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Backing Up Data to DVD? Research Shows Your Data May be at Risk
3/6/2006
Have you ever placed a DVD in your drive only to find
it fully or partially unusable? You are not alone.
Over the past year, several news outlets have
reported stories about CD-ROM and DVD media
failures. While stories about "DVD rot"
(decomposition of the laminated coating layers)
appear to remain in the realm of urban myth, you do
have cause for concern.
In 2004, researchers at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) conducted the
first
scientific study on CD and DVD longevity using
expsoure to temperature, humidity, and light. Since
we use light to alter the composition of the DVD
when we record information, it is reasonable to
assume that light would effect the usability of a DVD
over time.
The NIST study found a radical variance
in DVD longevity based on the coatings used to
create the DVD and concluded that there is currently
no way to predict or guarantee how long a DVD will
be useful. It is important to note that the NIST
study simulated "consumer" use of DVDs, with
exposure to varying temparatures, humidities, and
amounts of light.
While we hope you are not leaving your data backup
DVDs in the sun on the seat of your car, the study
suggests some best practices if DVDs are part of
your data backup or archive strategy.
- Make more than one copy of your backups and
archives
- If possible, use DVD from easy access and
magnetic tape for long-term storage
- Store CDs and DVDs in a cool, dry, and dark
environment -- a cabinet in your computer room is
ideal
- Periodically test your ability to restore files to
validate the media
- Limit use of read-write CDs and DVDs to avoid
media degredation
Following these simple guidelines should mitigate the
risk of damage to your DVDs and your data backups
and archives.
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