Hard drives from the last 20 years are now slowly dying.

  • huf [he/him]
    ·
    2 months ago

    how did these people not know that hard drives die??? CDs die. DVDs die. the only way to keep your data is to copy it periodically, and this has always been true.

    ffs, fucking DNA survives because life keeps copying it all the time.

    • Gucci_Minh [he/him]
      ·
      2 months ago

      Optical discs like CDs and DVDs last a very long time if stored properly. It's using them that kills them fast. So in terms of data archival they're actually pretty good. Regardless, u right, make backups of backups and replace the media its stored on every once in a while.

      • BrikoX@lemmy.zip
        hexagon
        M
        ·
        edit-2
        2 months ago

        Most don't last long.

        *removed externally hosted image*

        Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/longevity-recordable-cds-dvds.html

        • Gucci_Minh [he/him]
          ·
          2 months ago

          Yeah I work for a place that uses discs for archival in addition to tapes and the discs do have specific requirements for storage, like opaque boxes in a temp and humidity controlled room. The discs are also some fancy Japanese brand I've never heard of. Probably best not to pickup a pack of CD-R at the walmart and use those.

          • huf [he/him]
            ·
            2 months ago

            i've had factory printed DVDs die while stored at room temperature in the dark (case). they just developed holes.