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01/14/2008 03:36:24 PM · #1 |
I've heard that the shelf life for CDs and DVDs are relatively short (as compared to hard disks). I'd hate to see someone go into their archived discs in a few years and find out they they are inaccessible.
I'm not sure of what, exactly, is the shelf life (few years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, etc.)
Also, from what I've read, consumer burnable disks lack the extra protection layer that most retail bought dvd/cds have. Therefore the commercial discs last much longer.
Who has more definitive/detailed info on this?
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01/14/2008 03:45:23 PM · #2 |
I don't have any input regarding shelf life, but as for archiving I copy/move my image files to two media forms; DVD, and an external HD. I move the files off my PC as needed to free-up HD space. The DVD's get stored in a different location than the external HD. I figure the expense is reasonable considering you can get 250GB USB external drives for around $100.
Just my 2 cents. :-)
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01/14/2008 03:47:09 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
I figure the expense is reasonable considering you can get 250GB USB external drives for around $100. |
The 1/2-terabyte drives (500Gb) go for $129 each around here. I've bought two recently.
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01/14/2008 03:59:14 PM · #4 |
| Hope this isn't too far off-topic...an article posted over at Dyxum.com ==> Keeping Your Photos Safe and Secure |
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01/14/2008 04:05:40 PM · #5 |
Sharing useful information is a good idea ...
Originally posted by from the article:
"The backup fairy", No one knows what is going on with the backup, what's being restored, etc... They just assume that the backup fairy is coming at night and making sure everything is OK. |
ooh ... now I have a new job title to put on my (non-existant) resume ... :-) |
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01/14/2008 04:24:06 PM · #6 |
That's actually right on topic - good link!
Originally posted by article:
CDs and DVDs are probably the most known means of data backup. However, they are losing ground to other storage options, mainly because of the increasing number of pixels in cameras. Nowadays, a single raw file can have up to 16-18MB and post-processed files go even higher. In these conditions, a collection of 700MB CDs or 4GB DVDs can easily accumulate a few dozens (if not hundreds) of discs in time.
Altough the BluRay DVDs offer a higher capacity, they are still quite expensive. People are more inclined to buy a larger HDD, rather than a couple of these discs.
In general, optical discs certainly aren't the safest way of storing information for a very long period, as they degrade over time, causing data loss. However, writable discs are cheap and easily portable. Used in combination with another storage method, they can be a very useful backup option, especially for files of smaller size (like JPGs).
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~ Burned CD's and DVD's have a nasty habit of not working when you need them desperately. It's a good idea to burn a copy for each CD/DVD, to have a spare in case the original disc becomes unusable. Refresh the entire sets at least yearly. Take them offsite ASAP. |
I'm thinking Portable hard drives are much more reliable (and cheaper and easier and faster) than CD/DVDs. Much easier to search through and access specific backup files also. Maybe there is no such thing is real "permanent" storage. |
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01/14/2008 04:38:31 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
~ Burned CD's and DVD's have a nasty habit of not working when you need them desperately. It's a good idea to burn a copy for each CD/DVD, to have a spare in case the original disc becomes unusable. Refresh the entire sets at least yearly. Take them offsite ASAP. |
I'm thinking Portable hard drives are much more reliable (and cheaper and easier and faster) than CD/DVDs. Much easier to search through and access specific backup files also. Maybe there is no such thing is real "permanent" storage. [/quote]
Hard drives have a nasty habit of not working if they haven't been used for a while too. There is no real permanent storage options. Even if the media actually is still readable, you need some way to read it, which can be tricky after a few years.
Zip drives.
3.5" floppy drives.
DAT drives.
minidisc
Just a quick snapshot of a variety of formats I've had information on over the last few years that I'd have trouble getting access to now. CD & DVD will probably quite quickly go the same way. SATA, USB2.0 and other current harddrive interfaces will also phase out, particularly in what might well be considered the useful lifetime of digital images (family archives, grandchildren wanting to see them etc)
The only reliable method is redundancy and redundant redundancy and migration to new (no doubt larger and cheaper) formats as you go on.
So that keeps the files readable, all you then need is some way to actually make sense of the data. JPEG & TIFF might well be readable. Canon RAW, Nikon NEF, perhaps. Adobe's RAW format, maybe. Just as long as you don't go backing them all up in something like a proprietary back-up compression algorithm that you may or may not be able to unpack in 50 years.
Then there's the need for off-site storage if your file system catches fire...
and so it goes on. The backup faerie seems like an easier option to me.
Message edited by author 2008-01-14 16:55:19. |
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01/14/2008 04:53:07 PM · #8 |
| I know what would be reliable long-term storage strategy - If you could somehow print a small version of your photos to some kind of transparent and durable 'film'... |
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01/14/2008 04:58:38 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by jhonan:
I know what would be reliable long-term storage strategy - If you could somehow print a small version of your photos to some kind of transparent and durable 'film'... |
I don't mean to sound negative, but such an advanced concept would take awhile to develop. |
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01/14/2008 06:42:05 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
I've never heard of anyone losing data on a CD/DVD that just "wore out" without being left in the sun or run over by a truck or something.
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Now you have. ;-)
The very first CD-R's I ever used was burned around 1994-95...I discovered corrupt files starting around 2000, and it was completely unreadable by 2003. Note that current CD-R's use better technology, using "die layers", where as the old ones (like the one that failed for me) depended on photo sensitive metal layers that reverted back to their original state rather quickly. Some of the CD-R/DVD-R manufacturers now claim their disks will retain data for 100 years...but given the disks have only been around a couple years, I'm not sure how reliable those claims are.
I've also experienced CD-RW's losing data after just a couple years...I'm not sure if it is because CD-RW's are less stable, or if it is because they where exposed to daylight more frequently (those disks where often sitting on my desk). Other media are not immune from aging either...I had some old "Ditto" tapes that I used to backed up all of my projects from my collage years (12ish years ago)...I tried to retrieve the data from these tapes recently (as I was getting rid of the PC that the tape drive worked on)...all 3 of the tapes snapped and I was unable to recover any of the data...the floppy disks containing the only other copies of these projects where also un-readable...not a big surprise...I knew those where shot years ago already.
Lessons learned.... If you are archiving to CD-R/DVD-R (or any media really), keep them in a cool dark location to maximize the life of the media (keep out of sunlight/UV Rays!). Test the media every couple years at the least. Don't trust any media for more than 8 years...convert archives you want to keep to a newer media every 5-8 years...chances are the new media will have greater capacity, thus decreasing your physical storage space, and if trends continue, the new technology will be more reliable as well. This also avoids the problem of having media that you can no longer get drives to read. If the archives are critical, make two copies and keep them in separate locations. (if you check the media regularly, it is unlikely both copies will go bad at the same time)
Hope my little rant about CD-R backups is helpful for someone.
sh0rty :P
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01/14/2008 06:53:49 PM · #11 |
An interesting article about this exact topic:
//www.theage.com.au/news/cameras--videos/burning-for-the-long-haul/2006/06/14/1149964545127.html
They also point out the shortcommings of inkjet photo prints as well.
sh0rty :P |
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01/14/2008 07:27:48 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
I don't mean to sound negative, but such an advanced concept would take awhile to develop. |
ROTFLMAO - brilliant reply! |
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