Modern hard disks can hold more than 2 TB of information. Nevertheless, to store data whose volume is not so significant and which is not needed on the computer disk, such as movies, music, installation software distributions, and photos, it is still better to keep them in the form of an archive on DVD discs.
If hard disks can be stored for several decades, then CD or DVDs, recorded at home on a computer DVD-Rom, could be better for their longevity. Depending on the quality of the disks, the recording itself, and storage conditions, their shelf life is from 2-3 years to 7 years. However, some copies may last much longer. This article will help to understand how to handle these media and keep the recorded information as long as possible.
What Disks Are Better To Buy?
The better the quality of the media, the longer your data will be stored on it. It would be best if you did not buy cheap dummy disks. If you expect to store information for an extended period, then it is worth using disks once recorded (CD-R or DVD-R), not rewritable (CD-RW, DVD-RW).
What Drives For Recording Are Better To Buy?
The quality of the information recorded on the disk depends not only on the disk itself but also on the drive on which it is recorded. Therefore, the choice of recording device should also be approached with responsibility. You can choose a drive based on different comparison tests.
Modern DVD drives allow you to record at pretty high speeds. However, there is a myth that the information will be stored longer if the disk is recorded at low speed; this is due to the fact that the lower the recording speed, the clearer the relief of the recorded tracks will be. A freshly laser-burned area has more time to cool down at slow speeds before the laser beam passes over the next track. Also, the higher the speed of the disk, the stronger the laser’s emitted power to have time to burn at high speed, which also leads to accelerated wear and tear.
CDs and DVDs are optical storage media that can be read and written on with the help of a laser. Compact disks such as CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD+R are single-recordable disks. The information recorded on them can no longer be deleted. CD-RW, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW are rewritable disks. DVD-RAM disks are also rewritable, and they can be rewritten up to 100,000 times (DVD-RW, for example, is designed for 1000 cycles). CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks are designed for single-write and read-only.
What Is The Best Way To Store CDs For A Long Time?
The ideal option for storing CDs for a long time is a separate box for each disk, in which it will be protected from mechanical damage, dust, and partly from undesirable effects of the atmosphere (ambient dust, physical impacts on the work surface).
An even more straightforward way is to buy CD Wallets and DVD Cases. In any case using a CD wallet will be much better than letting disks lie on the table on each other or in any drawer. If you have a constantly used set of disks with which you constantly work and regularly insert them into the drive, then it is better to use a container for disks, which will be much more practical than constantly scraping plastic boxes, which sometimes like to break.
Conclusion
In the question of how to properly store CDs and DVDs, it is essential to follow some steps:
- Use special rigid packaging – cases, boxes, wallets.
- Store optical drives upright, ideally on the shelves of specialized racks for CDs and DVDs.
- Do not leave disks in the drive or on the computer table (without packaging).
- Maintain favorable temperature and humidity conditions. Do not expose CDs to chemicals, liquids of any kind, contaminants, or sunlight.