>>>Weronika wrote:  
You mean CDs?  Really?  I've never heard that.  Maybe I should see whether
my old ones still work...<<<<

Oh, yes!!!  CDs are *not* archival.  They deteriorate.  Re-writable ones can
"fade" *especially* quickly.  Definitely check your CDs regularly.  

Ironically, people worry about the underside surface, where the laser
markings were burned in, but that's not the biggest problem.  The aluminum
layer near the top is more fragile.  This is the reflective layer that makes
the laser markings readable.  The aluminum layer can get pinholes in it from
too much light or from extreme temperatures.  It can also get distorted or
even delaminated (layers separating from each other) from bending the CD
(like trying to get it off a tight spindle).  Re-writable ones are
particularly fragile because they don't burn in as deeply (in order to be
able to "erase" the markings), but all CDs can fail.  Even if you find a
good brand, they change their manufacturing technique and materials with no
warning, and the next batch may not be good at all.

Robin P.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
http://www.pittsburghlace.8m.com/

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