I've been saving my important files on CDs. How can I be sure that they are safe there and won't wore off for years?
2006-07-18 20:15:29 · 14 answers · asked by Charmaine * 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
you can not depend upon cds. But still this is better than even usb and storing in computer. get small size and make sure that you put them in safe box so they can last long and after few months you can tranfer the data in new cds.
not bad huh
take care
2006-07-18 20:18:39 · answer #1 · answered by Zenon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So far most Cd's have a good useful life of about 10 years or so and it is recommended that you copy these discs every 10 years to make sure they don't degrade. It had been discovered that there is a type of bacteria that could affect Cd's and you also have to take into account that it's a dye that's altered when you burn a CD or DVD so you should keep out of sunlight and avoid high temperatures and moisture variations. This doesn't mean the the disks can't last longer than 10 years but it always pays to be careful and if you back them up regularly then you should have no problems. BTW, always use high quality disks for archive purposes as you get what you paid for. Good luck!
2006-07-19 03:24:30 · answer #2 · answered by Rowdy answers 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, they are not. although theoretically, its possible to store files in a CD intact up to 1000 years, yet in reality, due to repeated use, CD surfaces get minute scratches, causing read errors. also CD is burnt using a combination of pits and no pits, which should ideally be square in shape, but seldom are Cd's made of such good material, that recorders are able to cut such fine grooves, this results in partial error in writing, especially in video Cd's, which starts causing reading problems just after some months or yrs. One never knows how good quality ones CD is as qualities do differ from the same manufacturer also. Also, some CD surfaces have a small fungal layer which causes the recording pits to be small in size as the laser rays cannot penetrate the dye properly due to the fungal layer, causing small shelf life of cd's. Small pits are also formed by high speed recording, reducing CD shelf life. A type of bacteria can cause perforations in the dye making data corrupt, also moisture can peel off the dye n aluminium layer, destroying the cd. Also there is a small area near the inner hole of the cd, where addresses of various files on the cd, are stored. if even a small corruption results there due to any of the aforesaid reasons, the cd won't be readable, even if there are no scratches or corruption on the rest part of the cd. So better not rely on them except for data storage for say up to a few months.
2006-07-19 03:30:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you use high-quality CDs to begin with. If the laquer coating that protects the aluminum foil layer has pin holes, the aluminum can oxidize and some data will be lost. The pin holes are small but there can be many, so there can be many places on the CD where small amounts of data are lost. If the CD is good quality and the aluminum foil layer is never compromised and you take reasonable care of the it (dirt, scratches, cracks) then it will last a very long time... the technology will become obsolete before the data goes bad.
2006-07-19 03:29:37 · answer #4 · answered by Chris 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not necessarily. CD lifetime will depend on the quality of the manufacturer. Be sure to store them in a cool place, out of sunlight. Don't touch the CD surfaces. Only handle the CD by its edges. Place in a jewel case straight after using it. Don't leave CDs lying around. If the data is really important to you, you may consider burning multiple CDs or DVDs.
2006-07-19 03:23:11 · answer #5 · answered by P-Unit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No cds are not so much reliable as you think cds do wear off after one or two years use a dvd ram for saving your data cds get scrached and corrupted after some time so dvd rams or flash drives are much better just save em from magnetic feild or ultra voilet rays
2006-07-19 03:21:39 · answer #6 · answered by strong_manpk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CDs and DVDs have a shelf life of over 100 years. If your data was written properly and you keep the CDs out of direct sunlight and in a safe place, your data should be well taken care of.
2006-07-19 03:18:39 · answer #7 · answered by The Bulletproof Monk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most cd-r's will hold there data for 5 to 7 years without being touched and stored away in a dark dry area with the temp between 60F - 80F degrees
2006-07-19 03:18:42 · answer #8 · answered by Mainter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, CD's are good for back up purposes and they are okay for as long as you keep them avoiding scratches and dirt...
If you want a very reliable back up for your files, you can use flash drives... They are much better and very handy...
2006-07-19 03:27:20 · answer #9 · answered by ecarg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So long as you keep them in their case (so they don't scratch) and at temps less than 110 degrees, CDs can last for decades.
2006-07-19 03:19:09 · answer #10 · answered by QWERTY 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