Best disc for storing data?

[joe113]

Thanks for all your help & advice, thanks to you I'm a happy burner again, with all my mp3's intact and more space on my hard drive

[nwg]

The best DVD format for long term data storage is DVD RAM and cannot be beaten by DVD - and DVD +. For either DVD - or DVD +, the best dye will be Taiyo Yuden. I wouldn't use anything else if the data is valuable. I would also use a RW disc over a write once recordable.

I currently have my MP3 collection on two hard disks (external HDD and MP3 player).

[joe113]

Hmm, ok. Would you use an rw over a plus because there would be a higher quality score or because the data would survive for longer on it?

+RW over +R that is.

[nwg]

Hmm, ok. Would you use an rw over a plus because there would be a higher quality score or because the data would survive for longer on it?

+RW over +R that is.

Only, if there is any possibility that the data will be changed or added to in the future. If there is no chance of that happening. Then a decent +R should be fine. I would spend the extra and use a Taiyo Yuden dye to make sure the data is ok in the future.

It will always be a chance that data will get corrupted in the future with less quality dye. I still have DVD's burned three years ago that still play and read fine because I chose the best dye at the time at the price I could afford.

To get some idea of what dyes to go for, have look at this link below Any of the discs in the first class media section is suitable for long term storage and should be fine. This includes Taiyo Yuden and other Japanese companies.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm

[joe113]

Thanks nwg, as always I learn something new from this forum every day.

Joe.

[nwg]

Thanks nwg, as always I learn something new from this forum every day.

Joe.

You're welcome. I would bookmark that link as it is very useful.

[joe113]

Good advice, cheers.

Joe.