I used to think backing up my photos to CD and DVD was a smart move. I used high-quality discs, labeled them carefully, and even stored them neatly in binders—four per page, front and back. It felt organized and safe.

But years later, when I needed to retrieve some of those images, I hit a wall.

A lot of the discs wouldn’t read. My computer either didn’t recognize them at all, or worse, would hang trying to access files that were no longer recoverable. They’d been sitting on a bookshelf in my basement office all that time—out of direct sunlight, sure, but not protected the way I assumed they were.

Then I received a call from a friend who had over 250 CDs and DVDs that he wanted me to go through to retrieve old photos. Honestly, I expected the worst. Based on my experience, I figured maybe a handful would still work.

To my surprise, every single disc worked, except one. And that one had been burned by a camera store from film negatives, which can sometimes introduce its own set of issues.

So what was the difference?

My friend had stored his discs in proper CD/DVD cases, kept those in metal bins, and then placed the bins inside a media-rated storage safe that regulates temperature, humidity, and protects against magnetic interference.

Why My Discs Failed and His Didn’t

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• CDs and DVDs are far more sensitive than we often realize.
  They don’t need fire or floods to fail—just time, humidity, and mild temperature fluctuations.
• My basement office, while convenient, wasn’t climate-controlled.
  Discs were likely exposed to slow, consistent damage from moisture and heat over the years.
  Those binders may have also caused micro-scratches from friction every time a page turned.
• His discs were protected in every way mine weren’t.
  Media safes are designed to maintain a stable environment under extreme conditions. They regulate not just heat, but also humidity and even electromagnetic interference. That combination made all the difference.

The Big Takeaway

Backing up to CD/DVD wasn’t the problem—how I stored them was.

If I had treated those discs the way we treat family silver—stored carefully in a protective case and in a cool, dry place—those backups would probably still be working today.

It’s like this: you wouldn’t toss your best silverware loose into a drawer with the hammers and screwdrivers, right? You’d wrap it, protect it, and store it properly.

That’s the metaphor I’ll never forget:
Discs are digital silverware. Please treat them with the same care and consideration.