how good is the data reliability with CD ROM and DVD RAM?

[Jim Manley]

The stability of the dyes is only part of the problem.  Even mass-produced
read-only optical media (e.g., movie/video content DVDs) can become
unreadable over time because the reflective layer (typically aluminum)
under the data-encoded layer corrodes due to the chemistry of the dyes and
encasing plastic, and heat accelerates the process.  The "gold" media may
have enough of a protective layer of that noble metal (it's obviously not
solid gold) that corrosion doesn't occur - only a few atoms' thickness is
required.

On Sat, Jul 21, 2018 at 10:58 AM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 07/21/2018 08:14 AM, Carlo Pisani via cctalk wrote:
>
> > what is your experience?
>
> Generally very good.  But then, my valuable stuff on CD-R was done on
> MAM-A (Mitsui) "gold" media.  Some of it is 20+ years old.  On the other
> hand, no CD-RW disk that still have has survived.
>
> My experience with DVD-R has been somewhat variable.
>
> --Chuck
>