CDRW/CDR Media Lifespan & Burnspeed

[Deanodarlo]

Currently I backup my important data onto CDRW using Disk-at-Once as I don't trust packet writing. Once written, the data is checked using binary comparison so I know everything has been backed up successfully.

The reason I use CDRW is that the data can be overwritten and updated easily, without a mountain of CDR's building up. Using this method, important data can be backed up every few months on the same CDRW's.

Just a few questions:

1) What's the approx. storage lifespan of CDRW? Is it worse than CDR? I'm not bothered about the amount of times CDRW can be written to, just the expected storage lifespan. I don't want to rely on my CDRW backups only to find they've become corrupt!

2) Does burn speed effect storage lifespan? Currently I have a 4x burner so it's not an issue, but I've heard high-speed burners result in poorer quality and less reliable (in terms of lifespan) copies.

3) Bottom line - should I continue to rely on CDRW's for my primary back-ups, or should I use CDR's for long-term storage of important data?

Thanks for anyone?s help, much appreciated!

 

[MWink]

Currently I backup my important data onto CDRW using Disk-at-Once as I don't trust packet writing. Once written, the data is checked using binary comparison so I know everything has been backed up successfully.

That's good, I've had very poor results with packet writing software. Though it was some very old software.

1) What's the approx. storage lifespan of CDRW? Is it worse than CDR? I'm not bothered about the amount of times CDRW can be written to, just the expected storage lifespan. I don't want to rely on my CDRW backups only to find they've become corrupt!

In my experience CD-RW's don't last as long as CD-R's. They become hard to read after a year or so. You can always copy the data to your HD then erase and re-burn the CD-RW. Also the quality of the disc is VERY important. My father used some generic CD-RW's to backup where he works. When the HD failed and he went to restore from the CD-RW, he found no drive could read from them. I've found Verbatim to make high quality CD-RW's. (the DataLife Plus, not ValueLife)

3) Bottom line - should I continue to rely on CDRW's for my primary back-ups, or should I use CDR's for long-term storage of important data?

For long term storage use CD-R's. I don't think I've seen any CD-R's age to the point where they were unreadable (and I've been using CD-R's longer than most people. My first burner did not even support CD-RW's).

 

[c0rv1d43]

You might consider using the rewritable media on a rotating schedule and making a permanent backup to CD-R at the end of each CD-RW rotation schedule. You'll still accumulate a lot of CD-Rs, but it is data we're talking about. On a home machine I use two DVD-RW discs each day in a one week rotation schedule, so that's 14 DVD-RW discs dedicated to the rotating backup system. (I used to use CD-RW and CD-R discs, but we just have too much data now. It's almost to the point where it will make more sense to go to use a nice, fast tape drive that can easily handle all of the data on one cartridge.) And once a week I use two DVD-Rs for a permanently stored (off-site) backup. The video data my wife and I compile is a separate issue. The backup media are just used for backing up raw data and documents.

- Collin

 

[Deanodarlo]

Thanks for that info.

I did some reading around the net before posting, but couldn't find anything conclusive.

Overall it looks like CDRW is great for short term/frequent backups, while CDR's are the daddy for long term storage of important data.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: MWink

Currently I backup my important data onto CDRW using Disk-at-Once as I don't trust packet writing. Once written, the data is checked using binary comparison so I know everything has been backed up successfully.

That's good, I've had very poor results with packet writing software. Though it was some very old software.

1) What's the approx. storage lifespan of CDRW? Is it worse than CDR? I'm not bothered about the amount of times CDRW can be written to, just the expected storage lifespan. I don't want to rely on my CDRW backups only to find they've become corrupt!

In my experience CD-RW's don't last as long as CD-R's. They become hard to read after a year or so. You can always copy the data to your HD then erase and re-burn the CD-RW. Also the quality of the disc is VERY important. My father used some generic CD-RW's to backup where he works. When the HD failed and he went to restore from the CD-RW, he found no drive could read from them. I've found Verbatim to make high quality CD-RW's. (the DataLife Plus, not ValueLife)

3) Bottom line - should I continue to rely on CDRW's for my primary back-ups, or should I use CDR's for long-term storage of important data?

For long term storage use CD-R's. I don't think I've seen any CD-R's age to the point where they were unreadable (and I've been using CD-R's longer than most people. My first burner did not even support CD-RW's).

I disagree.... If the Disc is stored properly... It can last for at least 2+ years....

edit... Even a CD-RW disc