This is an excellent article outlining the proper care and feeding for your valued CD and DVD collection ... <<-- a new link has been posted on page two -->> .
nice going ..... loved it!~ confirmed everything that I already learned here in AfterDawn! nice job Catfreak!
Thanks Catfreak! I always wondered about the way dl discs are put together and work. Should be required reading!
Good article, Thanks Catfreak, a brief quote;;; Do not: 1. Touch the surface of the disc. 2. Bend the disc. 3. Use adhesive labels. 4. Store discs horizontally for a long time (years). 5. Open a recordable optical disc package if you are not ready to record. 6. Expose discs to extreme heat or high humidity. 7. Expose discs to extremely rapid temperature or humidity changes. 8. Expose recordable discs to prolonged sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light. 9. Write or mark in the data area of the disc (the area the laser “reads”). 10. Clean by wiping in a direction going around the disc. #3 caught my eye immediately.
Well im back from watching my aunts dogs for about a week, before I left I was thinking about asking a mod to start a sticky about how do you store your media, and longivity of media. It would be one thread like kivory666's Official TY thread. To talk about storing and longivity in one thread, instead of having 3+ threads every week or so asking storing media, or how long will media last. It'll be a good way to get all information in one spot, and comment and suggest alternatives and your own experiences. Well if you think its a good idea, reply to this post. And ill see about pm'in creaky I think he can do it. Storm~
I also would like to ask, how would storing backups in slim jewel cases in a closet be. They'll also be in an entertainment peice, going across the middle. Here's the link to the entertainment peice that I have. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...98014&productCategoryId=cat03115&type=product ^Bush Collection Pedestal Audio Cabinet - Black I just put it in my closet, fits well. I was wondering would any conditions hurt the discs inside the jewl cases in the closet. Im gonna keep the doors shut most of the time, I would think that would help dust wise a bit, but air cool wise im not sure how cool it stays in there. My house stays around 74-77 degrees. Im also thinking about putting my 510 Aluminum case in my closet on top of the entertainment peice, until I get a tv that'll fit in my closet ontop of the entertainment peice. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Storm~
Anybody have any comment on my post above this one. About storing the discs in my closet etc. Thanks Storm~
Storm, I think as long as each disc is out of direct sunlight it probably wouldn't make any difference, being relatively cool in there.
@Storm1234 Hey, I've got an answer to your question about storing those dvds in jewel cases. According to what I read in an article in PC Magazine, it says you're never supposed to store dvds in CD Jewel Cases, because it applies too much stress at the hubs, eventually causing the the dvd to warp or possibly the inner hub to crack. DVD approved jewel cases will work though. A good way to tell the difference between CD and DVD approved is to look for the embossed DVD logo on the tray insert. In my case, I've always stuck with the binders and just made the dvd cases as a display on this big shelf I have in my room. That way people can pick out a movie, but just can't steal it; they have to ask me. (I hide the binder, it ensures myself that the discs won't have any rough handling done onto them.) Hope that answers your question. ) P.S. Here's another useful article which has some more good info on DVD Care; and a little bit on how much they should last w/ proper care. The link is: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1854081,00.asp
This is a link to the best white paper on optical media I've ever found. Many, perhaps most, of the members of this forum dislike Memorex; but if you read the section on longevity and disc testing closely, you'll realize that both NIST and PC Magazine got information from this document. Just about everything you ever wanted to know about discs is covered in this document, and it doesn't come off as a commercial like so many other "white papers." For anyone truly interested in learning more: http://www.memorex.com/downloads/whitepapers/WhitePaper_Reference_Guide_Optical_Media_Mar2406.pdf
That is a great guide, but it mentions nothing positive or negative about media storage binders. I keep everything in storage binders not in jewel cases.
Hey i read some of the guide but didn't really get the answer i was looking for...what i want to know is: "whats the best way to store them" i'm currently using a load of clear plastic cases, are they any good?! And i'm about to run about, is keeping them on a empty spindle any good?!
If you keep your discs in individual cases thats good. Remember to store them vertically. I wouldn't think keeping your discs on a spindle is too bad(after all, they do come packaged on a spindle.) I wouldn't keep them on too long though but a brief period probably wouldn't hurt as long as they aren't being handled too much while on the spindle.