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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.


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?


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/


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).




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