How long do DVDs last?

[colin]

I was alarmed and surprised to read in this month's PC Advisor (page 18) that DVDs have a life span of 10 - 15 years!

I remember a similar concern over CDs a few years ago which, I think, turned out to be rubbish. Does anyone know whether or not I will be enjoying my DVDs when I'm retired!

[Marv]

Pressed discs (the kind that movies come on) last longer than you will, anywhere from 50 to 300 years.

Expected longevity of DVD-R and DVD+R discs is anywhere from 40 to 250 years, about as long as CD-R discs.

The erasable formats (DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW) have an expected lifetime of 25 to 100 years.

:wave: :thumbs:

[colin]

Thanks Marv

Looks like PCA got it wrong. But I'm a bit alarmed by your certainty that I won't be arround in 50 years time. Although you're probably right.

[nwgarratt]

It all depends on how much recordable discs costs.

A Dutch magazine had 20 CDR discs that were burned a couple of years ago. They are all now unreadable.

This is mainly because (although they didn't admit it), they used cheap discs. The same can be assumed for cheap DVDR's.

I had one disc (datawrite +R) fail me just after a few months.

I know stick to more slightly more expensive brand name discs.

I have also had several CDR's fail so they are unreadable after a few years.

Pressed DVD's should be ok for a very long time. However, several dsics have been known to fail, due to poor manufacturing.