-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Burning question--Lil
- From: Gman <gman.pctt@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 17:31:47 -0400
Two things, Sammi.
First, CD blank media does not last as 'lifetime' as the earliest marketing
of that medium reported. The 'pressed' ones (retail CDs & DVDs) last a long
time, but the ones we burn ourselves are burned onto a different type of
film (it's typically a metal foil sandwiched between two clear layers). The
'pressed' ones also use actual hills and valleys created by the pressing,
where ours are nowhere near as deep or tall (burning only melts the foil and
it can only move so much as a result). Consequently, writable disks (CD-R,
DVD-R, DVD+R) should only be trusted for several years before being replaced
(copy the contents back to the drive and re-burn them onto a new disk). All
Re-writables were never meant for long term storage and shouldn't be trusted
for more than a year.
Since you have found a disk that used to be good but is now showing as
blank, you may want to try running a recovery utility on it to see if any of
it can be recovered. Unfortunately, I have never tried any of these, so I
don't have a specific app to recommend. Still, here are some you might want
to consider. Just keep in mind that it's an old list. :O)
CDCheck
CD Data Rescue
CD-R Diagnostic
The second thing I wanted to mention is that the price of hard drives,
including externals, has really dropped a lot recently so it may be more
affordable than you're thinking. I tend to do the math to determine the
size that's cheapest in $/GB (cost per GB) and the sweet spot is still the
500GB models. I'm about to order my second 500GB drive which will cost me
about $90 US. Depending on your space needs, you could go with something
much smaller than that for less. The external models tend to go for about
$10 more, so you'd be getting a $20 enclosure for half price. Just make
sure it uses the best connection method your system can handle (eSATA runs
at the same speed as an internal but still rare on systems, Firewire is next
and not quite as rare, USB 2.0 works fine for most systems and USB 1.x is
way back in last place and almost too slow for regular use). If you know
your specific needs/wants, let us know and we'll locate you some good
prices.
Peace,
G
"The only dumb questions are the ones we fail to ask!"
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sammi" <sammi@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 11:36 PM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Burning question--Lil
> Not to worry Lil, I was late replying to your message! And yes, there were
> a
> bunch of msgs to download. I haven't been online the past couple of days
> since I am trying to better organize my files.
>
> I am still having some problems, but not as severe as they were. I was
> going
> to reinstall EZC-6...I dove into my big "pc" box where I have lots and
> lots
> of old programs, floppy diskettes, books and all-around OLD pc stuff. I
> found my backup copy CD for it, but I have not yet found my original. Oh
> well, I thought...I'll just pop this backup I made a long time ago. I did
> and I was surprised that it showed there was nothing on the disk! I know I
> used it when I first got this pc, so at one time it was OK. Now I'll have
> to
> go out to the cold garage and see if I can find my original.
>
> You asked if I had deleted the original files, no I didn't do that. I'm
> hoping to save them before something horrid happens. In my big pc box, I
> did
> find some CDs that I made with EZC-6 over 2 years ago on this pc and they
> are good! A few of the files have no extension, but the file size is
> right;
> I copied and pasted one onto my desktop and added the .jpg...wow, it
> worked!
> I opened it with ACDsee and it was gorgeous. Only the ones with 0 bytes
> are
> not good.
>
> I understand completely about your dogs...and cats, too. We have 2 dogs,
> one
> is an American Pit Bull Terrier and I will tell you that we have had
> *many*
> dogs over our 46 years, but he is the sweetest, smartest most
> well-mannered
> dog we have ever had. He is nearly perfect! Gentlemanly but funny, too.
> Bad
> owners, bad breeders and the media have given the properly raised dogs a
> bad
> name. Our two cats were already established, and they taught him manners
> early!
>
> The bull mastiff has a little red-nose Staffordshire in him, but he too is
> so sweet, even though he was terribly abused for about 4 years. He was so
> starved that he couldn't stand up. Our grandson had to carry him in, and I
> thought it was a sack of bones. He is scarred all over, but many of the
> scars are not as visible any more. His poor ears were a mass of puncture
> wounds.
>
> I never dreamed when we took him on as a rescue, that he would be so
> sweet.
> I thought we would really have our hands full...I also thought that he
> would
> 'hate' people because of how he was treated. But, other than wanting to
> sit
> on my lap, he is pretty good. Like many mastiffs, he is a bit willful, but
> wants so badly to please that he becomes totally bummed out if he thinks
> he
> messed up. And wants to make it up to you by extra kisses, ha-hah.
>
> You mentioned a possible problem with the DVD drive, it is possible and I
> did wonder about that, I have played audio CDs in it teday, with no
> trouble.
> But since it is a combo, it might just be.
>
> I'll be working on the backup problem. I can't afford it really, but I was
> even considering an external hard drive. Don't know for sure at this
> point.
>
> Sammi
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