How to Care for CDs and DVDs

[Kelemvor]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1211&e=2&u=/ap/20040505/ap_on_hi_te/disc_rot_glance&sid=95573371

In case anyone can't figure these out on their own, they decided to write a whole article on the topic....

Handling tips for CDs and DVDs, including the recordable versions, from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.


Do:


1. Handle discs by the outer edge or the center hole. Your fingerprints may be acidic enough to damage the disc.


2. Use a felt-tip permanent marker to mark the label side of a CD. The marker should be water-based or alcohol-based. In general, these will be labeled "nontoxic." Stronger solvents may eat through the thin protective layer to the data.


3. Keep discs clean. Wipe with cotton fabric in a straight line from the center of the disc toward the outer edge. If you wipe in a circle, any scratches may follow the tracks of the CD, rendering them unreadable. Use CD/DVD-cleaning detergent, isopropyl alcohol, or methanol to remove stubborn dirt.


4. Return discs to their plastic cases immediately after use.


5. Store discs upright (book style) in their cases.


6. Store discs in a cool, dry, dark place with clean air.


7. Open a recordable disc package only when you are ready to record.


8. Check the disc surface before recording.


Do not:


1. Touch the surface of the disc.


2. Bend the disc. This may cause the layers to separate.


3. Use adhesive labels, since they can warp the disc or unbalance it.


4. Expose discs to extreme heat or high humidity. Don't leave them in sun-warmed cars, for instance.


5. Expose discs to extremely rapid temperature or humidity changes.


6. Expose recordable discs to prolonged sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light.



For CDs especially do not:

1. Scratch the label side of the disc. It's more sensitive than the transparent side.

2. Use a pen, pencil, or fine-tip marker to write on the disc.

3. Try to peel off or reposition a label. Again, you risk unbalancing the disc

 

[Chu]

5. Store discs upright (book style) in their cases.

I've heard this from tons of places, including the national archive so I assume it is not bogus, but never have heard the reason. Anyone know?

-Chu

 

[Pepsi90919]

what is the point of this.. ?

 

The only thing you need to do is:

1. Rip your cd or dvd.
2. make a copy
3. store the original away.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: Chu

5. Store discs upright (book style) in their cases.

I've heard this from tons of places, including the national archive so I assume it is not bogus, but never have heard the reason. Anyone know?

The only reason I can think is maybe because the bottom disk might be forced onto the plastic backing of the case due to the above weight and possibly scratched.

 

[Kaervak]

Originally posted by: SampSon
The only thing you need to do is:

1. Rip your cd or dvd.
2. make a copy
3. store the original away.

You left out step four.

4. become a horrible criminal trying to destroy the move & music industry by making backups of the CD's and DVD's you bought.

 

[masterxfob]

Originally posted by: SampSon
The only thing you need to do is:

1. Rip your cd or dvd.
2. make a copy
3. store the original away.

i do this with all music cd's my sisters and i purchase. i made the mistake of putting an original in the cd player of my lowered (riced out) integra and it got scratched up in a couple of days.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Chu

I've heard this from tons of places, including the national archive so I assume it is not bogus, but never have heard the reason. Anyone know?

-Chu

I would think storing them flat would be better because if you store them on their side, all the bits would go to the bottom and might make the disc unplayable....