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CD and DVD media is long-lived and reliable —
if you treat it right. To protect your digital creations and
computer data, you not only should select high-quality media for
long-term storage, but you must treat your media right. Here are
some guidelines to help you make your media last:
Handling & Cleaning
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Handle the disc only by the outer edge to keep
fingerprints and smears from the surface.
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Never touch the unlabeled shiny side of a disc
— that's the recording surface.
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Do not set a disc down on hard surfaces — you
can easily scratch the recording surface.
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Use a soft, lint-free cloth for cleaning the
disc to remove spots, dust, or fingerprints. Always wipe from
the center to the outer edges and never wipe in a circular
motion.
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Do not use abrasive or solvent cleaners, audio
CD disc cleaners, or conventional vinyl record cleaning
solutions on the disc. Chemical-based cleaners and cleaners that
are safe for audio CDs might not be safe for CD-Rs, CD-RWs, or
DVDs!
Storage
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Store discs in protective storage cases to
avoid scratches.
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Store discs in a cool, dry place, away from
direct light. Ideal storage temperature is between 23 degrees F
- 86 degrees F.
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Do not leave the disc in direct sunlight or in
a hot, humid environment — like your car on a summer day. These
conditions can warp and damage the disc.
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Do not allow moisture to condense on the disc.
Labeling
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You can write on the inner diameter or
designated label area of the CD or DVD. Use only soft-tipped,
permanent ink pens, and write only on the designated areas!
Water-soluble pens work best — their ink dries quickly and
minimizes smearing. Ballpoint pens or other hard-point writing
utensils may damage the disc.
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Be careful when using adhesive labels. Use only
labels with high-quality adhesive designed not to corrode the
reflective layer of the disc. Be sure to apply it properly.
Labels applied off-center or with ripples can harm your CD or
DVD player.
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Quicktips:
1. To keep your system running smoothly
during a CD or DVD burn, shut down all programs but the ones
you need to complete your task. This frees system resources
and avoids 'distracting' your computer from the burn in a
way that could lead to lost data.
2. When using
files backed up to removable media, you may find that you
can't edit the files — even after copying them to the hard
drive. This is because Windows 'defaults' to a read-only
status for any files copied to CDs, DVDs, or diskettes. To
make these files editable, give each file's icon a
'right-click' with your mouse, choose 'Properties,' and
remove the check from the 'read-only' box.
3.Convert VHS tapes to DVD now. studies and experience shows
that VHS tapes can have a life span of as little as 10
years, depending on storage conditions and use. Conversion
sooner rather than later will help preserve picture and
sound quality. |
Source: Imation |
