How To Verify CD-R Data Retention Over Time?

Peter (Professor) Fo writes "I've recently had two CD-Rs reported to me as faulty which are just 3 years old. This is worrying — I suspect the failure rate for this batch could be 10%. When researching CD longevity there is old and unreliable information; pious 'how to cosset your discs so they last 100 years' blurb; and endless discussions of what sort of dye to use, don't use cheap media, burn slower (or don't), but not much by way of hard facts besides there's a lot of data loss going on. Does anyone know of a generic utility (win or *nix would suit me) that can map sector readability/error rates of CDs? I'd like to measure decay over time in my environment with my media and my other variables; and I expect others would too."

Comments

Handle with care

[kcdoodle]

Never, ever had a CD die on me due to old age. I have burnt CDs that are probably older than you.

The only 2 reasons I have ever had a CD die.
1. Bad burn.
2. Dropped it/scratched it.

Okay, I really have only had one reason CDs die:
1. I can be somewhat of a dumb-ass.

Re:dvdisaster

[Anonymous Coward]

Your grammar and/or spelling is very back...

Papyrus / OCR solution

[Anonymous Coward]

Print it all out on Papyrus burry in an Egyptian tomb then use an OCR solution.

I use gold disks and burn at slow speed still no guarantee.

Clay tablets work well.

How about bringing back punch cards?

Laser inscribe data on Copper plates or better yet modern stainless steel would last.

Re:dvdisaster

[cpghost]

I'm missing a tool to scan for brain/attention decay...

Titanium Plates © if your data matters

[Phizzle]

Take a page from the book of Church© of© Scientology©®(TM) and engrave your data on Titanium© Plates© and store it in Gold© Vault©. I apologize in advance to the Church© of© Scientology©®(TM) if I didnt use enough Copyright©®(TM) symbols while referring to Them (©?). Please do not sue me. © (TM) ®

Re:Ask people in the music industry...

[Anonymous Coward]

CDs aren't burned for commercial distribution, they're pressed.

So you're suggesting that I send my CD's to the dry-cleaners with my pants and get them pressed and that would make them last? Just how dumb do you think I am - the crease would ruin them!

Re:Nero

[Windows_NT]

I have to:
"American parts ... Russian parts ... ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!" - The cosmonaut from the movie, "Armegeddon"

Armageddon

[TypoNAM]

I prefer the american version: Lev Andropov: [annoyed] Components. American components, Russian Components, ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!

:)