On: Google's Vint Cerf Warns of 'digital Dark Age'

[chowells]

They're unreadable because CDRs aren't an archive mechanism. They break down rather rapidly. Their shelf life is similar to a floppy disk. After 10 years, the odds of being able to read a CDR that wasn't stored in perfect conditions are pretty low.

[wil421 → chowells]

Are you sure it would be as quick as 10 years? I have music CDs and mixes easily from the early 2000s that still work. A few years ago I found a Jurassic Park soundtrack that still worked.

My parents have CDs from the 90s that still work.

Would there be a difference in a music CD you bought from a store and one that burned yourself?

[tlrobinson → wil421]

Yes there's a huge difference between professionally "pressed" CDs and burnt CDRs.

There are also special archival disks and burners, like M-Disc, which literally "engraves in stone": http://www.mdisc.com/

[wil421 → tlrobinson]

But a 10 year life span on CDRs. My personal experience is much different with both CDs and floppy disk (I still have some of those that work).