Optical Storage Tips

by Lowell Rapaport

Jimmy Wright, team leader for imaging at the Hospital Corporation of America, Nashville, TN, asks, "What are the proper storage conditions for optical discs when they are not installed in a jukebox?"

In the case of magneto optical, most MO jukeboxes store discs horizontally supported only by the edges. The idea is to keep the discs from being piled on top of each other, which can deform the discs at the bottom of the pile. If slot-like storage is unavailable, store the discs on their edges in a single layer.

CDs and DVDs should be kept in jewel boxes. A CD jewel box is designed to support the disc at its center hub while preventing anything from coming in contact with the recorded surface. CD envelopes, whether they are plastic, paper or Tyvek, all touch the CDs surface with the potential of causing scratches. There is also the possibility during long-term storage that some plastic materials can react with the disc's polycarbonate and cause serious damage.

It goes without saying that any storage media should be kept in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. This warning is more critical for CD-Rs and DVD-Rs, which use dyes that can be damaged by heat and light. You should also avoid labeling them with solvent inks or solvent-based adhesive labels that can dissolve layers of the disc.

Unlike floppies, tapes and magnetic-stripe credit cards, optical discs are not susceptible to magnetic fields, so you can store your optical discs in that drawer full of refrigerator magnets with impunity.