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

[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: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!

:)