What is the average life expectancy of a DVD-R disc?

Question

For the past two or three years, I've been transferring my VHS movie collection and home movie collection to DVD-R, thinking that these discs would last for years. Now, I've heard rumors that data stored on DVD-R's (Memorex, Panasonic, Pengo, etc.) might not make it past the five year point. Anyone know if this true? If so, it's pretty discouraging.

Answer 1

Yeah, read an article in an engineering magazine, that they might make it to the ancient age of 9 years...

Like with my VHS tapes, that I bought in 1980? They weren't supposed to make it to the ripe old age of 26 years, either!

I have CD, VCDs, and DVDs, of music, movies, Linux, and BSD, that were made in 1996, and work just fine!

Of course, we take them, especially those Microsoft Windows and the AOL ones, out to the old skeet range, as cheap 'birds', and that ain't so good for them!

Answer 2

I don't know about DVDs, but a couple of CDs I burned 3 years ago have started skipping in spots. This is from heavy use of the CD though.

Answer 3

I would have to say about 9-10 years. I've had an AC/DC dvd for a long time now. It was stored properly and I would occasionally watch it. For several years I put it away. About a year ago I took it out again, the dvd look odd though. It had become yellowish with odd swirls. When I tried to play it, it wouldn't play. the same thing happened to a cd I had as well. It was properly stored but it also developed an odd looking color and swirls that reminded me of water and oil mixed up. It didn't work as well. there is a time limit.

Answer 4

I dont think this is true, maybe it wont make it past 5 years, if its constantly being used. But if you store it somewhere safe from the elements it should do just fine

Answer 5

That's the lifespan of the technology. If stored correctly you can store them indefinitely.