As a rule, optical discs -- CDs, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and the many variants of DVDs -- are much more durable than some other types of data storage, such as floppy disks. In fact, the first batch of audio CDs produced in 1980 are claimed to last for 100 years (for more on the history of CDs, visit this page).
However, this doesn't mean that you're free to abuse your optical discs. Improper handling and usage leads to scratched, broken, or dirty discs. As the damage accrues, your discs become simply unreadable.
Read full article: CDs and DVDs: Taking Care of Them
Author byline: The author suggests opticalstorage.org for more information regarding optical discs, accessories, DRM, and more. A member of the Association for Computing Machinery, the author is also with Ituloy AngSulong.
