is it true that DVD-R's can deteriorate with in a few months meaning thay wont play in any machine i have only just heard about this and now i am worried that i will lose all my recordings

has this really happend to anyone here?

cheers


(recorder panasonic dmr-es10)

definitely used to be true with the older discs when the technology was new.
Though from personal experience it was a small scale problem rather than using 10 of the same brand disc and all 10 being unreadable a few months later.
i have dvd-r recordings from 7 years ago that are still fine,other discs i made at that time i had to redo 2 or 3 years later.
Last edited by beintot : 31-01-2008 at 07:58

There are many factors and variables involved.

Quality of original blanks and quality of burn and how disks are stored and handled are important issues in regard to longevity.

A common misconception is that if a newly burned disc plays, then it is essentially perfect.

This is very far from the truth. The ingenious storage mechanisms employed ensure that disc data can be quite considerably damaged before it becomes unplayable.... but it does mean they are much closer to the point of failure.

So what can you do?

Two things: Firstly, only buy quality media.
It is a false economy to buy cheap media... and try to ensure that the media you buy has good compatibility with your machinery.

Secondly, if you have access to disc utilities , such as Nero's Toolkit [ Specifically the Scan disc tab - in 'Nero CD-DVD Speed' ] Then use it to check the quality of the burns ... and to monitor degradation over time.

I suspect the amount of errors that even fresh discs typically have, will surprise many.

what are the best brands to use? i have only used memorex just over 200 and have not had any problems also i have only had a dvd recorder for just over 12 months so i dont know if thay will still work in a few more years

if a dvd-r does start to deteriorate does that mean that the disk will start to have faint scratches on it?

i dont have nero so i cant check the quality of the burns

thanks.

I assume that the dyes used in DVD-Rs are photo-sensitive (somebody tell me if that's right). If so, it surely makes sense to ensure that recorded disks are stored in the dark, right?

Yes, that's right, although quite how photo sensitive they are depends on the quality and age of the disc.
I have some CD-R's that were left on a shelf in the daylight, it seemed every time I wanted to use one, the one on top just wouldn't work, I wasn't using them too frequently, these were cheap no-label CD-R!

Anything which interferes with the optical link from the disc to the laser, such as scratches or fingerprints can cause the disc to become unreadable, but those can often be cleaned or polished off. [ Always avoid that until you have no choice. Cleaning can do more harm than good ] ... But it is not the main cause of the failure.

The irredeemable problem occurs within the sandwich of the discs [DVD's are made of two halves] where the crystalline state of the dye becomes unstable and cannot be accurately read. Obviously there is little one can do about this - except the precautions already mentioned : Quality disks. Careful storage. Careful handling.

The most critical area is near the hub where the TOC is stored [ Table of contents] If this degrades to the point of unreadability, then none of the rest of the disc can be accessed.

That said, the parts of a disc that most usually fail are near the middle of the disk [ i.e. halfway through the recorded material ] because of a peculiarity of uneven dye distribution which tends to show up here most.... and at near the end of the recorded material, which is at the outermost part of the disc, due to handling and edge damage.


Note that the manufacturer of a disc is much more important than the brand.
The factory and the dye used are the two most important factors.

Brands cannot be relied upon, as identically packaged branded goods can be made in different factories, in parts of the world and using different formulations.

It is recognised that the best factory in the world is Taiyo Yuden in Japan.
Especially discs using their TYG03 dye.

Taiyo Yuden make for Panasonic and Verbatim but note that not all disks branded by those companies are made by TY.
TY also sell under their own name.

Panasonic seem to have recently switched their supplier to TDK, also a reputable maker.

The good online retailers will give all the important information about manufacturer and dye if you go see.

Here are 3 reputable suppliers to try.


http://www.aprmedia.com/

http://svp.co.uk/

http://www.ukdvdr.co.uk/shop/


It is much better buying from such sources because of the much wider choice, good prices, and easily browsable information.

i have found out that memorex are Info: CMC MAG. AM3
are they known to be good disks?

cheers

The general consensus is that they are moderately OK. Not brilliant .

Where they are manufactured has a bearing on how well they prove to be compatible with your unit.... but your success rate indicates decent compatibility... although you may find that falls off as your laser ages.

I currently have no information of accuracy and longevity of that type.

if the disk is not used/played much can it still deteriorate?

Yes they can.

Keep discs stored away from light.
Humidity and temperature variations are undesirable.

More information here from the Optical Storage Technology association:

How long will data recorded on writable DVD discs remain readable?
The life span of a written disc depends upon a number of factors including such things as the intrinsic properties of the materials used in the disc’s construction, the quality of its manufacture, how well it is recorded and the way it has been handled and stored. As a result, the life span of a recorded disc is extremely difficult to estimate reliably. However, to calculate disc life spans within some practical timeframe blank media manufacturers conduct accelerated age testing by subjecting samples of their discs to environments much beyond those experienced under normal storage conditions. Generally speaking, these tests only consider the effects of varying temperature and humidity. Results are then used to predict how long a disc will remain readable under more normal storage conditions. Questionable testing and measurement procedures can seriously impact upon and compromise these estimates so keep in mind that unlike prerecorded (pressed) CD and CD-R discs there are currently no international standards for conducting writable DVD accelerated testing. Writable DVDs and CDs may appear similar, but their construction and underlying design differ significantly so what applies to the one does not necessarily apply to the other.

As with CD-R and CD-RW discs media manufacturers have performed their own lifetime evaluations using a variety of homegrown tests and mathematical modeling techniques. Generally speaking, manufacturers claim life spans ranging from 30 to 100 years for DVD-R and DVD+R discs and up to 30 years for DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD-RAM. Be aware, however, that disc producers, manufacturing methods and materials change over time as do applications and cost imperatives. Consequently, those concerned with disc longevity should consult their media manufacturer for more particular information.

One thing is sure — nothing lasts forever and technologies inevitably change. Ultimately, since writable DVDs embody digital information, contents may be transferred to future storage systems as becomes necessary to preserve whatever has been stored on the discs.

i have found 2 types of Verbatim

http://svp.co.uk/products-solo.php?pid=2894

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=577092

does anyone know if the pack on scan.co.uk is the Taiyo Yuden dye?

i read that if the lable says made in japan then it means that there Taiyo Yuden is that true?

thanks.

The first pack you've linked to from SVP use the superb TYGO3 Dye and are made by Taiyo Yuden.

The second pack from scan are made by MCC... and are NOT Taiyo Yuden.

Two more reputable suppliers to try:

http://www.aprmedia.com/

http://www.ukdvdr.co.uk/shop/