I backup to CD-Rs all the time by making multi-session CDs with Nero and I've never had a problem with any CD that I've burned. (I used to use Easy CD creator until it work with XP. Now I guess that have a version that will work, but I like Nero much better.) I only touch the CDs by their edges, and I put them back in their case or spindle when I'm not using them. I know some people used to handle records like they were playing cards, but I took care of my records as well, and I have some that are 30 years old and still play pretty well, so maybe that's the difference. How you treat them.) I don't use CD-RWs. I never had one of those fail either, but I haven't used too many either. I stopped using them when I found that if I got a new drive, then my CD-RWs could no longer be read. Even if I had the same software. I also back up to an external drive.