I use DVDs to back up my image files before putting them onto an external drive. My computer will burn at 1x, 2x and 4x speed. Some disks say 1x-16x on the disk so I can burn at either 1x, 2x or 4x. I am looking for a new pack of disks but can only find those that say 8x or 16x (not 1x-8x or 1x-16x). So my questions is, will these be able to burn on my computer (ie 1x, 2x or 4x) or just at 8x or 16x? Do all disks allow slower burn times and just state the maximum? Or must it state 1x-?x to allow burning at all speeds?

Another question, what speed do you burn at? I have heard you should always burn at 1x for greater reliability. I have actually burnt at 1x and 4x and it seems to take the same amount of time strangely enough! I am on a mac and once asked Apple whilst on the phone to them about something else. They said they would only take 5 or 10 mins longer at 1x, it's the bit when the computer sorts out the files for burning which is slower than the actual burn. What are your experiences/knowledge on the subject?

Also what brand/type of disks do you buy? I am concerned over longevity so always buy a decent brand (well I try, what are those?). Also what is the exact difference between DVD-R and DVD+R? I have never quite understood it. I just always buy DVD-R as when reading the help section of my mac it only mentions DVD-R.

Just been reading something about Kodak CD-R disks which talks about the Ultimat series using gold rather than silver which is supposed to be longer lasting. Backup I think is an important subject. With digital media a relatively new subject, it is unknown how long things will last. Somehow seems more easy to loose things than with physical film that you can hold. It would be so easy to loose so many images, which is why backup is important, both as a regular routine and also in terms of what you use and how. Interested to hear other people's knowledge on the subject.

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If it can burn at 16x or 20x, it will work at 1x through to its highest. Its all back compatible.
Modern burners can burn at faster speeds, they incoporate larger buffers and better lasers.

I burn at the fastest my drive can handle. 20x for some DVD's, 16x for most, 52x for CD's.
Back in the day they were more reliable at 1x but back then, the highest speeds were 4x, sometimes 8x. I tend to shut down other programs while burning though, to help the buffer reach its maximum write speed.

I buy no-name brand DVD's in bulk, normally 100-200 a time. Sets me back about £9. Check out this site.
My old burner only worked with DVD-R's, which are the standard, but my latest one can burn any type of DVD.
DVD-R's are the most available, and normally the cheapest too.

If you're worried about losing a DVD full of data, make two. Make one as a backup, and one as a hard back up, that goes into storage, just incase the HDD and DVD fail. You'll always have that one spare.
DVD's normally last pretty long these days, if you treat them right. Make your normal back up, then make a back up back up, that stays locked in a cupboard somewhere, cause the greatest enemy of disc based media like DVD's is long exposure to sunlight.

Hope that helps a bit.

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sunlight and air, they oxidise which can cause failure. If I was to rely on dvd which I dont, I would use a different brand for the back up of the back up, at least a different batch if the same maker. Personelly I like external drives, I have 2 copies on different make drives, if one fails I will straight away make a new back up on a new drive. belt and braces would be a set of dvd's too :)  My most precious photos are on 3 different pc's and 2 external drives and various dvd's :) but thats really precious pics of friends and family etc.

its scary how times passes, I have discs that must be going on 20 years old, cd's of course, but a lot of them are failing, all backed up now of course to current spec dvd or external drives.

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its the disk speed plus the speed of your burner. For example if your drive only burns at 8x and your disks are 16x it only burns at 8x.There is plenty of places on the web for DVD-R`s.The 1 thing i will same but make sure you the right disks for your burner & DVD player.

What i do sometimes is get 10 DVD-RW(re-writables)so i can have a master copy and if anyone wants a copy its a straight disk copy.

Hopeful this helps if you need anymore drop me an email

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Everythings been pretty much covered. Just a couple of points though the first of which is that there isn't a lot between the +R's and the -R's. I can't for the life of me remember which way round it is now, but essentially one format was the baby of Sony whilst the other Panasonic(?). My own opinion is that if backing up to DVD/CD is your only/preferred method then I would only choose the best quality available disks and burn the data to them at the lowest possible speed using the 'verify burn' option also if available from within your burn application.

There was a large article about this on one of the DVD firms websites somewhile ago that I found. When I get home later in the week I will see if I can find the link.

To sumarise always use R disks never RW's and if you can use +R's as the way the data is written is more reliable and easier to correct errors on reading by the drive. If you don't use archive quality gold disks then every two years copy your backup DVD's to new media. In order of reliabilty worst to best CDR, DVD-R, DVD+R. I have a friend who has lost 100's of his photos from CDR's only recorded just over 2 years ago.

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Colin

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colinsp:

I have a friend who has lost 100's of his photos from CDR's only recorded just over 2 years ago.

That's scary man! And really not a long time. I backup my pics to DVD-R and then do a backup copy to second DVD-R which is actually a different brand or different batch of the same as already suggested! Then I put onto my external (computer hard drive too small to keep on there). I keep the DVDs in disk wallets, ie those material things with sleeves for the disks that zip open and closed. Is that a good way to store or better in plastic cases? I have heard about these gold archive quality disks but have not seen any in any shops as far as I'm aware.

2 years is terrible longevity. Copying everything again would be such a big task. I probably burn 1 set of backups each week, so that is alot to reburn another time!

The design company I have worked for had all their old backups on CD from years ago and they all seemed ok.

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colinsp:

 I have a friend who has lost 100's of his photos from CDR's only recorded just over 2 years ago.

Colin, tell them to put the CDR disk in the freezer for a couple of days, Give it a wipe after removing and put it in the drive, and with a bit of luck should be able to read it.

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SK
The Best Photographer in the world 4th November - 5th November 2006 & 17th-18 November 2007
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OldBoy:

Colin, tell them to put the CDR disk in the freezer for a couple of days, Give it a wipe after removing and put it in the drive, and with a bit of luck should be able to read it.

What's the science behind that one then Old Boy, how does it work?

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helenmc:

OldBoy:

Colin, tell them to put the CDR disk in the freezer for a couple of days, Give it a wipe after removing and put it in the drive, and with a bit of luck should be able to read it.

What's the science behind that one then Old Boy, how does it work?

It magic.

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SK
The Best Photographer in the world 4th November - 5th November 2006 & 17th-18 November 2007
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It would be interesting to read whether or not anyone has actually tried this hocus-pocus and, more importantly, did it actually work. I know sticking such items as early mobile phones in the freezer for a time resulted in the battery giving up on holding the security code in it's death throes - but CD's um.

I'll tell him when I get back home and let everyone know. I hope he hasn't thrown them.

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Colin

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Nohing else to add, except I get Sony archieve quality DVD's from Tesco.  When on offer they are about £10 for 50, when not £16.99.  I stock up when they are on offer

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martin_hurton:

Nohing else to add, except I get Sony archieve quality DVD's from Tesco.  When on offer they are about £10 for 50, when not £16.99.  I stock up when they are on offer

Please tell me, what are achive quality DVDs? Can you give me a link to the Tesco Direct web page so I can see the details of the ones you buy? If I can see the packaging design I will know which to look out for in the shop. Thanks Martin!

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Can I ask what programmes you use to write to DVBDs. I store mine on an external hard drive and have CD back ups which I can write straight too but do not seem able to burn straight to DVD in the same way as files - only as slideshows. I want to be able to save volume in individual files to DVD - R s , unfortunately according to what I see below. Should i be able to write straight to them as per CDs or are you using software to do so?

 

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