What causes loss of access to files on CD?

nine9s · 12 Feb 2015

I put important files onto CD periodically. I do it using Windows 7 "computer" to navigate to the files and then copy them to a CD that was already started with a "live" version in Windows 7.

I will add files every month, the CD burns the files and then I close the session and eject the CD.

Every now and then, everything seems fine. It states the close session completed then my CD ejects. But the next time I put the CD in my computer, it shows none of the files.

To make sure the files are still there, I am in the habit of always pushing the CD back into drive after it ejects to make sure I can still access/see the files because it seems about one out of 10 to 12 times I go through this process, the files are not shown nor accessible anymore.

Any idea what causes this?

fireberd · 12 Feb 2015

If you are using it like a diskette, writing to it and then later writing more to it, you are asking for trouble. That is called "packet writing" and that is the least reliable method. Packet writing is known to lose data, or lose format.

Only use CD-R's and write to that once only. Use a CD burning program such as Nero, or the free CDBurnerXP or Imgburn. If the data is worth saving, the 15 cent disc is "cheap". On the other hand, if you use a USB Flash Drive, you can write to it, write more later, etc.

Skittler1987 · 12 Feb 2015

Another alternative is to invest into an external hard drive. You can usually snatch a 500GB-1TB drive for about 50 to 80 bucks.

nine9s · 12 Feb 2015

are external hard drives reliable?

Berton · 12 Feb 2015

I've been using a few for a couple of years without problems, WDC MyBook [1TB and 2TB] and one 750GB WDC Passport. Another choice is USB Thumb/Flash drives, can get up to 64GB, maybe more. For my Network I added a WDC NAS/Network Attached Storage 1 TB drive to the Router, all Wired and Wireless computers can access it for storing files including Mac OS X and Linux Mint 17.1.

Skittler1987 · 12 Feb 2015

nine9s said:

are external hard drives reliable?

Been using a Toshiba Canvio 500 GB for the three years, everything is still working like a charm. If kept in a safe place I imagine they could last or outlast any other types of storage. Though a backup is always advisable no matter what storage you use. Anything can fail at any given moment

.

nine9s · 12 Feb 2015

Berton said:

For my Network I added a WDC NAS/Network Attached Storage 1 TB drive to the Router, all Wired and Wireless computers can access it for storing files including Mac OS X and Linux Mint 17.1.

What type of housing and interface did you use with the drive?