Sometime ago someone in the Poser community posted an address discussing the merits and/or shortcomings of cd and dvd media. The question discussed was actually archival quality and longivity of archived files written to cd and/or dvd. The discussion led supposedly, to better manufacturers to use and those to avoid. I thought I had kept the page to go back and read it later....RIGHT! As usual I can't find the thread....lost in the miasma of my collected e-conscious! :>( If anyone here knows of this article/or forum thread discussing this topic, here or elsewhere, please let me know.

this is the "industry news" forum, man... moved to animation...

I'm not sure that archival media are any more relevant in Animation than in Industry News... My suggestion would be for shante to do a search of the Poser forum - or ask there. ;-)

it's relevant to every forum, but it will probably be ignored in a little-used forum like this one. it would be better to ask in some place that allows off-topic discussions. my experience with imation and memorex is that they last at least 8 years. some other cheap media will degrade after 2 years, if stored in non-ideal conditions.

try Google groups , rec.video.desktop or rec.video.dvd.tech

There is a website of CD and DVD technical persons who do nothing but argue which is the best media around. 

Archive media should be checked every year if its critical data and the storage method and conditins will have a significant impact.

What storage conditions are best? Most of my cds and dvds are in slimline jewel cases and boxed in filing boxes or shelves in cool, dry dimly lit area. I don't write on them prefering to print content list on a slip sheet slipped into the locks on the cover of the jewel case so there is no contact with the disc itself. When I burn them I always authenticate the burn for integrity comparing it to the original document/file. What else should I do...beside checking them every year (which, considering the HUNDREDS of cds I have already archived would be a daunting endeavor!)?

I dunno what storage conditions are best, but I keep 'em in the dark, in a climate-controlled room. since whatever stuff is on 'em probably becomes obsolete after 10 years, it's no big deal if they become unreadable on some machines or new OS. like this site is based on sales of poser items to hobbyists, for example. if you've ever used poser, you know that stuff created in '96 for poser is not likely to be useable now (totally obsolete), and the same goes for whatever images created in poser, or for any apps thay were being used in '96. regarding copies of movies, I dunno if anybody had any consumer dvd burners in '96. if it's just music CDs, I suppose those have some sentimental value. but one can probably re-buy those from itunes if the old CD goes bad.

Well I suppose you might have a point about most of that but what about people who convert their whole photographic library to cd. Years of work converted to digital...of course...to back up their already extensive analog archive. But paper does go bad and so do negs so I suppose trying to hold onto digital media seems fruitless in the greater view of things. But one can only hope that what visuals of ones passing are created during the journey, will be around for some to peruse once one is gone...yes!? :)

I have everything backup on recordable 8-Tracks. :)

When I first got into computers they had led's and an 8080 cpu with almost no memory.

Decide what is really, really important and only keep it, otherwise you will have so much junk that you can't find the important things.

Dale