An interesting and encouraging article on CD life for those who want to bac=
kup and/or archive their digital files.
Jim
Jim Morgan
Prescott, Arizona USA
http://www.wingsofnature.com
IT Jobs | Linux | Books | Subscribe | HelpScreen | Search=
CD Vendors: Once burnt, twice sure
Dahna McConnachie, Computerworld
25/01/2006 08:22:39
Don't panic - your valuable data is safe on CD after all, according t=
o recordable disk manufacturers.
Two CD makers have hit back at recent claims by storage experts that =
users of recordable disks are in danger of losing their information as the =
disks deteriorate.
Recordable disk vendors TDK and Memorex claim their disks are a relia=
ble archival media that will stand the test of time (See story).
TDK says its products will last 70 years if cared for properly and Me=
morex is releasing a new range of 24-karat gold-based media that it claims =
will last over a lifetime, regardless of environmental conditions.
Dennis O'Sullivan, general manager for TDK sales and marketing, said =
the reliability of TDK media was determined through stringent in-house test=
ing which included tests for acceleration, light fastness and weather resis=
tance in a variety of environmental conditions.
"Throughout this testing, TDK discs have retained their stable charac=
teristics even after one million or more runs," O'Sullivan said. "This give=
s us the confidence to attest that if stored in appropriate conditions, the=
media has a life expectancy of over 70 years."
However, the importance of maintaining controlled room temperature st=
orage for all types of media is a required precaution listed on all TDK CD-=
R (recordable) media sold throughout the world.
Like many other vendors, O'Sullivan does not recommend RW (rewritable=
) discs for long-term archival use because rewritable discs use a phase-cha=
nging metal alloy film for recording data and aluminium for the reflective =
layer. The film, he said, was not as stable as the dye used in CD-R discs.=
"Rewriting also affects the disc's life expectancy - so a disc writte=
n on once has a higher life expectancy than a disc that has undergone sever=
al erase-recording cycles," he said.
TDK Australia gives all customers who purchase the product within Aus=
tralia a limited lifetime warranty. This means that TDK will replace the pr=
oduct if it is faulty due to reasons other than the customer's use or negli=
gence. To not be deemed negligent, customers need to store the media in a c=
ontrolled environment free of heat extremes, humidity, moisture and dust.
Other safety precautions that TDK recommends include that material sh=
ould not be adhered to the label side of the disc, as this surface is often=
more sensitive to damage than the polycarbonate side. Likewise, removing a=
label or other material from the disc can damage the disc beyond repair. E=
ven in short-term storage applications, TDK advises against the use of adhe=
sive labels on recording media as they can create unbalanced disc spin, res=
ulting in premature wear of the drive. The vendor also advises that CDs be =
marked only with a specially designed CD marker pen.
"You should always put the CD in its case, which is designed to preve=
nt the disc from coming into direct contact with the inside. Once placed in=
its case, discs should be stored vertically, like a book on a shelf. Long =
term horizontal storage, especially if compounded by heat, can cause the di=
sc to become permanently warped," O'Sullivan said.
"As a final safeguard, more than one copy of the disc should always b=
e made in case of potential flaws in the original copy," he said. These saf=
eguards may be less necessary though, with the release of Memorex's new ran=
ge of CD and DVD media.
Memorex claims its Pro Gold Archival Media in CD-R and DVD-R formats,=
due out in April will, defy the common causes of media deterioration and l=
ast over a lifetime.
The vendor claims that a 24-karat gold reflective layer, high-perform=
ance dye and a scratch-resistant technology will give the new product up to=
six times longer life than traditional media. Memorex claims a CD archival=
life of up to 300 years and a DVD archival life of up to 100 years.
"Laboratory tests prove Memorex Pro Gold Media to be resistant to the=
effects of rapid, artificial ageing such as ultraviolet light, heat and hu=
midity exposure thanks in part to gold's inert characteristics that prevent=
oxidation, a common cause of failure for most recordable media during long=
-term storage," the company says in a press release announcing the upcoming=
products.
Memorex Pro Gold CD-R discs are rated to record at 52x speed and have=
700MB of data storage, equivalent to approximately 80 minutes of audio rec=
ording time. Memorex Pro Gold DVD-R discs record at 8x speed and hold 4.7GB=
of data, or about 120 minutes of video.
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