How long does optical media last

Generally, it is best to keep ROM discs in a dry, cool environment. Other contaminates, however, such as inks, solvents, and pollutants, have the potential to irreversibly penetrate and to deform, discolor, or corrode the disc, causing permanent reading problems for the laser. The tests are generally performed by manufacturers, and the discs are usually categorized by the metal and dye types used in the disc.

These discs use gold, silver, or a silver alloy for the reflective layer instead of aluminum as in ROM discs. Gold will not corrode but is expensive. Silver is more reflective and cheaper than gold but is susceptible to corrosion if exposed to sulfur dioxide, an air pollutant that can penetrate the disc in the same way oxygen can-with moisture. Manufacturers use various silver alloys to help inhibit silver corrosion, and most R discs available today use a silver alloy reflective layer.

The chance of silver corrosion from exposure to sulfur dioxide is less than the chance of aluminum oxidation caused by high humidity. With proper storage, these discs will outlast the technology.

R discs use a dye-based layer organic dye for recording data. The organic dye used in the data layer of R discs degrades naturally but slowly over time. High temperatures and humidity will accelerate the process. Prolonged exposure to UV light can degrade the dye properties and eventually make the data unreadable. Heat buildup within the disc, caused by sunlight or close proximity to heated light sources, will also accelerate dye degradation.

Still, it would be prudent, in light of these claims, to purchase new discs as they are needed rather than to order large quantities and stockpile them for future use. RW and RAM discs are generally not considered for long-term or archival use, and life expectancy tests are seldom done for this medium. Rewritable discs use a phase-changing metal alloy film for recording data and aluminum for the reflective layer.

The alloy film is not as stable as the dye used in R discs because the material normally degrades at a faster rate; however, these discs should still be stable enough to outlast the current CD or DVD technology. The phase-changing film is affected primarily by heat, but ultraviolet UV light may also be a factor in the aging process.

The combination of high temperature and UV light may further accelerate the aging process. The combination of high temperatures and high relative humidity will also most likely accelerate the aging process, just as it does with the organic dye used in R discs.

Lesen Sie die Deutsch-Version hier. Media preservation is the method by which we record, store, and preserve media over time. Stored media includes everything from written words to audio to photos to computer instructions to documents, software, and more. The various types of media are stored on everything from books to a hard drive all the way to video game cartridges. The sad truth about data storage is that no medium for data storage will last forever. Most of them are replaced by a new storage method before long.

But just how long will your favorite storage method last? How long do you have before you need to copy the information over to a new form? Before we get to that, remember that there are always exceptions to the general rules. It just means it can. Lifespan depends on everything from environmental factors to usage rates to component quality and manufacturing. Thus, the figures here are very general guidelines. The only true way to protect data is to have multiple copies of everything, and the best way to do that is to invest in a good backup solution.

Magnetic tape can either lose data by losing its magnetic charge any magnetically charged storage medium will eventually lose its magnetic charge and subsequently its data , or when the layers of the tape start to separate.

According to a handful of sources ehow , Wikipedia , and Searchdatabackup. This can make it a useful medium for archiving. And what happens if a disc doesn't play? Optical discs have been commercially available since the s. Since then, there have been advances in the actual technologies and materials used in CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays, meaning information is much safer now than it ever was before.

While estimates predict a huge lifetime for optical discs, we can't be sure when they are really going to break down. However, by being aware of what determines the lifespan of optical discs and what causes them to break, you can make choices and significantly increase the survival time of your stored data.

To understand what limits the life span of optical discs, we first need to look at how they are built-up. In addition, a label is applied above the coating layer and re-writable discs contain a dye layer between the reflective and protective layers. One factor that determines the maximum lifespan of an optical disc is the type of reflective layer.

Other factors include the overall quality of the raw materials used and manufacturing. Most important, however, is the way the medium is treated by the user.

The handling of an optical disc has the most significant impact on its longevity, so we'll come back to this in a moment. It is hard to predict exactly how long an optical disc will last since it depends on so many different factors. Generally speaking, discs with recorded media will degrade faster than those without. Don't rely on any of these media for lifelong storage of your precious data, as they are likely to fail sooner rather than later.

Blu-rays are the most dependable, but they're also the newest, so long-term information isn't available just yet. Different types of optical discs contain different layers and the reflective layer is most susceptible to damage. Standard compact discs typically have a reflective layer made from aluminum.

When exposed to air, aluminum oxidizes, which naturally happens around the edges of the CD. However, degradation of the reflective layer is not the only cause of disc rot , the chemical or physical deterioration of data which results in information becoming unreadable.