fail, and winter cold can be nearly as hard on them.

Hard drives fail too often to rely upon them as the only backup method. We're still learning how long to trust Flash memory. Professional tape backup systems for IT management may work well, but the consumer versions have always been disappointing to me. Any of these methods can be PART of a good backup plan, but one copy does not make a complete backup plan.

I have burned master CDs of our production CDs at work. The image files are on the production equipment hard drives. The first backup of the production hard drives is a USB hard drive that I keep. The last resort backup is on a network server in another city - and that server is backed up on tape nightly. The more critical the data, the more steps you must take to assure that it is never lost.

Wikipedia has some good info for those who want lots of details. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Disc

- Collapse -
All CD-R's & DVD+-R's Are Not The Same *
Feb 3, 2009 2:01AM PST

There are blank discs suitable for long term back-ups.They are ARCHIVAL GOLD discs.It is irrelevant if you personally had a cheap Sony or Memorex CD-R fail.Professional archival grade Gold discs are made differently.

- Collapse -
All about cd's
Feb 4, 2009 5:17PM PST
- Collapse -
Shelf life of recordable CD's and DVD's
Feb 5, 2009 7:10AM PST

Nothing lasts forever.

How long is the question.
What is clearly known is lower temperature (freezing may NOT be safe for CD/DVD) and dark places will let the disk last longer.

Another problem, Obsolescence!
You not find a device to read your old disks any more!

To be safe, every 10 years copy to new media, using the latest technology. The good news is, you will need fewer disks to back up your old backups. Happy

- Collapse -
Not to worry
Feb 5, 2009 1:36PM PST

About the thing that CDs and DVDs have a shelf life, I don't think that's plausible. However, if you want to keep your discs for a longer time, try to handle and store them carefully. Discs can run for a long time, but one scratch is all it takes to ruin them. So I suggest that you handle them from the edges, store them in cases and keep the disc label side down when using them, that means the data layer shuold be at the top. Another thing, if you need to clean your discs, do so with a soft cloth and I have heard that the disc can be washed with mild soap safely.

- Collapse -
How to repair scratches in CD/DVD
Feb 6, 2009 1:08AM PST

As the above post suggests, taking care of your disc is your best defense against disc failure. But sometimes minor scratches are inevitable. So for minor scratches, I have found that applying car polish/wax over the disc and buffing it with a soft cloth (preferably cloth for cleaning eye glasses) in a radial direction will make the disc readable again. However, we cannot do anything about deep scratches.

- Collapse -
Is there any cover for cd or dvds?
Feb 6, 2009 7:18AM PST

Is there any clear coating that can be put on the disk either in a liquid or sticker form? I've seen some cds with a plastic coating on them. I think it was a game for the Ps2 I rented from Hollywood Video where I seen this.

- Collapse -
Use Gold Lacquer Thermal CD/DVD/Blue Ray Media
Feb 6, 2009 3:56PM PST

Most if not all cd/dvds and blue ray all use the silver lacquer which only last so long like two years to five depending on the manufacturer but the gold laquer media last 100 years for DVD 300 years for CD and Blue Ray Media. I thought all my photos were safe until I lost my hard drives. When I bought new drives and intalled my back up CD's only 87% of the data was available. Now they don't even work. I researched a long time getting the advice that I should use tape back up but that media does not always stay available with each new version of windows as drivers change like my old data drives that won't work with VISTA etc. A company called Mitsui has Gold Lacquer Media which will not degrade over our life time and you get the same media from Delkin. Not matter how well you take care of your CD's and DVD's they lose the data for oxidation and there is nothing you do to change that just make them last a little longer. Hope this helps.

- Collapse -
Someone should come up with a cheep resurfacing cd/dvd serv
Feb 7, 2009 12:35AM PST

Use Gold Lacquer Thermal CD/DVD/Blue Ray Media is a good idea Gkearnes and thanks for the advice. But someone should come up with a cheep resurfacing cd/dvd service. Not just take off scratches, but actually replace the clear coat. Well till then I will just rebackup my media every so often.

- Collapse -
Life Span of CDs, CDRs, and CDRWs as well as DVD...
Feb 7, 2009 6:16AM PST

I have something to add that never seems to be mentioned. A friend of mine stores his CDRs in the paper slips only. I use plastic jewel cases. His fail fairly frequently, about 4 - 8 years. I have been cutting CDRs since 1995 and putting all of them in jewel boxes. I frequently play those. So far not a single one of them has gone bad. The ones that I leave in my car and since I have no garage or carport are thus subject to extremes of weather don't do very well. It seems to me that the heat is worse than the cold but I can't swear to that. After all, car batteries weaken in the summer heat but fail in the winter cold.

Additionally, I have read and been told that CDRWs fail far more frequently than CDRs. Since I don't use CDRWs I can't swear to that. Since I don't back to DVDRs or DVDRWs except under rare conditions I really can't add personal experience to that, but I have also read and been told that DVDRWs fail more frequently than DVDRs. Since I have a huge classical music collection as well as some other music I have used hundreds of CDRs and, as long as they're kept in jewel cases indoor they seem to be great.

On the other hand I ***always*** use Sony brand CDRs. I've heard some real horror stories about others, especially Verbatim. I don't think that the cheaper CDRs are as good as Sony CDRs but then Sony everything lasts pretty much forever.