Don't you folks ever test a burned cd before you delete the stuff you burned to it? I always test every cd I burn. If it checks out, then and only then do I delete the files from my computer. I never have a problem with an old cd. Theoretically, with proper care, a cd should last longer than one's lifetime. The aren't affected by magnetism or degradation of the magnetic tape such as that found in a floppy for instance. My backup cd's all get burned, labled and put directly into a cd binder where they stay until I need them. I HAVE lost files that were sitting on my hard drive enough that when I've downloaded enough to burn to a cd, I burn it. I only burn to cdr (never cdrw) and a disk at once, I don't add little by little. You're asking for problems there. Laurie