I'm a victim from the 2° Sticky. What's the most trusted DVDmedia for DATA?

[underp]

Pioneer DVR-104
-------------------

I use to backup very small files. Like tons of TXTs with addresses, word documents, guides, etc, etc.

I'm in a point where i can't keep saving my data on regular CD-Rs because is too much.

I've been a victim of 5 different media brands, and can't go on. I've lost some of my most valuable data. And i just can't beleive it.

Small files are very vulnerable on DVD media. So i'm kind of desperate here about something good, that could last forever if it's possible.

Some recomendations on cheap DVD media, but that also can be trusted, would be useful too.

Thanks.




.........

Thanks in advance.

[hech54]

CD-R's are more reliable (In my opinion) for data storage.
Taiyo Yuden is rated by most as the best DVDR media you can buy.
HOWEVER....the best CD and DVD media can be rendered useless and garbage if you burn the data to either of them incorrectly. Packet Writing for example is complete garbage.

[ROF]

According to the people in the know there isn't a single media that will last forever. My suggestion is to use Verbatim media for small files or packet writing to the media. Verbatim is quality media at a cheap price.

[draganong]

Switch to a DLT/LTO tape based backup rather than CD/DVD.

[vico1]

Taiyo Yuden is rated by most as the best DVDR media you can buy.

Yup...That's also my "Go-To" DVD media.
I'd (just to be on the safe side) keep the burn under <4 gigs for archiving data.
Though I've never had troubles with the outer edge on T/Y media...you never know.

[SingSing]

We don't have to be so gloom and doom about fading of DVDR. DVDR's pit is much smaller, so the retention is not as good as CDR. But I consider using "Ping-Pong" approach with two DVD+R/W, pretty safe for Data, that needed updated anyway.

I start with one Data DVD+R/W, the next update, I will copy the old DVD and the new material into the next DVD+R/W. next go around, I am back to the first DVD+R/W.

Or, you burn the two copies on DVDR, because it really, really rare that two DVDRs are going to fade at the same time.

[oldfart13]

Thought about using DVD-RAM discs? Since the banking industry uses them it seems like the way to go for long term storage. Then again, how long do you want to keep the discs and how big are the files? I'd have to agree with the use of CD-Rs. I don't think any of the old ones I burned under Win95 ever went bad on me, so that's a decade. On the other hand some of the DVD-Rs I burned as little as 2 years ago are now unreadable. Maybe that should be your cue...

[underp]

I'm limited to DVD-R for now.

Any other trusted DVD-R media you can recommend, will help me a lot.





Thanks a lot for all the replys guys.

[oldandinthe way]

Find the information for your DVD writer on the Lists section of this site.

Click on the media reports for that writer and see what others have found.

There is no best media for all DVD writers!

Your writer and is firmware revision will have as much impact on reliability as the manufacturer of the media.

I use A LG-4163B. I and other owners of this drive have no problems with many media which owners of NEC, Pioneer, BEN-Q and other drives call CRAP. There are however media which owners of other drives have good results with but we are less than pleased with.

[FulciLives]

Taiyo Yuden is simply the best. You can buy Taiyo Yuden in bulk from on-line websites such as RIMA.COM

The next runner up that might be just as good or at least nearly as good is Verbatim. The Verbatim DVD discs are often on sale at leading retail stores such as BEST BUY and OFFICE MAX. In fact they are on sale this very week at BEST BUY (25 packs for $7.99 each) and again at OFFICE MAX (50 packs for $14.98 each and 25 packs for $7.98 each). When on sale the Verbatim DVD discs are a bit cheaper than Taiyo Yuden.

As suggested do not fill up past 4.0GB to be "safe". Do not label the disc with any kind of "sticky" label. If you must label it then it is "best" to do so with a water based permanent marker. These can be bought at art supply stores. Office supply stores also carry such markers which are usually labeled SAFE for writing on CD/DVD media. In other words do not use your "standard" sharpie type marker as those are not water based. Also make sure you store the disc properly. Do not store "stacked" on a spindle for instance. It is "best" to keep the disc in some sort of jewel case. This helps to prevent the disc from scratches and warping etc.

