Rock Solid for Archiving

[ashtones]

I am in the habit of backing my files up to DVD-R. Mainly my raw DV AVI files from my home movies as well as pictures and what not. Does anyone know of some real good media that will stand the test of time. I backed up a bunch about 6 months ago and now some of the discs are unreadable. The media I used was relatively cheap. I see this was a mistake. So now I am not as concerned with price as I am quality. These discs need to last. Anyone have a fail proof discs out there?

[Bodyslide]

Taiyo Yuden...Best Media out IMHO...

[Bodysurf]

Does anyone know of some real good media that will stand the test of time.

Go with the "1st Class Media" as listed on NoMoreCoasters.COM. FWIW, the 16X Verbatim (MCC) InkJet Printables have been working just great for me.

Additionally, make multiple copies of the stuff you want to save.

(Archiving a copy of the stuff onto external/removable HDs may be a good idea also.)

[ashtones]

I got some Tayo from Meritline and they suck. This has only been about a month ago but some have already failed. I usually buy Ritek.

[whitejremiah]

Though not exactly cheap, you may want to take a look at the TDK armor plated DVDR's.....i havent personally used them, but they sound promising...if anyone has had any experiance with them, please post it here........

[Nelson37]

I haven't used the armored TDK disks, but I have used the D-Skins covers. More scratch-resistant, cleanable, and removable and replaceable if they do get damaged, while protecting the disk. Great for kids playstation games, so far no reading problems. Cost-comparable to the armored disks, roughly.

They may also give some UV protection, but for longevity, the simple answer is no one knows how long the disks last, all answers are estimates based on simulations. In other words, an educated guess.

Buy good quality, make multiple copies on DIFFERENT brands, the liklihood is that whatever makes one brand fail will not affect a different brand in the same time frame, and you would be more likely to have the opportunity to make another copy. Also store them carefully, minimize temperature and humidity variations.

[vhelp]

Wow. This is upsetting just hearing about it today.

I'm wondering if *writing speed* has a play in this.

Today, we have lots of writers out there, that keep pushing
the limits. And I'm wonder, if this pushing, has any negative
infuence on "longevity", as in the first users post above

For an excercise.. might go a long way for us all here ...

Someone should do a 6 month test, writing at different speeds, and
archiving the cotents to various brand disks. That is, write out
a bunch of things to disks using above attributes, and then come back
in 6 months with some interesting results. hmm.. which reminds me..
About 3 months ago or so, I dvd-recorder'ed a bunch of dvd-r 's (25pk)
but did not finalize them to this day. I'm wondering if I should wait
(as a test run) another 3 months, just to see if they held up to the
test of time. If they finalize, that would be a good indication of
worthy media. These disks are Staple's brand that I purchased a couple
of years ago.. and finaly opened them for dvd-recorder projects when
I first got my 220-S unit. I'm pretty sure these are old disks to
begin with, based on memory.

So all these disks (25pk) have 1 hour video recorded to them, but none
of them are finalized. hmm.. Anyways.

I got a huntch that 2x, maybe even 4x is the safe zone.

or wait a minute.. maybe this is a dvd-rom writer issue and not
a dvd-recorder issue, since these are usually 2x speeds in the first
place. And, if dvd-recorders are not to blaim, then perhaps *writer speeds*
are a factor in this

-vhelp 3586

[Gen-An]

I got some Tayo from Meritline and they suck. This has only been about a month ago but some have already failed. I usually buy Ritek.

Either your drive has the very rare problem of not being compatible with TY discs, or those weren't really TY discs you bought.

[ashtones]

Well I noticed right off the bat that they were not as dark on the write side as the Ritek's I usually buy. I don't know if this means anything or not but it has been my experience the darker the dye the better the disc is.

[erdons]

Ashtones did the discs you bought from meritline say they were genuine taiyo yuden tyg02's or did they say they were just discs using the tyg02 code, in case you didnt know meritline has been pushing their "tyg02" but in reality they are not tyg02's they are some fake crap. If you want the true genuine Taiyo Yuden tyg02's then get them from rima.com

[Gen-An]

Meritline does actually sell Taiyo Yuden media, but I'm guessing ashtones bought their High Quality discs with simply carry the TY media code but are not advertised as being genuine Taiyo Yuden media.

[ashtones]

that really blows. I buy all my media from meritline. Or I guess I should say I buy all my Riteks there. Guess I got duped. Oh well live and learn. But just so I know the real TY's are good discs to use for long term archiving?

[lordsmurf]

I got some Tayo from Meritline and they suck. This has only been about a month ago but some have already failed. I usually buy Ritek.

Sounds like you bought fakes, not legit ones.

[erdons]

Yup the TYG02's i get from Rima.com work perfectly for archiving. Burned a few thousand with my Pioneer 108 and NEC 3520 and i would say 99% have been flawless.