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What media formats are other MCE users using for their archives? I currently have a heap of recorded TV shows, as well as my photo collection stored on my MCE machine. I currently back up to a NAS drive, but want a second back-up so that I can free up space on the MCE machine and not lose my stuff if the NAS crashes.
Play-back on a standard DVD player is not important, so I will be writing data files in whatever format they are currently in (eg some have been 'Crunchied' or I have edited ads out in Videoredo) and the photos will all stay JPGs.
The reason for my question is that I have used printable CD-Rs for my photos in the past, but some are no longer readable. I have seen suggestions on the web that DVD+R is better than DVR-R and that both are more stable than the RW formats. I have also seen web sites that claim that Taiyo Yuden disks are best, but don't know whether they are available in Australia and under what brands. What do other MCE users use?
The reason for my question is that I have used printable CD-Rs for my photos in the past, but some are no longer readable. I have seen suggestions on the web that DVD+R is better than DVR-R and that both are more stable than the RW formats. I have also seen web sites that claim that Taiyo Yuden disks are best, but don't know whether they are available in Australia and under what brands. What do other MCE users use?
The +R versus -R benefits are false, the error correction capability is the same between the two.
TY media is certainly very good quality. RW formats should never be used for any permanent storage.
CD's or DVD's kept in jewel cases in the dark should last a long time. If you put them in plastic sleeves or in any sort of light conditions, they won't last more than a year in my experience.
TY media is certainly available in Australia, I only recommend buying from the local distributor, as some local discounters are notorious for having fake TY media.
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Some say he makes love to BD-R media and has a plasma for a head, all we know is he's called The Brad
Make things easy for yourself. Buy yourself an external harddrive and put all the important stuff on that drive (including backups of your c: drive). Store this drive in a safe place.
All of my important tv shows I do not want to lose are on an external drive as backup.
Media like cd and dvd are on their way out and not reliable enough.
What I meant was; this kind of media is on the way out as in being used as backup media. Who wants to bother with 100 disks for a backup purpose if you can put it all on one disk?
Besides that, I want to see the take up of Blu ray etc... I certainly will not go for it.
I use TDK +Rs or some cheap Aiko brand for my DVD backups of TV shows originally converted to MPEG (Doctor Who, Torchwood etc) as well as backing up my own personal ones that nobody else likes to an external USB2 320GB drive.
BluRay & HD DVD burners are too expensive at the moment as are the media for them, but maybe I'll buy one when prices drop to around $400-$700.
I have never had any real problems with burnt DVD-Audio discs or other disc backups, whether it's +R/-R/RW and they're from about three or four years ago plus even more. But it's whatever works for you, you can pick up a 400GB drive for around $150-$180 new. I don't really bother backing up my Windows install because when I do a reinstall I make sure it is fresh, plus it's a lot of hassle unless someone comes up with a program that isn't made by Norton.
BM-Pioneer, if they are stored in plastic sleeves, they don't last for two years even in my experience and maybe a year if you're really lucky but that's ONLY if you're lucky.
What media formats are other MCE users using for their archives? I currently have a heap of recorded TV shows, as well as my photo collection stored on my MCE machine. I currently back up to a NAS drive, but want a second back-up so that I can free up space on the MCE machine and not lose my stuff if the NAS crashes.
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What do other MCE users use?
I keep permanent backups on tape. Yes, that's right, tape. It's cheap, reliable, proven technology, infinite storage, and you can always keep it offsite. Online stuff is either on DVD or external hard drives, but if it is really, truly, not-to-be-lost, a copy of it goes to tape.
