average life of cdr

does anyone know what the expected life of a cdr is yet? i assume some of it has to do with the manufacturer... but that aside... does anybody know?
thanks!
heidi

[KingJohn]

Yes 100 years, Provided

1, you don't sit on it
2, you don't scratch it
3, you don't touch it
4, you don't play it *****

thanks-- that wasn't helpful at all.
i haven't found a good page either that really goes into detail about media (an updated page anyway)... i've seen everything from 50-200 years. everything else was mainly ads. i guess it's just too early for them to say for sure.
if anyone comes across a good link let me know please
thanks,
heidi

[kayfam]

HeidiTX1979
You can find some info here: http://www.athensmusician.net/archive/2001-10-17_cdr01.shtml
To summarize the article the average lifespan can be anywhere between 70-200 years.

[sterno]

It hasn't been updated in a while, but most of the information is still valid.

http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_quality.shtml

Cheap media (usually made by Ritek or CMC) may only last a few years under normal use. Exposure to direct sunlight will sometimes kill it very quickly because the dye breaks down when exposed to UV. The cheap media is often poorly made, slightly out of spec, and not properly sealed. All of these reduce the lifespan.

200-year shelf life is the kind of estimate you see for the expensive CDs with real gold, like Mitsui and Kodak make. The expensive Verbatims also have good shelf life because of the (patented) dye they use, which is very stable.

[KingJohn]

thanks-- that wasn't helpful at all.
i haven't found a good page either that really goes into detail about media (an updated page anyway)... i've seen everything from 50-200 years. everything else was mainly ads. i guess it's just too early for them to say for sure.
if anyone comes across a good link let me know please
thanks,
heidi

Well you asked a silly question so I gave a silly answer. !!

Manufactures may give details on the lifespan on a CD. As long as you don't take it out of the case then it will last for ever (Subject to storage conditions), however the moment you start using it its not going to last as long.

Maybe the same disk/brand that you had would not last as long as the one I had, it all depends on how you are going to use it.

This question cannot be answered, even the most detailed explanation would be full of flaws...

If you made a CDR last year, then it should be still working now if its not you have a big problem.

[snowmoon]

http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_dye.shtml

This page is more interesting. Their resuts also jive with my un-scientific observations. So for the past 2 years I have been using imations 80 minute disks. Silver/gold and for the important stuff I make a duplicate that gets placed away and never used, just in case. Imations are not only great disks ( no coasters ), but I can ususally get them inexpensive ( got my last 100 for $20 ).

They are rock solid and compatibility is great, and this is an important factor when dealing with various DVD players.

[sterno]

Imations are not only great disks ( no coasters ), but I can ususally get them inexpensive ( got my last 100 for $20 ).

Be careful with the cheap Imation spools, a lot of them are made by CMC and quality may be questionable (I think they have moved from cyanine to phthalocyanine, though). That said, I use them too, but only for things that aren't that important. If I'm only going to want what's on it for a few years, who cares if it doesn't work in 10 years?

[Betamax]

Usually, a CD that's been read a lot will be okay for a few years (after that it get's troubles reading...).
Most (S)VCD's - we're creating - will be read very occasionally, so they will last a lot longer. I'm sure a (S)VCD, that hasn't been 'over-burned' (overburning can give trouble for some players reading the over-burned data), will last for a few decades as long they're stored in suitable storage-containers (like the ones you can buy in the store, you know - those special maps for cd's).

[kayfam]

I think with all things said on the subject, if you buy good quality media and take the necessary steps to protect it you'll more than likely die of old age before it wears out.

[snowmoon]

Imations are not only great disks ( no coasters ), but I can ususally get them inexpensive ( got my last 100 for $20 ).

Be careful with the cheap Imation spools, a lot of them are made by CMC and quality may be questionable (I think they have moved from cyanine to phthalocyanine, though). That said, I use them too, but only for things that aren't that important. If I'm only going to want what's on it for a few years, who cares if it doesn't work in 10 years?

Imations have used phthalocyanine for over 2 years, the reason I use them is they were the only brand I could count on to use phthalocyanine. The only imations that didn't use phthalocyanine was a "music" branded disk.

[KingJohn]

Imations have used phthalocyanine for over 2 years, the reason I use them is they were the only brand I could count on to use phthalocyanine. The only imations that didn't use phthalocyanine was a "music" branded disk.

Yes I think the Phthalocyanine is a beautifully symmetrical 18 p-electron aromatic macrocycle and is closely related to the naturally occuring porphyrins.

What do you think ?

[better life]

I have a question. Will it really hurt the CDR writer if I over burn CDs. I mean if I burn a CD in the length of 82 minutes on a CD only 80 minutes.

[snowmoon]

I think that's a new topic. I don't believe it will hurt current generation burners, but I don't know what type of effect it has on the lifespan of the disk.

