Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/06/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Larry Many thanks for that useful information. Chris B On 04/06/07, Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin@optonline.net> wrote: > In early 2004, NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) > looked at CDs and DVDs to see how long digital information recorded > on to them would survive. They concluded that most CDs and DVDs will > last 30 years or more if handled with care, but many factors can > slash their longevity. Direct exposure to sunlight can do a great > deal of damage both from the sun's ultraviolet rays and the heat. > Indeed, any rapid significant change in temperature or humidity can > stress the materials. Discs last longest when stored in plastic cases > in a cool, dark, dry environment. Because gravity can gradually bend > the disc, storing it upright like a book is best for long-term > storage. The study also found that fingerprints and smudges > frequently do more damage than scratches, and recommends handling > discs by the outer edge or the center hole. > > If the data is extremely important put the files on two different > discs and physically separate them. If you have a fireproof safe or > safety deposit box is an excellent place to store one set of vital > discs. At the office or at home, place the other disc copies flat on > the lowest shelf of a cabinet possible. > > Remember you can't rely on hard drives. Despite the fact that the > cost/GB is extremely attractive, drives do have a relatively high > failure rate ? compared to CDs/DVDs ? and should you lose a drive you > are likely to lose everything that hasn't been backed up someplace > else. A 500 GB drive will hold the contents of 100 DVDs but if a DVD > becomes unreadable, you lose only 1% of the total stored data. If the > hard drive fails, you lose 100%. > > The best advice ? buy smart, test what you record then protect/handle > critical discs as best as you can. > > So If I can get 30 years life from a DVD (or even 10 years), that > will suit me fine. The good images will be transfered to whatever new > storage technology comes along, perhaps even holographic storage in > crystals, the bad images discarded. By that time I should have enough > perspective to tell me which is which. The side benefit is that I > will have an unlimited supply of drink coasters. > > Larry Z > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >