life span of cd

LIFE SPAN OF CD

It is not easy to predict precisely how long a disc will last as it depends on various different factors. However, estimations

are being made that predict a life span of as long as 200 years for Blu-Ray discs and

recorded CD-Rs.

The shortest or the minimum life span with 5-10 years is forecasted for unrecorded CD-RWs and CD-Rs, followed by recorded DVD-RWs which last up to a span of 30 years. Thus, you should never

rely on any of such media for storing of your data for life long. They are likely to fail sooner or later.

There are many causes of disc rot. Corrosion or oxidation of the reflective layer, ultra-violet light damage, chemical reactions as well as damage to the disc edges or surfaces

are key factors of disc rot.

Most types of disc rot occur due to inappropriate storage and/or use. Also, there is one in particular cause of disc rot that is CD bronzing; caused as a result of a fault in the

manufacturing.

Therefore, one must always have a data backup which should be checked regularly

so as to ensure none of the copies is damaged or broken. Store your CDs and

DVDs in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat. Storing them in humid and warm cases can actually hasten their aging process where the conditions quicken the

chemical reactions leading to early breakdown.

Sunlight can tan your discs. After a course of time, the reflective coating of CDs may begin to

deteriorate or oxidize. At a point of time, the reflective coating may stop reflecting enough

light back to the computer for reading the info. Direct sunlight also results in degrading the quality of the reflective medium of your Cds

and DVDs.

Determining the CD quality is almost like flipping a coin. All CDs are not created equal. The best thing you can do is to

avoid purchasing inexpensive CDs on sales unless and until you have used that brand before. The CD industry has "A, B and C" quality of CD classifications. Majority of the consumers don’t have a clue on how

to identify an "A" quality CD.

The problems arise from the fact that a CD manufacturer may produce the same CD with a

variety of brand names. CD quality may vary within the same one brand name. Some name band companies may also decide to switch to some other less expensive CD manufacturer.

Hence, the CD consumer is left with no idea on which the real CD manufacturers are until they purchase the discs and run a program for checking who is the actual manufacturer

of the CD/DVD.

For more information:- http://www.weprintdiscs.com/

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