[better life]

When I check the box of Enable for over burn in I don't remember it was Nero or CDRwin, a message pops up says the over burn may damage your writer.

thanks everyone... didnt mean to start an arguement though. i didn't know overburning would make me loose data down the road --- so atleast i learned something. have a good week =)

[homerpez]

I joined late (I'm not here to fight)... just a few points to re-inforce, from my personal experience:

#1: Imation is crap these days. I have some sitting on my desk, unused, because the CD-RW burner won't even read them (to tell an empty disk is in the drive). With the TDK discs I have, no probelms at all.

I also notice with the TDK media, I can do 8x burns and all my movies are readable with no trouble. The Imations had at least 2-3 "trouble" burns over the time I've used 'em.

#2: DON'T leave them in the sun, this is definitely good advice. Same goes for a hot car.

I had more than one CD "flake" on me, where it simply loses part of the information layer by it flaking off in the heat. It looks like a hole in the CD! (because that's basically what it is)

The Imation discs I would take in the car with me, they were the worst. I had it happen to several.

To be fair, though, I even had this happen to one of my TDK discs, and yes, even one of the "immortal" Kodak Gold ones! So---remember to keep them out of a boiling car!

i think it has to do with your burner, and ofcourse the factory the disks were made in. so find what works for ya and stick with it--- and just hope they don't sell to another company!

[Deepdale Duck]

Hello

I've found this article which makes pretty scary reading on the subject....

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/7751

[micmel2]

I agree that the lifespan of a CD-R is anybody's guess, ranging from a few years to as much as a 100 years. My question has to do with the lifespan of a CD-R vs. a DVD-R (or +R)--are the medias made similiar enough such that the lifespan of a CD-R will be like that of a DVD-R(+R), or are they made totally different so that you cannot make such an inference?

Are the dye used in a DVD-R (+R) the same as those used in a CD-R?

The spiral track is tigher on a DVD vs. a CD, so will that work for or against the longevity of the media?

I know this is alot of questions, but if anybody can shed some light to it, I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

[johns0]

lifespan can be 2 weeks for cheap brands.

[jaxxboss]

As far as music goes, I dont think it really matters if it lasts very long. I cant see myself jamming to Zepplin when I'm 90 years old, or for you younger ones rapping to eminem at 75. although that would be funny :P
By then we will all have hologram machines and such. I do have an 8track of Minnie Ripperton's Loving you, but dang if I plan on playing it even if I do find someone with the 8track player. As a matter of fact I'll be danged if I'm gonna admit that I have it. Hmm, yea thats it, I dont really have it. Ahem.

[devinemi83]

I have heard TDK says their metal stabilized dye will last 70 years if held in good conditon.
Verbatim says 100 years
And other "off" brands have been quoted averaging around 20years(although with many you're lucky if they last 6 months.)

I use good quality media (TDK and Verbatim) only for things I want to keep,TDK for music and simple data. And verbatim for system backups. I love both brands, but you pay a little more.

PNY is shit. I have had nothing but issues with them. Their label is THIN and they feel flimsy. I only use these as temp storage for like say giving out a movie trailer to family that they will only watch maybe 5 times and forget. I WONT trust them for music or important stuff.

If you keep your cds protected, they will last you a good while. But like already posted can you see yourself listing to this music in say 40+ years? I have Cds from 1995 that I NEVER listen to really LOL. I have burnt cds from 2000-01 and I hardly ever use them. I would say, expect to hold onto a disc 5-15 years.

This is what I do if I want to take a CD to a place where theres a good chance at damage(hot car,outside in weather, you get the idea) I use those cheapshit PNYs that you can buy for like 5.00 for 50 and copy the disc, takes all of 5 mins and if something happens to the disc, my good copy still lives on a reliable cool and comfy TDK

[Fluffbutt]

I'll throw the cat into the pigeons with this one:

From experience the brand name means little. I have some Kodak Gold that are dead after 3 years. Memorex, Basf, etc are about the same.
Verbatims last longer - 6 yrs and still readable.

I'd say you should work on a life span of 5 years max, and at the end of 5 yrs, re write any data cd's from that period you wish to keep. (I go over old cdr's that have program backups - I delete all the old versions of known good newer versions, and then re werite perhaps 2 cdr's into one new cdr.)

There is also a fungus that eats into the aluminium layer of some cd's (not many cdr's have alu layer tho) - it's very rare, but it IS out there.

[gmatov]

Fluffy,

I think you missed with that one. I think that ALL CDR have an aluminum layer.

And, do not go by the manufacturer's fluff. If they told you they only last 6 months, would you buy them? And,when they tell you that an unopened stack of blanks has a shelf life of 7 years, how can you believe that a BURNT disk will last 100 years?

Cheers,

George