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June 2004
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Handle with care during spin cycle
DVDs and CDs are not indestructible.

You might be surprised to learn some of the ways you can damage the data on a CD or DVD and turn the disc into nothing more useful than a shiny coaster. Simply labeling the disc can cause problems. Sticking an adhesive label on the disk is not a wise choice for media you plan to keep many years, according to a study published by the Council on Library and Information Resources and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The label might degrade the disc, cause it to spin unevenly in the drive, or possibly damage the surface of the disc. You also can run into problems if you choose to mark on the disc with the wrong kind of writing utensil. The safest bet is a felt-tip, water-based marker. Even then, you’re better off to write on the clear plastic area around the inside of the disc.

Here are some additional tips to get your CDs and DVDs to last:

• When storing discs long-term, place them vertically (don’t stack them on top of each other) in individual cases designed specifically for the kind of disc being stored.

• Don’t use rewriteable CDs or DVDs for long-term data storage. These discs degrade sooner than those designed to record data only once.

• Leave recordable discs in their packaging until you are ready to use them.

• Keep discs dirt-, dust-, and smudge-free. When you must clean a disc, use compressed air to remove dust, or wipe the disc’s surface with a clean cotton cloth. Do not wipe in a circular motion; clean from the center to the edge in a straight line.

• Do not slide disks on a desk or other surface. Return discs to their case as soon as you’re done using them.

 

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