Backing up to cyling dvd-rw/dvd+rw no good?

[Computing_Now]

Is it a bad backup strategy to cycle a few dvd-rw or dvd+rw over a year, then record over them all in sequence over another year?

Will the data be corrupted?

I read it's not a good idea to archive to dvdrw but does anyone have experience?

 

[USAFRet]

Is it a bad backup strategy to cycle a few dvd-rw or dvd+rw over a year, then record over them all in sequence over another year?

Will the data be corrupted?

I read it's not a good idea to archive to dvdrw but does anyone have experience?

No, that is not a good plan.
2 standard hard drives, rotating, is much more stable and secure.

How much can you fit on a DVD? 4.7 or 8GB?
vs 1TB on a $50 HDD. No contest there.

 

[fry178]

they will just degrade, and so far from some extreme exceptions, not preventable.
if its rw media, just do a full erase before re-use, to prevent issues and easier recovery if media gets older.

i would try to see if you can use the M-disc.
i prefered that over dvd, even that is was slower, but still "safer" than normal r/rw.

 

[TMTOWTSAC]

DVD media is also very subject to degradation over time. In particular, changes in temperature, humidity, and exposure to UV light. All those claims about lifespan don't take less than ideal storage conditions into account. I've had tons of discs go bad over the years because of this, and not because of scratching. Note that commercially 'stamped' media is different, it uses a metallic substrate rather than a dye to store data.

Another option if you're only backing up small amounts of data is to grab a pack of USB flash drives. But as always, keep duplicates. Never have critical data stored in only one place.

 

[Computing_Now]

Ok thanks looks like I might have wasted some $ buying some dvd-rw and +rw.
It sounded good when I bought them (ie. 1000 rewrites, etc.)


I think I read somewhere usb flash drives on a shelf can loose data over a few months?

I only have a few gb of data to backup but I need to update some and add some extra new data at least about every couple of months.

Unfortunately the dvd writer I have doesn't support M-disc but it's something to look at.
So there is no M-disc rewritable I assume?

 

[fry178]

make sure to get something name brand, released last 6-12 m, and you should be good.

flash chips start dying after around 2-3y of use, just keep important stuff on 2 different ones (different brand as well),
and your safe, even if a drive fails.
or get a small 1.8/2.5 enclosure and run a msata/sata ssd.
around the same cost as a decent usb3 stick, but lots faster on writes.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

I never use re-writeable media, and certainly never for backups. Data loss is much more likely with them compared to write-once media.

But as has already been said, you'd be better off buying hard drives for backups.
I have four external hard drives for backups, all with the same data on them.

When one of them fails, I replace it & restore data to it without delay.

 

[Computing_Now]

I wonder what was the point of inventing/making rewritable media if it's so unreliable.

 

[fry178]

distribution in mass numbers for cheap.
instead of wasting a dvd after using it once, you would erase and use again.
mainly to copy content, or take pics/videos/documents with you to someone else...

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

distribution in mass numbers for cheap.
instead of wasting a dvd after using it once, you would erase and use again.
mainly to copy content, or take pics with you to someone else...

Exactly, short-term storage for such as that. Not backups!