I'm looking for the best quality CD's for long term storage of data. Does anyone have any recommendations? speed isn't an issue (quality over quantity).

[Deleted by Admins]

(in reply to ravenshark)

I would say Mitsui Gold for outright longevity, and Taiyo Yuden for pure quality and compatability. Although I also have not seen any real results from testing lifespan...

(in reply to Deleted User)

This is a tricky subject.

There are no publicly available longevity estimation studies since c. 1998.

Dyes and disc manufacturing methods have progressed since then, so it's very hard to say which discs are good.

However, if you go by theoretical figures, then I'd trust Taiyo Yuden and MAM-E (Gold Archival, advertised longevity 300 years) myself. This is for discs that are stored professionally and are NOT in everyday use (i.e. exposed to abrasion, dirt, radiation, etc.)

If you want to improve the likelihood of discs staying in shape, store them:

- room temp (ideally max 25C, avoid big temp changes)
- low relative humidity
- away from light (esp. UV and infra)
- away from noxious gases (ozone, sulfides, etc)

Don't write to the cd surface (except the clear inner ring, if you must) and avoid working with dirty (or greasy) hands.

If you need discs that last a long time in every day use, consider Verbatim Crystal Super Azo discs (very tough label side protection) and MAM-E diamond coated discs.

Also, be sure that the initial C1 count is relatively low on your burns, with the drive that you intend to read them in. This can also improve longevity.

(in reply to Deleted User)

[Deleted by Admins]

(in reply to Halc)

[Deleted by Admins]

(in reply to Deleted User)

Queen "Who wants to live for ever....?"

(in reply to Deleted User)

This may be all joke to you, but it is a BURNING issue (no pun intended) to the archival community.

The advertisement may say 100 years longevity, but as oldest of us know, all manufacturers have had their share of problems with longevity.

There are no guarantees, no hard data or even very good estimates about longevity.

All we can do is guess (re: TY/MAM-E)

However, CD-R is not considered a stable long storage medium by the storage professionals, so if you want storage of critical data for a couple of decades, I suggest you look elsewhere.

If you are dealing with storage for something like national heritage digital library, then it's another issue altogether as the mistakes you make will be carried by all the future generations...

If you just want to archive your personal "important" stuff, then perhaps it doesn't matter what you use, because you probably won't have readers to read the media in 10 years anyway...

(in reply to emperor)

Thanks for the info all.

(in reply to ravenshark)

Would not use cd-rw's for long term storage. I've had many become unreadable in a year or two even with light use, and careful storage in boxes out of sunlight.

(in reply to ravenshark)

[Deleted by Admins]

(in reply to digitaldoc)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dolphinius_Rex

I would say Mitsui Gold for outright longevity, and Taiyo Yuden for pure quality and compatability.

I'd have to very much agree with this.

(in reply to Dolphinius_Rex)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Halc

Don't write to the cd surface (except the clear inner ring, if you must) and avoid working with dirty (or greasy) hands.

what does this mean??? i usually leave about 50 Mb unused at the end. or 500Mb for the DVD

(in reply to Halc)

It means do not write on the disk with a CD pen except on the clear centre hub section. Also, don't use stickon labels.

(in reply to chas2u)

@Halcyon

I looked at your links but they are very expensive! Around $2.00 per case! Check these links out:

http://www.tapeandmedia.com/detail.asp?product_id=CDP1-CLR

http://www.tapeandmedia.com/detail.asp?product_id=TRIM-CLR

Both are made out of polypropylene and are around .20$ each! Thoughts? (EDIT: btw, I meant to reply to your links in the correct thread; this deals with storage, but isn't the right thread haha. Oh well. Tell me what you think anyway though.)

(in reply to Mender)

Looks good. Please do ask them if the polypropylene cases are made without any plasticisers, acids or solvents.

If not, you can never be sure :/

(in reply to kiger)