File Format for Long-term Data Storage, Burning of Blu-Ray M-Discs

CerebralFreeze · 13 Oct 2020

The conventional thought is that when you store data for long-term storage, you convert the data into a format that will last for decades. It should be in NTFS or FAT and file formats that will be around in decades.

For example, they do not recommend that files should be left in docx (Word format) because you don't now if Microsoft will be around 10 years from now. They suggest that formats such as txt.

HOWEVER, I have most of my documents in Microsoft Word and Excel. And, the formatting of the document is actually really important to me. It allows readability of the document. If it's all in the same regular text, it makes it much harder to read.

What do you people suggest that I should do? I want to burn my long-term files but what format do you recommend that I should save it in on my blu-ray M-discs?

ignatzatsonic · 13 Oct 2020

Are you more confident in the future readability of blue ray M disks than you are of Word or Excel files? More than files of any type stored on a hard drive of some type rather than burned disks?

I'm not sure either way at all. Just asking for my own interest.

swarfega · 13 Oct 2020

Optical media isn't long term. I have a couple of old CDs that are physically degrading and they're some 10 years old which isn't much.

Berton · 13 Oct 2020

I have a couple of drives marked as Blu-Ray and one includes M-Disc. As far as I can tell the two types are different, Blu-Ray has higher capacity such as 25GB [versus DVD+R/DL at 8GB] and M-Disc is for long-term storage. At $10USD each the M-Disc is still languishing at a dealer.

As for file formats one would be betting upon which would remain in use the longest but probably the .rtf/Rich Text Format for documents may be the most universal as a large number of programs can read them.

Try3 · 13 Oct 2020

I suggest:
1 Backup your files on NTFS-formatted USB3-connected external hard drives - two drives with full copies on each. Store them separately in secure, dry conditions with temperatures that are consistent with those specified in the hard drive specs.
2 Store your files in MSOffice formats such as docx, xlsx. People publishing new applications seek to attract users by making them compatible with these formats.
3 Re-test your backup drives & their contents every 5 years.
4 Re-assess the situation every 5 years. Whatever the future holds, there will be a period when any new technology can cope with obsolescent technology and regular re-assessments will give you the opportunity to switch to a new solution if it seems necessary.

Denis