PC hardware forum: how long do dvds last?

manufacturers claim dvd+r and dvd-r all have media life spans in excess of 100 years; dvd+rw and dvd-rw are rated at 50 years but the life span decreases with the number of burns.

your quality graphs look ok but the burn quality doesn't affect the media lifespan. over time, the media substrate (reflective surface which the laser 'burns' into) can degrade. but if you stick with good media and keep the discs out of sunlight and avoid excess scratches, your discs will still be readable long after you've forgotten what's on them.

i have cd-rs from the mid 90s (10 years ago) and most are still fine. but the foil substrate on some of the cheapies has started to peel and flake.

I don't claim to know who makes the best optical discs, but it's pretty widely accepted that Verbatim makes the best floppies. Memorex's CDs and DVDs (definitely not their cassettes, though) have never failed me, but neither have HP's, and I've been using them since Big Lots! has been selling spindles cheaper than I've gotten them anywhere else (with the exception of last-in-stock sales). I have experienced occasional problems with Sony, Teon, and almost all the off-brands.

I imagine there might be someone here whose experience might stand almost contradictory to my own, but this has been my own experience. Don't know if this helps, but I hope it does. Salute!

Here is the NIST 500-252 Guide for Handling CDs and DVDs for librarians if you are interested to that extent.

www.itl.nist.gov/iad/894.05/docs/CDandDVDCareandHandlingGuide.pdf

should keep this in mind as will

paper sleave cover case for DVD/CD will work, but don't drop them.

DVD/CD plastic case of all types, they should fit into it nicely and not like a rock were the center hold them maybe too tight and may crack the CD/DVD center out.

there been a lot of DVD/CD case badly made were they push outwards center hole of the DVD/CD too much and crack the DVD/CD. if you have to fight to remove a CD/DVD from the case best replace the case with another one.

beside sides doing the normal thing in handling & care of the DVDs or CDs.

I am using CDs from 1995. I have sticked good CD Label and it prevents the CDs from scractches. Still now the CDs are working.
But DVD I have labelled it. I have no idea about the life time.
Hope it will work like the CDs.

It depends on the disc, program and content. I've had movies start to deteriorate after 5 times viewing. Pictures, some data files seem to last longer. As well the burning software makes a difference. Some video burning software seems better at retaining data integrity. Not sure why, but after numerous burns some files seem to hold together.
Even the reader plays a difference. Some DVD players interact better with some burnt DVD's than others.

Rule #1 - you USUALLY get what you paid for. I've picked up no-name blank spindles for a good deal but they haven't lasted long. Some swear by Verbatim (at usually at a higher price).

You can check here: http://www.videohelp.com/dvdmedia for a reader survey of what dvd media works best.

In any event - this 50+ years is true - if you keep it locked up and away from heat/humidity/dust. But if you want to use the DVD's from time to time, I'd say make a back-up the more frequently you use it and make sure you verify to ensure full successful copy.