[hwdly] [HardwareDaily] 11/6/2003 04:43:53 AM

From: Karl Dallas <karldallas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: hwdly@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 04:43:54 -0800
 How long will your precious CDRs last? 
Many musicians store their precious music on discs burned on a PC. Bu= t how
long will they last? 
Computer geeks also store precious data the same way. 
Theoretically, CDR data should be safe for ten years or so, but some =
alarming information is coming to light that you may be lucky to get as muc=
h as two years' life out of them. 
More, using the popular stick-on laberls may destroy the contents! 
Here's an article that describes what one industry pundit discovered: 
Langa Letter: Time To Check Your = CDRs[1]:=20 
Fred Langa reported: ". . . the only disks that failed were those tha= t I
had covered with a glue-on paper label from a print-it-yourself CD labe=
l-maker kit. Several of these labeled CDs were, in fact, totally unreadable=
by every means I tried (including special data-recovery software); all the=
data on those CDs is just plain gone. My best guess is the glue on these d=
o-it-yourself labels interacted with either the foil or the dye, rendering =
the CDs useless. " 
Langa also referred readers to a valuable resource of information on = the
whole question of CDR storage, which includes details of different labe=
lling systems and how they can affect CDR contents: 
Underst= anding CD-R & CD-RW - Disc Labeling[2] 
Adhesive Labels 
"A more attractive way to label a disc is to apply an adhesive label.=
Several manufacturers offer inkjet and laser printer compatible products s=
pecifically designed for labeling discs as well as positioning devices to h=
elp with centering. Full surface or 'donut-style' labels are preferable to =
partial stickers but be aware that any adhesive label can potentially upset=
the balance of a disc when playing back, especially at high speeds, causin=
gexcessive noise, vibration and data retrieval problems. Heat, humidity, h=
andling and the passage of time can also compromise the stability of adhesi=
ve labels causing separation from the disc surface and even interfere with =
the drive. Sticky labels may not be the best choice when archiving importan=
t data as some types of label adhesives can react with and compromise the d=
isc over time. Remember too that, once applied, labels should never be remo=
ved or repositioned. Even smoothing air bubbles can concentrate physical st=
resses in a small area and delaminate the disc." 
According to all these sources, the safest way to label CDRs is to us= e a
fibre-tip pen specially designed for the purpose. Not so chic as that w=
onderful label you have printed out on your PC - but a lot safer!-KARL DALL=
AS 
--
Posted by Karl Dallas = to HardwareDaily[3] at 11/6/2003 04:= 43:53 AM

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--- Links ---
   1 3D"http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArticle.jht=
   2 3D"http://www.osta.org/technology/cdqa11.htm";
   3 3D"http://hwdly.blogspot.com";
   4 3D"http://www.blogger.com";
[hwdly] [HardwareDaily] 11/6/2003 04:43:53 AM

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