What to buy to archive?

[Bill Downing]

I want to archive my important papers, music, photos, videos.
Should I use CDs or DVDs.
Are "photo" or "music" discs necessary or recommended?
Are "archival" discs necessary or recommended?
What would YOU use / recommend for these purposes?
THANK YOU!

[Nisaea]

Hello Bill,

I'll try and save admin some time: the answers to your questions have all been answered on the site and in the forum. Everybody here would be shocked to hear any admin answer you anything else than JVC-TY or AZO-Verbatim DVDs.

As they've answered you in other threads already, there is no "magic" DVD or CD brands that nobody knows about. Usually those types of discs (Gold, archival, etc...) end up being worse than JVC-TY and AZO-Verbatim.

Nisaea

[Bill Downing]

You guys have been great. THANKS.

[admin]

It's just as Nisaea has said -- MCC/Verbatim azo or JVC TY.

The DVD review guide already mentions what is archival -- anything in the 1st Class designation. Remember that it lists by manufacturers, too -- not brands. If you buy TDK or Maxell brand now, you won't be getting their discs, as they stopped making their own media years ago. Read that guide carefully -- don't skim it. And unlike most of the half-assed reviews you find out there, both in print and online, ours is based on the testing of tens of thousands of discs for about a decade now.

That's at http://www.digitalFAQ.com/reviews/dvd-media.htm

And I further suggest non-shiny discs. Get branded, thermal white, or white/silver inkjet media.
I have serious concerns about long-term viability of shiny DVD-R. Research is pending.

Kudos to you for watching out for your data. You're a wise man, Charlie Brown.

[Bill Downing]

Can't say enough about you guys / gals.
Sorry if I bugged too much.
This is really complicated.
Now I know what to buy and can do so with confidence.
THANK YOU!!!!!