Recommendations for "archival grade" blank DVDs?

[MX-16_fan]

@all,
@scdbackup:

I am currently preparing a backup data DVD for a friend who wants to use it as "long-term storage" (cf. https://forum.mxlinux.org/viewtopic.php?f=108&t=45905).

Now I noticed that in dvdisaster's built-in PDF manual, the developer warns that cheap media "can decay within a few days to an extent which will exceed the capabilities of the correction code" (p. 111), which sounds really alarming.

The developer's warning made me wonder what the most durable type of empty DVD would be that money can buy (something that can be burned using a normal DVD burner) - i.e. DVD media that would generally be preferred for professional archival use.

DVD longevity seems to be a heavily disputed issue. Unfortunately, most serious studies are from the time when DVDs were more popular than today, and thus seem to refer to blank DVDs that may no longer be on the market as produced when the studies were done. So I'd be very much interested to hear opinions of those of you who would consider themselves experts on optical media.


Greetings, and thanks in advance for your assessment, Joe

[j2mcgreg]

I'm in Canada and of the brands available here, I've found that Verbatim brand DVDs are consistently good quality.

[Hierax_ca]

M-Disc.

Explaining Computers did an informative video on it:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pekgrP-v5O0

[scdbackup]

Hi,

(I was looking for the announced problem report about dvdisaster.
You'd need to mail me (scdbackup at gmx dot net) to point me to new
threads.)

The warning about degrading DVDs does not match my experience.
If a DVD is well readable in several drives immediately after it was
burned, then chances are good that it will be well readable a year later.

The probability for immediate failure varies by DVD types:

DVD-RW and DVD+R DL seem to impose the most demanding job on the drive.
Several of my drives could write them during their first few months of
life but later produced more and more failed burns. Sometimes the drives
take notice during burning, sometimes the burn runs complete but
checkreading fails.

DVD-RAM are to be avoided for price, speed, and probability of write
failure.

DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD+R give the best results for me. I use DVD+RW for daily
backups.

Blu-ray media BD-R and BD-RE have a similarly positive record here. I use
them for daily backups and long term archival.

There is the "M-Disc" technology which exists for DVD-R and BD-R. You need
an M-Disc capable burner drive for these media. Reading is supposed to
work on any DVD drive.
Whether their dye is indeed more durable than normal DVD dye is disputed.
At least they are more expensive than normal media.

As for brands: The market is unpredictable.

Over the years media of many brands show varying Manufacturer Ids when
inquired by a burn program. Up to a few years ago one could rely on
"Verbatim" being made by Mitsubishi and nearly all other brands made
by other menufacturers. So one could quite surely switch manufacturers
by switching from or to brand "Verbatim".
But meanwhile even this small certainty is gone.

So my advise is: Buy media from several brands and make a copy of your
data on each of them. After burning test their readability on all DVD
drives in reach. Do not accept unstable read success.
Do not hesitate to throw away 7 DVD-R after the first 3 of their spindle
have failed.


Have a nice day :)

Thomas

[xali]

i had a conversation a few months ago about this exact issue with a friend that knows very well this subject. i don't really remember everything he said, but it is certain that cheap dvds will decay sooner or later and so they are not at all a choice for long term data storage. i also remember that if you leave "open" the dvd to add data later, then the decay will come sooner. about which dvd is suitable for the task of long term storage i don't remember anything. but there is some possibility to talk with him tomorrow (it is summer and maybe he is on vacation, so i don't know for sure). if i have more information in the near future i will post here...

[MX-16_fan]

@Hierax_ca:

M-Disc. (...)

Thanks, but please see the original posting: "... something that can be burned using a normal DVD burner ...".


Greetings, Joe

[MX-16_fan]

@xali:

(...) if i have more information in the near future i will post here...

Great, thanks! Greetings, Joe

[azrielle]

Back in the day, I found DVD-R format to work the best, regardless of brand, but they became virtually as scarce as hen's teeth. Are they still manufactured?

[Eadwine Rose]

They are, you can still buy them in stores here :)

[richb]

The ubiquitous Amazon has them. And if you rely on user reviews they are available too on Amazon.
Note: Not a recommendation or advertisement for Amazon.