NERO is a popular program for burning data to DVD discs. Even if you do NOT use NERO they have a FREE download called Nero CD-DVD Speed and this utility can be used to test a CD/DVD after you have burned it to ensure that the data is reliable. For instance you can run a surface scan to make sure that there are no bad or unreadable blocks of info.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[SingSing]

If you must label it then it is "best" to do so with a water based permanent marker. These can be bought at art supply stores. Office supply stores also carry such markers which are usually labeled SAFE for writing on CD/DVD media. In other words do not use your "standard" sharpie type marker as those are not water based. Also make sure you store the disc properly. Do not store "stacked" on a spindle for instance. It is "best" to keep the disc in some sort of jewel case. This helps to prevent the disc from scratches and warping etc.

I read that water based ink don't stick to non-white printable DVD surface. Is that true ?

[FulciLives]

If you must label it then it is "best" to do so with a water based permanent marker. These can be bought at art supply stores. Office supply stores also carry such markers which are usually labeled SAFE for writing on CD/DVD media. In other words do not use your "standard" sharpie type marker as those are not water based. Also make sure you store the disc properly. Do not store "stacked" on a spindle for instance. It is "best" to keep the disc in some sort of jewel case. This helps to prevent the disc from scratches and warping etc.

I read that water based ink don't stick to non-white printable DVD surface. Is that true ?

That would be false.

If you go to an office supply store and buy the sharpie brand marker that says it is safe to write on CD/DVD media it really is just a standard water based permanent marker ... same as what you can buy at an art supply store.

I've never had a problem with the "ink" not sticking nor have I had any smudging. I do make sure that after I write on it that I put it in a jewel case or whatever and I leave it open for a bit to make sure it dries A-OK as it does look a bit "wet" to me for a bit after writing.

In fact I have a Verbatim 16x DVD-R in my hands now and I am rubbing the writing and it is NOT smudging or comming off and I just labeled this DVD last night.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[underp]

Thank you John,

That is just the kind of information I was looking for.

I don't get why some people have to make everything so complicated. :P

[Nelson37]

Well, let's complicate it for you.

Only disks I have had completely fail after verified full-length playback were Verbatim disks. Less than two months they became completely unplayable, after 2-3 complete plays with perfect results. Defects began to show in 2-3 weeks.

The name brand is completely meaningless. Their subcontracted manufacturer could change from batch to batch, and the consumer has no way of knowing. Even media ID codes are being faked.

Most reliable indicator is "made in Japan". Best procedure is make two or three copies on different brands of disk, renew them every year or so, and store at least one set in a physically seperate location.

[FulciLives]

Well, let's complicate it for you.

Only disks I have had completely fail after verified full-length playback were Verbatim disks. Less than two months they became completely unplayable, after 2-3 complete plays with perfect results. Defects began to show in 2-3 weeks.

The name brand is completely meaningless. Their subcontracted manufacturer could change from batch to batch, and the consumer has no way of knowing. Even media ID codes are being faked.

Most reliable indicator is "made in Japan". Best procedure is make two or three copies on different brands of disk, renew them every year or so, and store at least one set in a physically seperate location.

The "standard" Verbatim 16x DVD-R discs are made by MCC ... the media code is "MCC 03RG20" ... so when people like myself and LordSmurf refer to Verbatim DVD discs being of very high quality it is the "MCC 03RG20" discs that we are talking about.

Here are some examples of what these look like so that you don't buy the "wrong" type of Verbatim discs:

The 25 pack of 16x DVD-R


The 50 pack of 16x DVD-R


Of course if you want MADE IN JAPAN the Taiyo Yuden DVD-R discs are not that much more than Verbatim as long as you don't mind mail-order.

However I've never really heard of any bad comments about the Verbatim "MCC 03RG20" DVD discs. They work great for me (and I am usually a Taiyo Yuden only type of guy) and LordSmurf thinks they might even be better than Taiyo Yuden!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Nelson37]

I understand what you are saying but unless there is some new method for checking the media ID without opening the package this does not help much.

From the outside of the box, there is no certainty of what is inside. ID codes have been faked, suppliers are continually changing. So Verbatim made by MCC is good today? Who will Verbatim use tomorrow? Will they use the same dye formula and production standards?

SFAIK, no manufacturer has "faked" the Made in Japan label, and such labeled disks have consistently been of good quality.

The Verbatims which failed for me were labeled "Verbatim Valuelife Plus". Never bought a Verbatim product again.

[SingSing]

Recently, the local news reporter went down to the local store, and bought 10 packages of battery. They are either labeled Duracell or look alike and named Durcall, Duracel, Purocell...etc. The different look of that two spindles kind of fit that look alike mould.

[andersonmilltexas]

MAM- A Gold Archival quality Used by libraries museums and govenment.